Job Description

Company Background

The NISSIN FOODS Group (Nissin) (TYO:2897) is a multi-billion-dollar Japanese food manufacturer best known for its instant noodles. The company was founded by Momofuku Ando, who created the world’s first instant noodles back in 1958 with the spirit of innovation that continues to provide simple, nourishing delight to billions of people. Over the past 50 years, Nissin has become a household name globally for cup noodles as well as a manufacturer in multiple food categories from instant noodles to cereals, probiotic drinks, and potato chips. Currently Nissin’s products are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide.

On a trip to the U.S. in 1966, Mr. Ando noticed Americans curiously eating forkfuls of noodles out of cups, instead of using bowls and chopsticks. With that simple observation, the worldwide Cup Noodles® phenomenon was born. Shortly after, Nissin officially put down its roots in the U.S. In 1972, Nissin started production Top Ramen® in their Gardena plant, which is the first instant ramen manufactured and sold in the U.S. And ever since, Nissin Foods USA has launched a continuous stream of new and innovative products in the U.S. market. *

Group Philosophy

The NISSIN FOODS Group explores various possibilities for food and creates dream-inspiring delicious tastes. We contribute to society and the earth by gratifying people everywhere with pleasures and delights food can provide.

The term "EARTH FOOD CREATOR" expresses our desire to contribute to the world and its people by creating food, the basis of all life. Grains grown in the soil are the starting point for all food, and the mission of the NISSIN FOODS Group is to create and continue to produce food derived from the bounty of the Earth and its precious soil.

Kanzen Meal USA

Currently, obesity from excessive calorie intake and nutritional imbalances are serious issues worldwide. As an innovator of food, Nissin aims to prevent the increase of health risks and create a delicious, enjoyable, and healthy future with technology created in Japan to people all over the world. It has started its “Delicious Complete Nutrition Meals” Project in May 2021. Through research and development into Optimized Nutri-Dense Meals, it launched the KANZEN MEAL series, offering the perfect balance between taste and nutrition.

Kanzen MealTM is a “breakthrough innovation” in a single-serve frozen entrée with the concepts of optimized nutrition and comfort food for well-being.

The “complete nutrition meals” is regarded as a diet that allows consumers to take in all 33 types of essential nutrients in a well-balanced manner by controlling the number of calories, salt, sugars, fat, proteins, etc. without sacrificing the appearance or taste.

For additional information, refer to COO Message.

Purpose of the Position

As the newest subsidiary of the Nissin Foods Group, KANZEN MEAL (KZM) is seeking an entrepreneurial Senior Brand Marketing Manager to play a pivotal role in establishing the KZM brand in the U.S. market. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Business, this role will involve close collaboration with the Japanese HQ to develop a comprehensive Go-to-Market strategy, product launch plans, and 360-degree omnichannel media campaigns designed to drive brand awareness and interest in preparation for the brand's U.S. launch in the first half of 2025.

The Senior Manager will be responsible for developing and executing media communication campaigns and brand development strategies. Additionally, they will assist the VP in shaping the brand’s future growth plans and supporting product innovation initiatives.

The position is office-based in KZM’s head office in Torrance California. Given the global nature of business and team, certain level of after-hour work is anticipated.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Communications and Media

• Own all brand communication activities and media strategies and activations to ensure successful brand and product launches in the target market.
• Be responsible for development and implementing an omni-channel go-to market launch marketing campaign and executional tools including but not limited to key visuals, brand landing page, POS Materials, social media and influencer strategies and execution plans.
• Be responsible for building, executing, measuring and reporting insights of media plans across all channels such as streaming, social, search/banner, OOH…etc.
• Develop trade marketing and brand programs for sampling planning, secondary placements, and merchandising.
• Drive execution of consumer, shopper and trade activities for consistency with defined marketing and brand strategy.
• Formulate and execute comprehensive digital marketing communication strategies with agency partners aligned with overall business goals.
• Manage external agency partners and a media budget to ensure an effective ROI.
• Work with the sales team to integrate retail promo plans and have consolidated reporting to track effectiveness and success.
• Own the monthly business planning meetings for marketing functions and collaborate with HQ cross functional teams to provide local market insights and feedback.
• Own and manage marketing budget and resources to achieve brand and business goals.
• Collaborate with, report to obtain approval and collaborate with Japan cross-functional team on certain business initiatives.

Brand Development

• Together with the executive leadership team, develop brand-building strategies and executional plans to drive awareness, consideration, conversion, and loyalty in the brand’s core consumer group to build from a targeted market out to a national launch in 2025.
• Act as a key player in the brand creative process, collaborate with internal and external cross-functional teams to ensure the delivery of impactful and cohesive campaigns.
• Stay update to date on market trends and consumer needs, collaborate with Culinary R&D to develop products that solve those needs and align with brand vision and values.
• Leverage consumer insights and primary research to identify opportunities for improvement among existing products and work on various renovation projects.
• Work with partners to commercialize new concepts from trial runs to full-scale production.
• Develop COGS and Pricing Sensitivity models to determine product pricing, to determine viability.
• Works cross-functionally to organize consumer testing of products and ensure any refinements are made prior to market launch.

Innovation and Business Management

• Support brand and category management initiatives to build, execute and deliver against business goals.
• Manage assigned projects, prepare and present brand presentations to both external customers and internal stakeholders.
• Analyze retailer and syndicated data and use consumer insights to identify business opportunities and develop strategies to drive brand and business growth.
• Support the development and execution of innovation pipeline.

The Candidate Experience and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 5 to 15 years of experience in brand marketing, preferably in the fast-moving consumer packaged goods sector with a familiarity in the traditional grocery and mass retail channels.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand building strategies and omni-channel media campaigns to drive brand awareness, interest and business growth.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing and media campaigns.
• Foundational knowledge and exposure to a manufacturing business environment, including R&D, supply chain, operations, finance, sales and marketing, and innovation.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data-driven decision-making.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, written and spoken.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a matrixed environment with a cross-culture team.
• Highly entrepreneurial and a self-starter. Ability to work collaboratively in an ambiguous and fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Passion for wellness, nutrition and healthy-living lifestyle Education

Education

4 Year Bachelor’s Degree required. An MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Compensation

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. A customized package including base salary, annual incentive cash bonus opportunity, and standard employee benefit plans will be developed to attract the finalist candidate.

SE# 510686533

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