Associate Manager, Customer Marketing, Kroger

Customer Marketing (CM) is a function within Sales Strategy and Planning (SSP) where team members play a direct role in driving incremental volume at our Priority Retailers through design and execution of customer-centric marketing and event programs in partnership with our Brands, Sales Teams, and Retailers.

The Kroger Region is seeking an Associate Manager to lead General Mills' North America Retail (NAR) customer marketing strategy with Kroger. In our region, we thrive to build and develop a strong team that can lead profitable growth. In this role, you will be a strategic partner to Sales and will build strong relationships with our customer (Kroger) and its media and insights function (84.51/ Kroger Precision Marketing). Additionally, you will have the unique opportunity to work cross-functionally across several internal functions and stakeholders.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead strategy and execution of General Mills retailer customer marketing programs and tactics with internal and external groups
  • Orchestrate strategies, priorities, and business objectives from brand strategies into customer first ideas and executions
• Lead Kroger business in partnership with sales for instore & online marketing needs associated with GMI North American Retail (NAR) Operating Units (OUs)
• Develop omnichannel shopper marketing plans and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
• Oversee creative briefs, timelines, budgets, etc. in support of shopper campaigns
• Foster strong working relationships with sales and marketing team members at both General Mills and our customer
• Manage account level shopper marketing budget
• Lead data/event analysis in partnership with analytic team and use learnings to optimize plans for the businesses
• Serve as marketing expert and partner to sales team through thought leadership, insights, and best practice sharing
• Attend and present at external customer meetings, selling-in customer marketing programs, events and GMI capabilities
• Manage agency relationships with search and media
• Be an innovative leader with an agile mindset to grow customer business through insight to activation while working in a collaboration with customer marketing peers
• Be a connector and skilled in national media tactics to build connection of full funnel marketing campaigns across the Kroger ecosystem

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Communications, Marketing, or Business
• 5+ years' experience in a related marketing role (brand, agency, or shopper)
• Experience on collaborating with cross-functional teams, agency partners
• Project and budget management experience
• Strategic and executional excellence
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to work independently

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience building learning agendas and leading test plans
• Past ecommerce marketing experience with Search and Media
• Strong ability to lead through ambiguity
• Strong presentation skills

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Location: Kroger market eligible, Cincinnati, OH preferred (relocation assistance will be provided). Candidates are expected to operate under east coast time.
• Some travel will be required to attend customer meetings, planning meetings, etc. (approx. 10%, estimated ~2-3 trips annual).
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for a U.S. work visa.
• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.