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We are working with Reckitt Benckiser in their search for a Brand Manager, Etail Strategy based in Parsippany, NJ. This Brand Manager will own the E-Tailing marketing strategy and program development and execution coordination for assigned brand(s) across focus retailers to achieve net revenue volume goals, RB marketing KPIs and joint-business goals.
This position will collaborate with the assigned brand, trade marketing and shopper marketing activation teams to co-develop and execute annual plans and omni-channel marketing programs that align both brand strategic initiatives with retailer strategic initiatives, cross-brand platforms, retailer-specific opportunities and business needs and overall omni-channel best practices while ensuring compliance with channel sales strategies and LSMs as appropriate. This position will manage the assigned brand marketing budget across retailers/channels based on program-specific needs, retailer commitments and size of opportunity.
HARRY’S COMMENTS: A long time ago I asked a friend what it was like to attend Harvard Business School. I’ll never forget his answer: “The success of HBS lies in its admissions process. Sure, it’s an amazing school, but you could take the same group of students and teach them finger painting and they’d still go out and be successful.”
That sounds like Reckitt Benckiser.
Reckitt Benckiser is a major producer of hygiene, health, and home products based in the United Kingdom. It is a massive, world-class CPG manufacturer on the level of a Colgate-Palmolive or Procter & Gamble. No doubt, as a consumer you have grown to know and trust many of the company’s 19 Powerbrands in your own home: Lysol, Mucinex, Air Wick, Vanish, Calgon, Clearasil, French’s, Brasso, Cling Free, Easy-Off and many others.
The firm’s strengths include its ability to leverage its market-leading brands for higher revenue generation; its ability to continue as we focus on research and development to enhance revenue sources and improve its market share; and it’s incredibly strong financial position.
According to Datamonitor, “in FY2011, RB’s 19 Powerbrands generated 70% of the net revenues. The Powerbrand focus has also delivered strong results in developing countries, where RB was able to register 13% like-for-like growth. This showcases the firm’s strength of leveraging its brand portfolio to generate higher revenue.”
Evidently, leveraging the strength of strong brands to grow revenues allows RB the operating advantages in terms of better product mix, which results in higher operating margins. These combined with cost optimizations enabled the group to deliver a 12.4% increase in the operating profit in FY2011. A portfolio of market leading brands provides RB a strong platform to grow its revenues and margins.
Reckitt Benckiser is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the the FTSE 100 Index (which is sort of the DJIA). The firm has has operations in around 60 countries and its products are sold in almost 200 countries.
This is the second time I have represented this client, and my take away has been the same both times: These are among the sharpest, most business-oriented marketers on the planet. Best I can figure, there are two reasons for this:
1.) The firm is extremely selective about the people they hire. Although Reckitt Benckiser is a huge firm with tens of thousands of employees, each of those employees would be in the top 5% of employees were they employed elsewhere. This is not mere client brown nosing on my part: Reckitt Benckiser has extremely rigorous talent identification and hiring standards, and they seek to sift out individuals who are driven, perseverance, creative problem solvers with an extremely well-developed business acumen and a strong “sixth-sense” of what ideas will work in the marketplace.
Additionally, due to the company’s lean, meritocratic culture, the candidates who rise through the organization quickly are highly adept that setting priorities, negotiating with internal inexorable stakeholders, building team spirit, and getting things done through others in a way that’s “hard on the issues and soft on the people.” In other words, they get stuff done.
2.) Reckitt Benckiser has a better process for on boarding, managing, motivating, and developing talent. The firm has a world-class employee orientation curriculum that allows new hires to make decisions from day one. In other words, while your business school buddies are still in training at Procter & Gamble, you’ll be building real brands and feeling the buzz that comes from working with multicultural, driven people. You get to make your mark quickly in an environment where the more you achieve, the more you will be rewarded.
This kind of lean, customer focused culture is rare in companies a fraction of the size of Reckitt Benckiser. Check out the following video for a quick overview of what it’s like to pursue a career at Reckitt Benckiser:
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- Degree educated from a US or internationally-recognized university
- Min. 4-5 yrs experience in brand management
- MBA a plus
- Career in leading CPG company a plus
- Previous media or digital marketing / e-tailing experience preferred
- Previous trade marketing / shopper marketing experience a plus
- Self-motivated, highly flexible and takes the initiative to do what’s needed
- Internationally mobile
- Team working skills Ability to work in a global environment
- Networking skills
- Resilience
- Financially and commercially astute
- Strong oral, written communication, and presentation skills
- Proficient in MS Office and Nielsen/IRI
- Strong time management skills
- Ability to handle ambiguity
Applications for this position are being coordinated by Harry Joiner. To apply, CLICK HERE. Candidates, please be sure to email Harry for additional information that will differentiate you in your candidacy. Due to the extremely competitive nature of this search, you don’t want to be without this material!
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