Associate Brand Manager

Taco Johns International, Inc.•Saint Louis Park, MN

8d•$72,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Associate Brand Manager will play a key role on the Taco John’s Marketing team, driving brand growth and consistency, and ensuring the successful execution of marketing initiatives across the system. This position supports the activation of integrated marketing programs that strengthen the brand and deliver business objectives. Working closely with cross-functional partners, agency teams, and franchisees, the Associate Brand Manager manages projects for national launch with a strong focus on retail execution and ensuring consistent brand delivery across all channels. The role requires a strategic thinker with strong project management skills who can collaborate effectively to deliver impactful marketing programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
2–4 years of experience in brand marketing, product marketing, or a related role
Experience managing projects across multiple stakeholders with competing priorities
Strong understanding of marketing fundamentals and the full marketing mix
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with teams such as Operations, Finance, Insights, and Creative or Agency partners
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) or similar tools
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, timelines, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders simultaneously.
Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Working knowledge of brand marketing fundamentals, including positioning, messaging, and integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
Understanding of new product development processes, stage-gate frameworks, and commercialization in a multi-unit or consumer-facing environment.
Familiarity with consumer insights, market research methodologies, and data-driven decision making.
Knowledge of the full marketing mix, including advertising, digital, social, in-store merchandising, and promotions.
Basic financial acumen, including P&L concepts, pricing strategy, and ROI measurement.
Strong analytical skills to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable strategies.
Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop briefs, presentations, and executive-facing materials.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, prioritization, and follow-through.
Creative problem-solving skills with a results-oriented mindset.
Ability to manage projects from concept through execution while balancing speed, quality, and business impact.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Ability to present ideas, recommendations, and results to senior leadership and franchise partners with confidence.
Ability to act as a brand steward, ensuring consistency and quality across all brand touchpoints.

Nice To Haves

Experience in restaurant, retail, consumer packaged goods, or franchise-based environments
Experience with new product development and stage-gate processes
Exposure to consumer insights, data analytics, or market research
Experience developing or supporting integrated, 360-degree marketing campaigns
Experience working with external agencies (creative, media, PR, or digital)
Ability to present to senior leadership or franchise partners
MBA or advanced coursework in marketing or business

Responsibilities

Own promotional windows and lead cross-functional teams through coordinated execution. Ensure on-time, successful in-market delivery. Partner across teams to align program elements. Execute a cohesive retail and media strategy that drives sales and transactions. Ensure flawless in-restaurant activation, optimized media plans, and consistent brand delivery during the promotional period.
Serve as the project manager for promotional windows and marketing key initiatives. Oversee timelines, budgets, and the stage-gate process from approval through launch. Collaborate closely with Field Marketing, Digital Communications, R&D, Consumer Insights, Operations, Finance, Training, Supply Chain, PR, and Creative Agency partners.
Develop a deep understanding of the guest, marketplace, and competitive landscape. Partner with Consumer Insights and Data Analytics to translate data, trends, and insights into actionable opportunities and prioritized initiatives.
Provide strategic thought leadership by partnering with Consumer Insights, R&D, and Finance. Build business cases, define KPIs, and evaluate performance to support brand and menu strategies. Develop sell-in materials and present recommendations to executive leadership and franchisees.
Plan and execute integrated, 360-degree marketing campaigns for market tests, product launches, and seasonal promotions, ensuring alignment across all channels.
Develop clear positioning and creative briefs to guide integrated marketing and communications strategies. Partner with creative agencies on advertising and merchandising development across TV, radio, print, digital, and in-store channels. Serve as a brand steward ensuring work is on-strategy, on-brand, and optimized for each platform.
Collaborate on special projects, including menu redesigns, value and pricing initiatives, and brand refresh efforts to support long-term brand health and growth.
Demonstrate adaptability in a dynamic environment by stepping in where needed, even outside of core responsibilities, to ensure overall success.
Actively contribute to a culture of inclusion by valuing diverse perspectives, promoting equity, and creating an environment where all individuals feel respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

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