Brand Manager (Protein)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Brand Manager to join a growing company within the U.S. protein industry.

This role is ideal for a commercially minded brand professional with experience in meat, protein, food manufacturing, CPG, or foodservice. The Brand Manager will take ownership of brand strategy, product positioning, consumer insights, and go-to-market initiatives while working closely with Sales, Product Development, and Commercial teams.

The successful candidate will help build and grow brands across the meat and value-added protein category, with a strong focus on driving sales, market share, and consumer engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute the brand strategy and annual brand plan.
• Develop positioning, messaging, and marketing strategies for meat and protein products.
• Manage the brand portfolio, including existing products and new product launches.
• Analyze consumer, category, competitor, and market data to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop strategies across RTE, deli meats, bacon, sausage, ham, meat snacks, prepared meats, and other value-added protein products.
• Lead new product launches from concept through commercialization.
• Work closely with Sales to develop customer-specific strategies and support major retail and foodservice accounts.
• Develop marketing campaigns, promotions, packaging, POS materials, digital content, and sales collateral.
• Monitor brand performance, sales, distribution, pricing, and market share.
• Identify opportunities for new products, new channels, and portfolio expansion.
• Manage external agencies, creative partners, and other marketing resources.
• Work cross-functionally with Sales, Product Development, Operations, Quality, and Finance.
• Present brand strategies, performance updates, and growth plans to senior leadership.

Ideal Candidate

• 5+ years of brand management or marketing experience.
• Experience within protein, meat, food manufacturing, CPG, or foodservice.
• Strong understanding of the U.S. retail and consumer food landscape.
• Experience managing a physical product portfolio from strategy through launch.
• Proven ability to use market and consumer data to drive brand decisions.
• Experience with new product development and commercialization.
• Strong commercial understanding of pricing, distribution, promotions, and sales growth.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate in a growing organization.

Preferred Background

Strong candidates may come from companies such as Hormel Foods, Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, Perdue Farms, Pilgrim's, JBS, Cargill Protein, Clemens Food Group, Routh Packing, Cloverdale Foods, Fresh Mark, Applegate, Premium Brands, Johnsonville, Dietz & Watson, Monogram Foods, Chomps, Archer, Jack Link's, or other meat and protein manufacturers.

Experience with RTE, deli, meat snacks, sausage, bacon, ham, cooked meats, or other value-added protein categories is particularly desirable.

Key Performance Areas

Success in this position will be measured through:

• Sales and revenue growth
• Brand and category growth
• New product launches
• Market share development
• Distribution growth
• Customer engagement
• Consumer awareness
• Marketing ROI
• Portfolio expansion

This is an excellent opportunity for a Brand Manager with genuine meat or protein experience to take ownership of a growing brand portfolio and have a direct impact on product strategy, innovation, and commercial growth.