Director, International Marketing (Nerds)

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

The Director, International Marketing Nerds will have the opportunity to substantially influence Ferrara’s growth trajectory and elevation as a global leader.  

Reporting to the VP International Marketing, the Director International Marketing will be charged to develop best-in-class marketing & launch plans, strategy & process for existing and new markets, while liaising with Global and Local teams. 

The role is based in Chicago, Illinois and will require 25-30% travel.

Ways you will make a difference

• Play a critical role in accelerating Nerds global growth, delivering strong creative work that is translating into local relevant insights, building global strategic executional frameworks, launch & sustain playbooks, commercialize innovation secure global partnerships, develop new markets business cases & opportunity sizing. 
• Leads Nerds strategy, portfolio & innovation development and management in-line with 5-year strategic plans across several global markets including motivating cross-functional teams and local markets to deliver launches on time.
• Translate brand growth objectives into an annual plan to drive the right objectives globally.
• Lead adaptation and deployment of creative campaigns; identify and champion global tentpole moments; oversee and deliver development and activation of 360° marketing plans in priority countries, ensuring brand consistency and local relevance.
• Develop global strategic frameworks and toolkits, including launch and sustain playbooks.
• Deep understanding & proper implementation of brand guidelines in the local markets and liaise with brand counterparts to drive global brand platforms, executing global brands with consistency and excellence.
• Lead a cross-functional team to deliver key global innovations on time, ensuring local market alignment and proposing alternatives as needed and in partnership with insights function asses and lead innovation & global consumer research across current and emerging markets.
• Build & deliver the annual marketing plans inclusive of a prioritized mix of marketing activities & investment levels supporting brand launches and continued growth, in partnership with local markets and relevant cross functional teams.
• Own and manage the creative asset vault, leading global key idea development and ensuring proper implementation and support across all markets.
• Develop and deploy the launch commercialization toolkit, media guidelines & social/digital media strategy, ensuring consistent brand execution in partnership with local teams.
• Lead international agency relationships and ecosystem, leveraging the scale of Ferrara to disrupt the confection category globally.
• Manage complex stakeholder relationships covering global senior leadership, regional & local employees, third party distributors as well as global and local agencies.
• Drive projects forward with a culture of collaboration, with multiple stakeholders including local markets and counterparts in manufacturing, operations, finance, R&D, commercialization and supply. 
• Support the on-going management, continued evolution, and application of the international growth strategy, providing respective inputs into key senior level decision forums.
  Preparation for relevant senior leadership share outs.
• Own rigorous tracking of budget and understand the P&L impact.
• Lead 1 marketeer.

Skills that will make you successful

• Strong leadership: ability to inspire, motivate, and guide resources to a common goal and vision
• Exceptional interpersonal skills: empathy, integrity, enthusiasm, collaborative, driving consensus
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Strong listening skills and ability to work with senior leaders – inside and outside of the organization - to understand their goals and objectives
• Strategic thinking: able to “see around corners”, synthesize insights from disparate data sources, and form convicted, high-accountability recommendations
• Desire to be a supportive and proactive business partner across the organization

Experiences that will support your success

• Bachelor’s degree, MBA preferred
• 10+ years’ experience in brand marketing or applicable consulting roles
• 5+ years of people management experience 
• Min 3+ years