Brand Activation Manager

Brand Activation Manager

Location:

Madison, WI, United States

Market Manager – A fast‑paced position responsible for staffing, training, and motivating part‑time Adult Beverage Brand Ambassadors to drive execution through one‑to‑one consumer engagement occasions for an assigned market. The role oversees final interviewing and hiring, training and development, reporting, and overall performance against program goals. The position focuses on building client relationships and delivering measurable activation results through outstanding execution.

Our company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services for manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. We serve grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers, bridging the gap between manufacturers and retailers for consumer access to the best products.

Team Management

• Manages all aspects of Brand Ambassador team including recruitment, training, weekly event execution, and reporting.
• Ensures Brand Ambassadors are properly equipped with merchandise and materials needed to execute sampling events.
• Travels in market regularly for BA development, activation audits and performance reviews.
• Provides overall performance management, direction, guidance and support to Brand Ambassadors.
• Develops employees for career advancement and succession planning.

Field Operations Management

• Builds professional, value‑oriented relationships with key wholesaler/client field management teams.
• Uses reports and presentations to highlight success and/or improvement areas relative to program execution.
• Collaborates with support and agency operations team on report development, event execution, financial control, and coverage model execution/revisions.
• Conducts weekly conference calls with DM to communicate program updates and strategic priorities.
• Manages budget for assigned geographic area to maximize revenue and profit while lowering workman's compensation claims by enforcing a safe work environment.

Client Relationship, Teamwork & Dynamics

• Maintains consistency and highly visible presence in designated accounts within the assigned territory.
• Provides efficient tactical support on BA process, day‑to‑day business needs, and administrative support.
• Communicates daily/weekly with BAs through Whats App and conducts weekly call with local team to communicate program updates and strategic priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct Reports:
  Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company‑wide processes, tools and resources.
• Indirect Reports:
  May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports.

Travel & Driving Requirements

• Travel and driving are essential duties and functions of this job.
• Travel up to 50% of the time.

• Bachelor’s Degree (required).
• Field of Study/Area of Experience 2‑4 years of experience.
• Preferred experience in the alcohol or beverage industry.
• Preferred experience working in an agency, retail, CPG or CE environment.
• Experience with recruiting, interviewing and training Brand Ambassadors.
• Experience in creating weekly schedules with specific parameters for execution.
• Experience with approving team events, recaps, and payroll systems.
• Proven success in the execution and evaluation of sampling programs.
• Team player; works collaboratively with others.
• Able to work in a fast‑paced, results‑driven environment.
• Able to be nimble in ambiguity; be open to change; embrace innovative ideas.
• Able to communicate effectively through various methods while appropriately tailoring the message to the audience.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks and deadlines.

Office / Sedentary Requirements:
Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods (66%+ each day), hear…