At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.
Position Purpose
The International Brand Manager will lead and manage critical business relationships and brand governance across L.L.Bean’s international partnerships, with a primary focus on our collaboration with our partner in Japan. This role ensures partners’ use of the brand in product strategies, marketing, and other areas are aligned with L.L.Bean’s standards. This new role will define new processes for brand usage in market. The ideal candidate has a well-developed understanding of product and merchandising. They are a cross-functional connector with strong communication, organizational, and relationship management skills, capable of translating brand, product and business strategies into action.
This position sits in our Corporate Headquarters and is not a remote role. Must live within a commutable distance to Freeport, Maine.
Responsibilities:
Relationship Management
Serves as the primary point of contact for our partner in Japan related to the day-to-day flow of communication and the dissemination of all information needed. Builds and fosters critical internal relationships in support of the business.
Organizes semi-annual or more frequent review of L.L.Bean product assortment in line with corporate line adoption. Organizes semi-annual strategic review of business with partners where results and strategies are shared between L.L.Bean and partners.
Brand Usage Approval
Provides guidance on brand usage in key markets. Reviews proposed usage and prepares documentation and context for approvals needed within the L.L.Bean leadership chain.
Communications and Business Context
Attends key merchandising and commercial planning meetings. Assembles & circulates information on the product line, including future direction and current performance. Highlights key merchandise and go-to-market strategies, providing important context.
Ensures required assets are provided to Japanese and Canadian partners including creative content, product samples, Trail Guides, and other materials. Addresses gaps in partner needs.
Process Management
Defines and builds out business milestones, deliverables, and timelines relating to how L.L.Bean works with our International partners. Ensures obligations are fulfilled on time and to expected standards. Collaborates on product development cycles and identifies process improvements.
Product Setup and Review
May work directly or through merchandising partners to setup or correct product data in L.L.Bean internal systems. Organizes a showcase of partner products twice a year for internal stakeholder review; including receiving and merchandising samples and building materials to provide business context.
Other
Works with internal and external legal teams to ensure timely registration of L.L.Bean brand IP in International markets. Adds product and merchandising lens to interpretation of International results across channels. Serves as the key International partner for various product-related constituents, including sourcing, quality assurance, photo operations, and merch
Health and Safety Requirement
Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.
Education Level: 4-Year Bachelors Degree required in business or marketing
Years of Experience: 5+ years of experience in brand management, international business, or merchandising.
Skills and Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; business, marketing, and product background desired.
5+ years of experience in brand management, international business, or merchandising.
Strong cross-cultural communication and relationship management skills.
Demonstrated understanding of brand governance and product development processes.
Excellent organizational and process design capabilities.
Proven ability to work cross-functionally with global teams.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
Ability to fluidly work within different product development seasons, categories and timelines.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with digital collaboration tools.
Ability to learn new technical tools in support of organizing and managing product data.
Must live within a commutable distance to the Corporate Office located in Freeport, Maine.
If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.
If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.
Top Skills
What We Do
Welcome to the outside. The official LinkedIn for L.L.Bean. #BeanOutsider
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multi-channel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe.
While its business has grown substantially, the company remains committed to the same honest principles upon which it was built – a focus on the customer, continuous product improvement and innovation, respect for people, and preservation of the natural environment. The 220,000 sq. ft. Flagship campus of stores in Freeport, Maine is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than three million visitors each year.
L.L.Bean can be found worldwide on http://www.llbean.com/ and in over 160 countries via the catalog and website.
http://www.llbeancareers.com
http://www.llbeanbusiness.com
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