Marketing Manager

About the role:

The Marketing Manager role is a critical strategic role positioned within the Cluster Commercial Department. The primary mission is to translate global brand strategy into localized commercial success across Central European markets by serving as the bridge between technical innovation and market demand. He/she plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and controls all brand and marketing activities for all channels: GM, FM, GCAs to achieve short- and long-term objectives within the global strategy. 
The person will lead the development of annual "Brand Plans," ensuring that our product portfolio remains competitive and profitable through data-driven decision-making and strong collaboration with Sales and other internal and external stakeholders. The Marketing Manager will develop, together with Sales Directors, annual channel plans which will increase wallet shares in current customers and which will bring new customers to all channels. The function will be the connection between CA, Lab, Sales and marketing while deliver customer focused strategies.
This position supports the cluster with the aim to identify top line opportunities with Sales Directors and customers, which can be developed locally while ensuring smooth execution of global strategy. This person ensures internal support in developing outstanding marketing tools which are exemplary for our customers, which strengthens competitive edge in the daily cooperation with Business Partners, during co-creation sessions, strategizing workshops and best practice sharing sessions. He/she contributes to the regional/global marketing strategies using experience and knowledge gathered on the local ground.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Brand Strategy: Develop and implement annual marketing plans (Brand Plans) in accordance with the global corporate strategy and the local specifics of Central European markets. Manage the seasonal calendar and portfolio by sales segment for each country in the cluster.
2. 360° Communication: Designing and supervising integrated campaigns (ATL, BTL, Digital, social media) and collaborating with creative agencies and media houses,
3. Digital & social media: Developing strategies for brand presence on digital platforms, e-commerce, content commerce, and influencer marketing. Cooperate with customers and use their platforms for communication of BC brands, campaigns,
4. Market Intelligence: Monitor competitor activities and analyze market data (e.g., Nielsen, GfK, consumer panels) to identify trends and market niches.
5. Sales Enablement: Develop tools and decks to support the sales force in cooperation with sales for all types of customers to ensure the effectiveness of promotional activities and project support.
6. Actively support customer focus actions in line with channels priorities, cooperate with marketing departments of our customers to develop the best consumer solutions,
7. Stakeholder Management: Collaborate weekly with Product Development (R&D), chocolate academy, Sales, and external Creative Agencies.
8. Product Launches: Lead the regional roll-out of new product innovations annually, both physical and digital approach, from concept to launch.
9. P&L Management: Monitoring the financial performance of brands, analyzing margins, and proposing corrective actions in case of deviations from the plan.

Interactions with Internal Stakeholders

1. Sales Managers/Directors - Roll out business development initiatives – planning and execution in tandem with sales team across CE,
2. CA, R&D, Specialties teams - Review marketing activities and tracking of delivering annual marketing calendar,
3. CEE/Global cross-functional teams - Cross-functional team meetings to deliver the objectives and to draw maximum support from all the available resources,
4. Senior Management - Project updates on progress of key countries/markets,

Interactions with External stakeholders

1. Top customers: marketing teams, all segments - To engage with key partners to develop strategy and roadmap to execute BC plans aligned with management,
2. Media and Creative agencies - Support the teams to drive creative and media external agency for the whole cluster and improve campaign efficiency,
3. Research - Use market research and create innovative projects to improve the understanding of segment needs in the Central cluster.

Scope

• Support operations across Central Europe – Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.
• Responsible for the all-product categories: chocolate, coating, specialties, beverages.

Travel requirements

 Min 20% to visit customers, other company sites, attend trade fairs, meet smaller key accounts in all business sectors.

About You:

• Industry Experience: Minimum 5–7 years in FMCG marketing, B2B is nice to have, preferably within the food, ingredients, or manufacturing sectors.
• Proven track record of marketing success in large organizations in FMCG organizations in the food and beverage industry.
• Project Management: Proven track record of managing end-to-end product launches in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience in managing 360-degree marketing calendars for global brands and driving customers to deliver the strategy.
• Experience of new products launches and new market entry with existing/new portfolio,
• Academic Background: University degree (Master’s preferred) in Marketing, Business Administration, or Food Technology.
• Languages: Fluency in English (C1 level) is essential for global strategy alignment; proficiency in a local Central European language (Polish) is required for regional execution.
• Analytical Proficiency: Advanced ability to interpret market data and consumer panels (e.g., Nielsen, GfK) to identify niches.
• Financial Literacy: Strong understanding of P&L management, margin analysis, and the ability to calculate and optimize marketing ROI.
• Digital Tools: Expertise in CRM systems (like Salesforce), marketing automation platforms, and professional usage of MS Office, particularly advanced Excel.
• Experience with AI tools would be an advantage,
• Project Management: Proven certification or experience in managing complex New Product Development (NPD) cycles from concept to launch.
• Communication: High-level presentation and negotiation skills required to align with both internal R&D, CA teams and external industrial stakeholders.

We offer:

• Stable employment in the sweetest company in the world 🍫.
• Annual bonus based on individual performance.
• Private medical care at Lux Med (basic package fully funded by Barry Callebaut).
• Fit Profit sports card co-financed by the company.
• PPE retirement savings program.
• Vacation subsidy under the Company Social Fund.
• Group life insurance.
• On-site parking.
• Chocolate at the office - for Christmas and many other occasions.
• Even more chocolate: quarterly chocolate allowance.