Brand Director

At Zavida Coffee Company, we are passionate about coffee and have been since the company's inception in 1980 when we pioneered flavored coffee into North America. At Zavida, we manufacture coffee consumed around the world, across online and offline channels, through various formats and brands. Position Summary The Brand Director will serve as the strategic leader driving Zavida’s brand vision, growth, and market leadership. This role will oversee product management, in-store marketing and cross‑functional initiative, shaping and executing brand strategies that strengthen consumer connection, expand market share, and deliver measurable business impact. By leveraging deep consumer insights, market trends, and competitive intelligence, the Brand Director will develop initiatives that align seamlessly with the company’s broader marketing and sales objectives, while ensuring operational excellence and cross‑functional alignment across teams. Role Specific Responsibilities Oversee the creation and execution of annual marketing plans, including brand campaigns, experiential marketing, and trade activation programs across the different sales channels to drive growth. Translate consumer research, market trends, and competitive data into actionable strategies that shape product positioning, messaging, and innovation pipelines. Manage, mentor, and inspire a marketing team of three, fostering a high‑performance culture centered on collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Partner closely with Sales, R&D, Operations, and Finance to ensure brand initiatives are aligned with company objectives, operational feasibility, and budget constraints. Monitor and analyze brand performance metrics, campaign ROI, and category dynamics using syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI) to identify opportunities and optimize marketing spend. Collaborate with product development teams to support innovation, packaging design, and new product launches aligned with brand strategy, compliance, shelf impact consistency and consumer needs. Oversee relationships with creative, media, PR, and research partners to ensure high‑quality execution and consistent brand voice across all touchpoints. Manage and allocate brand marketing budgets effectively, ensuring optimal ROI and adherence to financial targets, while leveraging AI tools. Ensure brand messaging, visual identity and tone are consistently applied across all consumer touchpoints. Collaborate with Sales and Trade Marketing to develop and execute retail programs and promotional calendars. Oversee in‑store activation efforts such as planograms, POS materials, and merchandising solutions. Build strong relationships with key retail partners in collaboration with the sales team, supporting strategic alignment and collaborative planning. Support demand forecasting and S&OP processes with input on marketing‑driven volume expectations. Lead end‑to‑end execution of marketing initiatives, overseeing resource allocation, roles and responsibilities, and timeline management to ensure on‑time, high‑impact delivery. Skills and Qualification 5–8 years brand management and marketing leadership experience within CPG food and beverage. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field is an asset. Deep understanding of consumer insights and market research tools (e.g., Nielsen, IRI, etc.) Expertise in leading integrated marketing campaigns across digital, retail, and experiential. Passion for consumer brands and understanding of beverage industry dynamics. Experience managing and developing a marketing team – selecting, coaching and developing direct reports, while working alongside external marketing partners. Strong knowledge of retail marketing, shopper behavior, and in‑store activation. Experience in new product development and innovation pipelines. Ability to drive brand growth through pricing, promotion, and portfolio strategy. Strong cross‑functional leadership with ability to align sales, R&D, and operations. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative, solutions‑oriented, and customer‑focused mindset. Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop cross‑functional teams toward shared goals. Comfortable working both independently and as a team leader in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment. Skilled at balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on execution. High level of professionalism, attention to detail, and organizational discipline. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel (data analysis), PowerPoint (presentations), and Word (documentation). Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French is a strong asset. Zavida is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of every individual’s contribution to the success of our team, clients, employees, and community. We are committed to equal employment opportunities in our recruiting, hiring, employee development, and promotion practices. Accessibility for Applicants with Disabilities Zavida is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please provide your name, preferred contact method, and a detailed description of the nature of any accommodation that you may require. Please include any materials or processes that may be used to ensure your equal participation. #J-18808-Ljbffr