Senior Brand Manager

Simple Mills is on a mission to transform the way food is made—creating nourishing products with astounding ingredients and amazing taste. Founded in 2012 by Katlin Smith, our brand has redefined center-aisle grocery by delivering better-for-you products made with unique, nutrient-dense ingredients. Today, we’re a category leader and the #1 natural brand in multiple segments, with distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide. 

Now, as part of Flowers Foods, we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth—expanding our reach, accelerating innovation, and amplifying brand awareness, all while preserving the integrity of what makes Simple Mills special. Our commitment to using simple, high-quality ingredients ensures that every bite is both delicious and nutritious. Whether it’s watermelon seed flour in our cookies or butternut squash in our crackers, we craft our products with innovative, wholesome ingredients that deliver extraordinary taste. 

Our work has been recognized by Fast Company as a Brand That Matters and a Most Innovative Company, and has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Women’s Health, and NPR’s How I Built This. In 2024, Inc. named us one of its Best Workplaces, reflecting our dedication to fostering an inspiring and inclusive environment where passionate individuals can make a difference. 

Join us as we shape the future of food. Learn more at www.simplemills.com. 

Role Description

The Senior Brand Manager will enable Simple Mills to achieve its full potential as a snacking powerhouse and wellness lifestyle brand.  Reporting to the Sr. Director of Brand Marketing, they will build brand equity and awareness and create emotional resonance that fosters connection and loyalty.  As the champion of their category portfolio, they will be responsible for defining and executing strategies to accelerate growth in their product categories and solidifying Simple Mills position as an innovative pioneer of delicious foods that advance people and planetary wellness.   

This role is a unique opportunity to drive positive change in the food industry and improve consumers’ lives with products that taste great in the moment and nourish for the long-term so they can thrive. 

Key responsibilities include: 

Brand Building 

• Develop strategies to build distinctive brand equity and reinforce Simple Mills differentiated positioning 

• Lead creative asset development and packaging design that resonate with target audience and reinforce ownable visual identity and tone of voice 

• Track and analyze key brand performance metrics (awareness, equity, sentiment) and adjust strategies and tactics accordingly 

Category Strategy 

• Conduct primary consumer research and leverage a variety of secondary information sources to deeply understand key insights, shopper behavior, retailer strategies, and competitive activity 

• Synthesize information from multiple sources to identify key themes and derive actionable insights that give Simple Mills a competitive advantage 

• Define differentiated strategies for Simple Mills to win in the category and drive organizational alignment to a clear and motivating vision 

• Develop multi-year activity roadmap to execute category strategy and achieve company goals 

Product Portfolio Management 

• Assess product performance, consumer feedback, research, and market trends to make informed decisions and recommendations about product positioning, messaging, packaging, formula renovation, SKU prioritization/rationalization, and new item introductions within existing product lines 

• Collaborate with Innovation team to maximize success and incrementality of new product lines 

Cross-Functional Partnership 

• Lead in-market performance analysis and facilitate alignment across departments to a singular, clear performance narrative 

• Partner with Sales, Finance, and Operations to build profitable growth plans, identify and size incremental revenue opportunities, and implement risk mitigation strategies 

• Collaborate closely with the Sales team to optimize selling strategies and build holistic account-level growth plans that maximize trade and marketing investments 

• Oversee cross-functional commercialization projects to ensure strategic and financial objectives are met, providing direction to troubleshoot issues and keep timelines on track 

Marketing Plan Development and Execution  

• Develop marketing plans that effectively build desired brand equity and brand love, while efficiently translating to product awareness, purchase consideration, and trial 

• Manage agencies and vendors to execute marketing tactics, manage budgets, evaluate results, and drive continuous optimization 

• Oversee all marketing tactics and creative for category portfolio, ensuring the right positioning is being successfully communicated to the right target 

• A minimum of 10 years of overall work experience. 
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Food and Beverage consumer packaged goods (CPG) Brand Management role is required, with at least 3 years at or above Brand Manager.   
• A Bachelor’s degree and MBA are required. 

