Assistant Manager

Job Summary:

As a Trade Marketing Assistant Manager in the FMCG sector, you will be responsible for creating and executing trade marketing strategies that drive product visibility, sales growth, and brand awareness across key channels and customers. Your role will require you to plan and implement consumer engagement initiatives, coordinate events and product launches, and develop strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external vendors. Additionally, you will oversee trade promotions, point of sale (POS) displays, and marketing activations to ensure the brand’s success in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and Execute Trade Marketing Activities: Design and implement strategic trade marketing campaigns for key channels (General Trade, Modern trade, traditional trade etc.), focusing on increasing brand presence and driving sales through targeted promotions and marketing initiatives.

Consumer-Led Engagement Initiatives: Create and execute consumer-centric engagement programs that increase brand affinity and drive purchase intent. This may include consumer sampling, loyalty programs, and interactive experiences.

Plan and Execute Events & Exhibitions: Lead the planning and execution of trade and consumer events, exhibitions, and promotional activities, ensuring seamless coordination and maximum brand exposure.

Coordinate Product Launches & Product Training: Oversee the timely execution of product launches, ensuring the trade is well-equipped with necessary product knowledge, promotional materials, and in-store displays. Organize product training sessions for key stakeholders, such as retailers and distributors, to enhance their understanding of the product benefits.

Manage Trade Marketing Assets: Maintain and update trade marketing assets (POS materials, product displays, merchandising tools, etc.) to ensure all are in line with brand guidelines and are available for trade use as needed.

Coordinate with Internal Stakeholders and Vendors: Work closely with sales teams, brand managers, product development, and external vendors to ensure smooth execution of trade marketing activities. Collaborate on aligning business goals and ensuring that campaigns are executed effectively and efficiently.

Market Research & Execution: Conduct thorough market analysis to understand the competitive landscape and consumer behavior. Monitor the effectiveness of trade marketing activities in real-time, making adjustments to improve execution where necessary.

Negotiate Shelf Space & POS Displays: Engage with retailers to secure optimal shelf placement for products and ensure that point-of-sale displays are strategically placed to maximize visibility and drive impulse purchasing.

Manage Activations & Promotions: Oversee and execute retail activations, including festivals, melas, rural and wholesale events, driving brand awareness and increasing sales within these targeted environments.

Build Long-Term Media & Properties: Develop and manage long-term trade marketing properties such as outdoor advertising, transit media, and other high-visibility platforms that enhance brand recall and engagement across various customer touchpoints.

Drive Promoter and Merchandiser Program: Manage and optimize the performance of promoters and merchandisers, ensuring they effectively represent the brand and deliver impactful in-store experiences. Provide training and guidance to ensure high productivity and customer engagement.

Bridge Between Business Relevance & Trade Execution: Act as the link between business objectives and the execution of trade marketing strategies, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with broader marketing goals and delivering measurable results.

Qualifications:

Master's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.

3+ years of experience in trade marketing, brand management, or related fields within the FMCG industry.

Strong project management and organizational skills.

Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Proficiency in data analysis and performance metrics to assess campaign effectiveness.

Ability to work cross-functionally with different teams (sales, marketing, product development, etc.).

Experience in managing budgets and optimizing trade marketing spend for maximum ROI.

Key Skills:

Trade Marketing Strategy

Channel Development & Management

Consumer Engagement & Activation

Event Planning & Execution

Retail Management

Negotiation & Stakeholder Management

Market Research & Consumer Insights

Promoter/Merchandiser Program Management

Budget Management & ROI Optimization