Associate Brand Manager - Entertainment

The Upper Deck Company•Carlsbad, CA

About The Position

The Associate Brand Manager works closely with a supervisor to manage trading card products from initial concept through completion. The role develops business and product strategies, analyzes product financial goals, and collaborates with sales and marketing to bring products to consumers. It also works closely with Product Development to carry out initiatives while managing schedules and production goals, and communicates regularly with external partners about product strategy and sales. The position develops and implements business plans, manages product-line profitability, and evaluates the marketplace and new product opportunities. It supports product scoping, business cases, development with R&D and Creative, and post-launch analysis. The role manages licensed-property product timing and implementation, licensor relationships, brand presentations, brand plans, and P&L responsibilities. It coordinates product launches, promotions, creative direction, marketing activities, and product display across distribution channels, while working with internal departments and external partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Business, Marketing, Product Development, or related experience.
At least 3 years of experience in product marketing, licensing, or product development, with a strong desire to learn.
Brand management or product management experience.
Basic knowledge of budgeting, P&Ls, and product profitability analysis.
Ability to work with Product Management on cost-cutting solutions to improve product profitability.
Strong leadership skills and ability to lead focused meetings.
Ability to apply creative thinking to product themes, content, and business solutions.
Ability to communicate frequently with external parties about product strategies.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Motivated, proactive, and organized, with a team-oriented approach.
Strong presentation skills and ability to work with internal and external parties.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally on behalf of Upper Deck.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of retail and hobby sales.
Interest in trading cards and trading card games.
Interest and knowledge of contemporary and historical pop culture.
Interest and knowledge of comic book storylines and characters.
Experience with consumer products licensing.
Proficiency in MS Office, MS Project, and SharePoint.

Responsibilities

Implement product business objectives with the production team, including scoping, business cases, initial development with R&D and Creative, and post-mortem analysis.
Work with Product Development to execute the full product development and production process.
Manage timing and implementation of products associated with licensed properties and manage the business relationship with the licensor.
Create brand presentations for internal and external partners.
Develop short- and long-range brand plans based on historical analysis, market trends, competition, and the company’s product portfolio.
Create initial business plans, including product concepts and design direction.
Manage brand P&L and work with the Product Manager to achieve profitability goals.
Keep company partners informed about developments and serve as a liaison with other departments.
Coordinate with Product Management and Product Development to incorporate Brand Team concepts into production.
Recommend, communicate, and coordinate launch strategies, calendars, product promotions, and creative product direction.
Research market trends and help define products, channel distribution strategy, and marketing direction.
Provide direction for marketing, advertising, promotions, and PR campaigns in line with corporate strategies and initiatives.
Attend meetings and trade shows to communicate product plans and strategies.
Develop website strategy for review and execution with the Marketing Manager.
Work with packaging design teams and external parties to develop effective product displays and consumer promotion across distribution channels.
Write creative briefs for advertising, promotions, card design, packaging, and web design.