Job Title: Marketing Manager - Activation (Hybrid)

Location: Watford, WD24 7RY

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Full time, Permanent. Core hours of work for our business are Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00 (40 hours) however this can be done on a Hybrid basis with 2/3 days in the office per week.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed after 6th January.

The Role:

If you're a customer and brand focused marketer this is a great new role in our growing business. You will manage a team of highly skilled professionals and will report to the Marketing & Category Director, working closely with our Category, Digital & E-commerce, Sustainability and B2B Sales teams.

You will:

Have solid experience of managing the marketing mix within a B2B environment. Experience of working within the Foodservice sector is very advantageous but not essential.
Be comfortable working with data, have good basic commercial acumen and can measure and track performance. You're results driven, and understand the need for continuous improvement.
Have experience of working closely with sales team within a B2B environment
Have a strong track record of delivering marketing activity and trade marketing experience would be advantageous.

Main responsibilities?

Defining and executing effective marketing strategies in response to business objectives. You will leverage customer and industry intel to ensure Vegetarian Express and its value proposition is effectively communicated, on brand, on time and on budget across multi-channels in line with targets.
Defining and managing the day to day of the core marketing and customer engagement activity plan in line with business objectives. You will effectively line manage and set clear objectives for the team within the Customer Activation and Engagement function. This includes the Innovation Chef team, Marketing Manager (managing the comms plan), and the Senior Creative lead (In-house creative and design).
Playing a lynch pin role with the sales team, working closely with them to identify opportunities at a customer level, sharing customer insight with the wider team. You'll ensure all activity is effectively briefed, executed and measured. You'll ensure that the sales team are armed with an industry leading sales and marketing kitbag. You'll lead relevant trade marketing activity and campaigns to support delivery of business objectives.
Working closely with the Category team – to agree activation and promotional plans to market our highly differentiated range and activate new products. This includes end to end activation from point of launch, core asset creation and messaging, launch briefings, product knowledge training for the sales team, direct marketing plan and activation via digital channels. You and your team will ensure core business objectives such as product innovation, elevation of Vegetarian Express branded product range, and added value support and inspiration are effectively delivered across the marketing mix.

Who are we?

Vegetarian Express specialise in delivering plant-based ingredients, ideas and inspiration to chefs across the UK for eating out of home. With the astronomical rise in popularity of plant-based, vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets, we are uniquely placed in Foodservice to meet with this demand, and as such are rapidly growing and expanding.

Nationally we supply more than 4,000 skilled chefs from customers such as Compass, Baxterstorey and CH&Co, as well as a ton of Independent operators and events such as Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium to name just a few.

We work with customers to create plant-based menus that are enticing, better for consumers health, the planet and commercially for businesses.

What do you need?

You don't have to be vegan to join our team, but at least 2 years-experience in a similar role, or equivalent experience will be required. Experience in managing the marketing mix in a B2B environment.

Previous line management experience
Excellent communication skills
Intermediate excel skills
Ability to multitask, prioritise and meet deadlines
Able to think logically, accurately and proactively
Excellent judgment in identifying potential risks and opportunities
Able to work at high pace
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills

In return what do we offer?

Competitive basic salary
25 days holiday plus public holidays
Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 3 days)
Cash health plan (money back for dentist, opticians, physio etc.)
Life assurance (4 x salary)
On-going training & development
Staff discount on all products
Pension
Easy access to public transport and free parking

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Head of Marketing, Brand Manager, Marketing Campaign Manager, Marketing Supervisor, B2B Marketing, Senior Marketing Coordinator, Digital Marketing, social media, Digital Media, Marketing Strategy Manager, Group Marketing Manager, Marketing Specialist may also be considered for this role.