Brand Manager

Ruiz Food Products•Frisco, TX

About The Position

Ruiz Foods is seeking a Brand Manager to lead brand, portfolio, and go-to-market strategy for its foodservice business, serving convenience stores and other foodservice outlets. The role translates consumer, operator, customer, and channel insights into differentiated products, customer solutions, and profitable growth plans. Working with Sales, R&D, Operations, Finance, Category Management, and Supply Chain, the Brand Manager takes initiatives from concept through commercialization and in-market performance, while building alignment around new strategies and ways of working. The Brand Manager develops annual and long-range plans, identifies growth opportunities, leads product innovation and renovation, and partners with technical and operational teams to deliver quality food products. The role also equips Sales with positioning and launch materials, leads brand communications, manages budgets and portfolio P&Ls, monitors performance and market trends, and directs external partners. The position supports planning for NACS and the C-Store Foodservice Forum.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, Culinary, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
At least 5 years of brand management, innovation, product marketing, category management, or related experience in food manufacturing or foodservice.
Proven experience developing food products and leading cross-functional commercialization from insight through launch and in-market optimization.
Strong strategic thinking and a record of developing brand, portfolio, and go-to-market strategies that deliver profitable growth.
Understanding of the foodservice value chain, including operator needs, distributor dynamics, customer margin expectations, and consumer value.
Financial acumen in P&L management, pricing, budgets, product economics, and trade investment.
Analytical, insight-driven approach and ability to turn data into business decisions.
Change leadership and ability to influence Sales, R&D, Operations, Finance, agencies, customers, and senior leadership.
Excellent communication skills, including persuasive customer presentations and executive updates.
Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to execute in a scaled manufacturing organization.
Strong project management, organization, and attention to detail.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

MBA or another advanced degree.
Experience in convenience stores, prepared food programs, distributors, restaurants, education, healthcare, vending, or other foodservice channels.
Experience leading agencies, research partners, packaging development, and customer or operator research.
A track record of measurable results through innovation, portfolio optimization, distribution gains, and improved profitability.

Responsibilities

Build annual and long-range brand, portfolio, channel, and go-to-market plans aligned with company growth and profit goals.
Identify unmet consumer, operator, distributor, and customer needs and translate them into growth platforms.
Lead new product and product renovation initiatives from concept and validation through launch and post-launch optimization.
Develop product briefs that define customer and consumer needs, cost, pricing, margin, and success measures.
Partner with R&D, Culinary, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to develop finished goods that meet standards for taste, quality, ease of preparation, hold performance, food safety, and operator profitability.
Build strategies for roller grill, hot case, grab-and-go, vending, education, healthcare, and other foodservice occasions.
Develop differentiated positioning, value propositions, selling stories, and launch plans to help Sales gain distribution and drive velocity.
Lead campaigns and marketing communications across traditional, trade, and digital media.
Manage marketing budgets and portfolio P&Ls, set KPIs, and lead quarterly business reviews using scan, shipment, and consumer data.
Guide cross-functional teams, establish owners and milestones, build business cases for change, and drive adoption of strategies and processes.
Track competitors, menu and flavor trends, channel economics, and industry shifts.
Direct research, design, packaging, and agency partners, and support planning for NACS and the C-Store Foodservice Forum.