Job details

Brand Manager

News can change the world, save lives, and bring us all closer together through empathy and understanding - but not if it isn’t read. Out of the hundreds of millions of articles and posts, how do we deliver the information that matters the most? How do we avoid the filter bubble of personalization and widen people’s interests and knowledge?

SmartNews is creating an entirely new model for the news industry. Our mission is to evaluate (in real-time) what makes a quality story and deliver the stories that matter to people who need it. We are dedicated to the idea that people make better decisions when provided with better information.

We’re not there yet, but we have a great head start. We’re one of the very few pre-IPO, (double) unicorns focused on the news with thousands of publisher partners globally. Founded in Tokyo in 2012, SmartNews has become the go-to source of news for users around the world. We have more than 20M+ monthly active users worldwide, billions of channel interactions, and article pageviews generated per month.

Join us and be a part of the solution as we work to escape the filter bubble, strengthen democracy, and help people be better informed.

About The Role

The Brand Manager will is pivotal in executing our brand strategy, building brand identity and guidelines, and driving brand awareness, consideration, and conversion. This role is ideal for a candidate with tactical marketing experience and the strategic potential to grow into a leadership role. The candidate will collaborate closely with the Product, Design, Content, and Growth teams to ensure a cohesive brand presence across all touchpoints.
Brand Strategy Execution: Implement and execute brand strategies that align with SmartNews’s goals. Maintain and refine brand guidelines to ensure consistency in messaging and visual identity across all channels.
Campaign Management: Manage 360-degree marketing campaigns, focusing on brand awareness, engagement, and conversion. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute tactical marketing efforts.
Brand Identity Development: Work closely with design, growth, and content teams to build, maintain, and evolve the SmartNews brand identity in both digital and offline channels.
Partnership & Collaborations: Identify and manage marketing partnerships that can enhance the brand’s visibility and credibility, supporting brand and user growth.
Measurement and Analysis: Establish and monitor key performance metrics for marketing initiatives, ensuring return on investment and making data-driven decisions to optimize strategies.

Experience: 5+ years in brand marketing or related roles, with proven experience in leading the execution of successful campaigns. Experience in mobile apps or consumer brands is preferred.
Growth Potential: Strong desire to grow into a leadership position, with the ability to balance tactical execution with strategic thinking.
Creative & Analytical Balance: Ability to generate innovative ideas while using data to inform decisions and optimize campaigns.
Communication Skills: Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate cross-functionally, including technical teams.
Broad Channel Mix: History of wins across paid, earned, and owned channels that drove brand metrics.