Brand Activation & Engagement Manager

Interstate Batteries•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Under general direction, the Manager, Brand Activation & Engagement ensures the success of B2B marketing strategies, programs, and initiatives that contribute to sales growth objectives. The role leads a team that builds and maintains a calendar of brand activities, analyzes campaign performance, and educates customers through brand-driven activations. The manager sets clear goals, defines strategies to reach them, and uses key learnings and KPIs to guide decisions. The position develops integrated marketing programs and works across sales, marketing, product, operations, and other teams to retain and grow existing dealers, attract new dealers, and drive unit sales. It also manages dealer-retention rewards strategy, marketing budgets and ROI, and measurement and optimization of programs. The role manages multiple direct reports and serves as a subject-matter expert on the local dealer experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
At least 8 years of relevant experience is specified alongside the preferred MBA qualification.
Strategic thought leadership and the ability to influence and collaborate across functions.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to translate data, financials, consumer insights, and marketplace insights into actionable customer recommendations.
People-management skills and ability to guide and lead multiple direct reports.
Excellent project-management skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to persuasively sell.
Ability to work with a high sense of urgency and self-initiative in a rapidly moving environment.
Strong marketing acumen.
Agency management experience.

Nice To Haves

BBA in Business or Marketing preferred.
MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead development of a yearly cross-functional calendar outlining periods of focus and thematic support.
Partner with Sales Effectiveness, Owned and Independent Distributor Operations, Product, and Brand teams to develop strategies for maintaining and growing existing dealers and attracting new dealers to drive unit sales.
Provide strategic thinking, actionable insights, and marketing recommendations that contribute to sales growth objectives.
Develop and manage the strategy for a dealer-retention rewards platform.
Develop the overall integrated marketing approach and oversee campaigns from idea through briefing, implementation, tracking, communication, and completion.
Oversee integrated marketing campaigns that may include digital video, print, point-of-purchase materials, email, and incentives.
Develop marketing briefs and guide in-house agency partners and brand teams in creating insight-based, growth-oriented marketing solutions and creative projects.
Collaborate with Commercial Marketing, Operations, Category Management, Insights/Strategy, and Internal Communications to identify insights and activate programs.
Provide marketing strategy and support to the New Business Development team as opportunities arise.
Work with the Product team to maintain sales collateral inventory and proactively develop new materials.
Partner with the Sponsorship team on planning, development, and logistics for the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) trade show.
Establish clear, measurable program success metrics and promote a test-and-learn approach, including post-program audits.
Analyze marketing plan results and recommend ways to optimize future programming.
Identify resources needed to activate programs and initiatives that drive battery sales and deliver the annual plan.
Manage multiple fiscal-year marketing budgets and ROI, maximizing impact within budget.
Manage a team of direct reports.
Perform other related duties as assigned.