• Extensive experience and proficiency analyzing and interpreting retail sales data and consumer panel data to assess market and brand performance dynamics and translate insights into actionable strategies 

• Experience developing new product offerings, leading opportunity identification and business case creation, product design, positioning, packaging, and pricing, and leading cross-functional commercialization processes and go-to-market strategies to successfully launch new items 

• Strong track record of marketing agency management, including developing sharp strategic briefs, providing clear feedback, cultivating collaborative partnership, and successfully delivering results 

• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Sales, Operations, and Finance teams in S&OP process to develop accurate forecasts, proactively manage business risks, and identify and seize incremental revenue opportunities 

• Strategic Leadership & Communication - Proven ability to inspire confidence, rally teams around a vision, and drive clarity and alignment in complex situations through strategic leadership and excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Entrepreneurial Mindset & Execution - Proactive, results-driven self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative to solve problems, and executes with urgency, resourcefulness, and creativity 

• Consumer-Centric & Mission-Driven - Deeply curious about consumer insights and trends, with a strong personal connection to the Simple Mills mission and a fervent desire to improve the food system to help people and the planet thrive 

Working at Simple Mills

At Simple Mills, we’re not just building a brand—we’re leading a movement that’s transforming how food is made and enjoyed. If you’re passionate about purpose-driven work and crave a role where you can have a meaningful impact, this is your chance to be part of something bigger. 

Why Join Us? 

• Be a Change-Maker 
  Play a key role in redefining the food industry, crafting products that nourish people and contribute to a healthier planet. 

• Thrive in a Mission-Driven Community 
  Work alongside a dynamic team of innovators and food lovers who are committed to positive change and bold ideas. 

• A Workplace Where You Belong 
  We foster an environment where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. Inclusion and belonging are at the heart of our culture, ensuring that everyone can thrive. 

• A Culture of Integrity and Impact 
  We don’t just talk about doing good—we live it. Our team is committed to ethical practices, responsible sourcing, and making decisions that drive real, positive change. 

• Grow with People-First Leadership 
  Our supportive leadership team is dedicated to mentorship, collaboration, and your long-term success. 

• Continuous Learning & Development 
  Whether through hands-on training, innovative learning platforms, or career growth opportunities, we invest in your professional development. 

At Simple Mills, you’ll have the chance to make an impact while working in a collaborative and inspiring environment. If you’re ready to shape the future of food, let’s talk. 

We recognize that our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a highly competitive total rewards package designed to support your financial well-being, health, and overall quality of life.  

• Competitive Compensation: This role offers a salary range of $125,000 to $170,000.  

• Performance-Based Bonuses: Eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance, calculated at the end of the fiscal year.  
• Comprehensive Health & Financial Benefits: Robust medical, dental, and vision plans, along with a 401(k) retirement plan to support your long-term financial security.  
• Work-Life Flexibility: Enjoy the freedom to thrive both professionally and personally with unlimited PTO, Live Full Fridays (where afternoons are yours to recharge), and a three-week sabbatical after five years of service—because we believe your best work happens when you have the time to rest and refocus. 
• Health & Wellness Perks: Lifestyle stipends and exclusive product perks to enhance your well-being—because your health and happiness matter.  

We’re committed to taking care of our people—so you can focus on making an impact.  

Work Model at Simple Mills   

Our work model is role-dependent, and team focused. With remote, hybrid, or in-office positions, each role is classified by what best supports the needs of the team. 

• This position will be hybrid: a balance of in-person and virtual work. Hybrid employees will work from our Chicago, IL office at least once per week. When working remotely, employees must work from a designated location in the United States (the new hire’s permanent residence, as documented in our HR System, Rippling) with sufficient internet access to support video conferencing. 

At Simple Mills, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present military service, physical or mental disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications. #LI-DNI  

Simple Mills is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Simple Mills will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact careers@simplemills.com.