The Brand Manager partners cross-functionally with merchandising, sales, product development, operations, and Insights & Analytics (I&A) teams to translate consumer, category, and performance insights into data-driven brand strategies and creative initiatives. This role is accountable for helping shape brand direction, stewarding brand standards, and ensuring all creative, packaging, media, and marketing communications consistently reflect the brand vision and business goals.
The ideal candidate combines strong strategic brand management capabilities with a background in graphic design and creative development, bringing both analytical thinking and creative leadership to the role. This position also plays an important governance role in overseeing creative quality, agency alignment, and brand consistency across all channels.Job Description
Description
- Lead and support the development of annual brand strategies and initiatives that strengthen enterprise-level brand equity, improve shopper perception, and drive commercial performance.
- Partner with Insights & Analytics (I&A) teams to leverage consumer, category, customer, and performance data to inform strategic decision-making, identify growth opportunities, and optimize brand initiatives.
- Support the management and performance of the private label portfolio by monitoring key business metrics including sales performance, market trends, category growth, shopper engagement, and promotional effectiveness.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with merchandising, sales, product development, and operations teams to align brand priorities with broader business objectives and category strategies.
- Lead the development and execution of integrated brand initiatives across packaging, digital, print, in-store, and marketing channels to ensure a cohesive and differentiated brand experience.
- Maintain governance over creative execution and media alignment by ensuring all customer-facing communications, packaging, and marketing materials adhere to established brand standards, positioning, and messaging frameworks.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and external agencies to guide creative development, campaign execution, and production quality while ensuring consistency, efficiency, and speed to market.
- Develop strategic creative briefs that clearly articulate business objectives, shopper insights, target audiences, and brand positioning.
- Contribute to the evolution, implementation, and stewardship of brand identity systems, visual guidelines, and tone-of-voice standards across all channels.
- Apply graphic design expertise to evaluate and guide creative assets, packaging concepts, presentations, and marketing materials to ensure strong visual storytelling and alignment with brand strategy.
- Monitor competitive activity, industry trends, and private label innovation to identify opportunities for brand growth, differentiation, and improved shopper relevance.
- Support budget planning, forecasting, and resource management related to brand and creative initiatives.
- Travel Required: Yes
Environment
- Office : Office Temperature (65F to 75F)
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Business, or related field required.
- 3–5 years of experience in brand management, marketing, packaging design, or creative strategy within retail, CPG, or private label environments.
- Demonstrated experience leveraging consumer insights, market data, and business analytics to support strategic brand decisions and performance optimization.
- Formal graphic design training or professional experience in graphic design strongly preferred.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign preferred.
- Experience working with packaging design, print production, and brand identity systems.
- Strong understanding of branding, typography, layout, color, and visual storytelling principles.
- Experience managing cross-functional initiatives and collaborating with external agencies and creative partners.
- Strong understanding of brand governance, integrated marketing communications, and creative development processes.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
- Private label or grocery industry experience is a plus.
- Ability to balance strategic brand leadership with hands-on creative problem solving and execution.
C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 100,000 different products. C&S also proudly operates and supports corporate grocery stores and services independent franchisees under a chain-style model throughout the Midwest, South and Northeast. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities.
Working Safely is a Condition of Employment at C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC. C&S Wholesale Grocers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. The Company provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Business, or a related field
- 3–5 years of experience in brand management, marketing, packaging design, or creative strategy
- Experience in retail, CPG, or private-label environments
- Experience leveraging consumer insights, market data, and business analytics for brand decisions
- Formal graphic design training or professional graphic design experience
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
- Experience with packaging design, print production, and brand identity systems
- Strong understanding of branding, typography, layout, color, and visual storytelling
- Experience managing cross-functional initiatives and collaborating with external agencies and creative partners
- Understanding of brand governance, integrated marketing communications, and creative development processes
- Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
- Private-label or grocery industry experience
- Ability to balance strategic brand leadership with hands-on creative problem solving and execution
C&S Wholesale Grocers Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about C&S Wholesale Grocers and has not been reviewed or approved by C&S Wholesale Grocers.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentive-paid warehouse roles offer the chance to earn good money when hitting or exceeding engineered standards, with overtime further increasing take-home pay. In fast-paced operations, high-output workers can attain attractive earnings through case-pick incentives.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage start on day one with in-network preventive care covered at 100%, plus telehealth access. HSA/FSA options and VSP vision provide additional coverage flexibility.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a company match begins when employees start contributing. The immediate start to matching enhances accessibility of retirement savings from the outset.
C&S Wholesale Grocers Insights
What We Do
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 137,000 different products. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities.
