About the role:
The Vice President of Marketing is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of Clover’s marketing and advertising initiatives and product innovation and renovation. The Vice President of Marketing plays a key role in the development of the overall business strategy, and also collaborates across the organization on Clover’s sustainability initiatives, B-Corp, and CSR/giveback programs. As a key member of the leadership team, the Vice President of Marketing will be responsible for building brand loyalty and generating revenue through successful marketing for the entire brand and portfolio, using market research, pricing, product marketing including innovation, marketing communications, advertising, and public relations. The Vice President of Marketing also serves as the voice of the consumer and the brand storyteller, ensuring Clover communicates a consistent, unified narrative to consumers, partners, the press, and policymakers in order to meet sales objectives and build brand loyalty. This position reports to the President/CEO.
As a purpose-driven, certified B corporation, Clover is leading the way for conscious businesses by demonstrating care for all stakeholders and moving the world forward. We are committed to lowering our environmental impact and meeting our sustainability targets, by providing kids and adults with healthy, nutritious, and delicious products that are made with care for animals, people, and the planet.
Salary range: $190,000 – $225,000 per year pending DOE
Roles and Responsibilities
Brand Development & Communications
- Develops and implements strategic marketing plans to achieve corporate objectives for products and services
- Plans and oversees advertising and promotional activities including print/OOH, digital media (including video, social, influencer, search, etc.), demos, shopper marketing, and experiential events.
- Oversees and evaluates market research (across consumer, market, product, etc.) and market results (sales, marketing programs, etc.); adjusts marketing strategy to meet changing market and competitive conditions
- Develops and manages marketing operating budgets, with strong financial acumen for creating and spending marketing budgets
- Establishes and maintains relationships with industry influencers and key strategic partners
- Work with third parties to drive sales and marketing strategy, which may include agencies, advertising, packaging, consumer research, and product development groups.
Product & Innovation
- Lead Clover’s innovation strategy and product marketing team and partner cross-functionally (Sales, R&D, Sourcing, Ops) to set the strategic product and portfolio direction for the company that allows for the continuous development of new products and categories for the company.
- Drive the entire innovation process across the organization: Use consumer insights to fill the product pipeline with breakthrough innovation and lead concept testing, financial vetting, commercialization, and in-market tracking.
- Develop and recommend product positioning, packaging, and pricing strategy to produce the highest possible long-term market share and deliver sustained value to the consumer.
- Lead sustainability initiatives around packaging, leading the team to identify new materials and processes and ensuring successful execution of projects already approved, as well as leadership on pursuing new, innovative technologies
Sales / In-Store Support
- Work closely with the sales department to align sales and marketing strategies
- Work with Sales for sell-in strategy, retailer placement, and channel management across launches.
- Support the sales team’s efforts to expand into new markets by collaborating on product assortment and trade marketing strategies and programs, including product prioritization by category, merchandising, and in-store support (demos, POS, etc.)
- Monitor marketplace pricing and promotions; work with the sales analytics team to analyze as well as optimize pricing/promo strategy
- Guide Brand Manager in the development of trade marketing calendars for key accounts and new region accounts; ensure activations tie to product & brand objectives, but are also attuned to the unique environment within each store (competitive, consumer, etc.)
Team & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Builds, manages, and coaches a high-performing marketing team of 8 to ensure that all marketing activities (comms & product) are activated across the team
- Work with the CEO and sustainability team to develop and implement sustainability efforts (new packaging, zero waste, etc.), as well as communication strategies around such efforts
- Promote B Corp values within the organization and lead B Corp initiatives around the consumer, retail, and sustainability
- Responsible for the management and oversight of the Clover Cares Program, including managing the team that administers and delivers the program charter.
What You Bring to the Team
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a nice to have
- Minimum of 10+ years’ experience in a CPG brand marketing role, natural & organics/food industry preferred
- Demonstrated in-depth marketing techniques and principles
- Provides leadership and/or supports the design, development, and implementation of products and service lines
- Small company or startup experience a plus
- Strong analytical skills and financial acumen
- Knowledge of how to build and manage project timelines
- Comfort building and navigating P&L (ideally also a basic IRR model), new product forecasts
- High level of proficiency in scan data analysis using SPINS, Nielsen, and/or IRI data
- Excellent PowerPoint and Excel skills
Soft Skills
- Energetic self-starter who is strategic and results-driven
- Passion for building lifestyle brands that consumers love
- Outstanding communication skills, both oral and written
- Highly detail-oriented
- Excellent time and project management skills
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations
- Team player who is comfortable with ambiguity + deadline pressures
- Confidence presenting to senior leadership
- Ability to be persuasive and procure buy-in from upper management
About Clover Sonoma
Third-generation family owned and operated, Clover Sonoma is recognized as a leader at the forefront of the dairy industry with their full line of conventional and organic dairy products. The Petaluma-based company in California’s beautiful Sonoma County has always held themselves to higher industry standards and is a dairy with many firsts. Clover was the first dairy in the United States to become American Humane Certified for the humane treatment of their animals, the first to switch to a 100% plant based, renewable carton and the first milk brand to launch a post-consumer recycled (PCR) gallon milk jug, made with 30% recycled plastic. In addition, Clover holds their partnership of family-owned dairy farms to a higher standard with its own unique Clover Promise of Excellence — a set of regulations to ensure the highest level of animal welfare, product quality, and sustainability measures are followed.
Clover is also known for their involvement in the community, giving back at least 5% of annual profits through Clover Cares and most notably their infamous mascot, Clo the Cow, whose witty puns and billboards have been delighting Northern California for over 50 years! With a history of ‘do-gooding’ built into their DNA, Clover was proud to become a Certified B Corporation® in 2016 – meaning that we use business as a force for good by putting people and planet alongside profit.
Clover Sonoma is a proud equal opportunity employer. We value and embrace diversity for the benefit of our employees, our consumers, our products, our community and the planet. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, age, religion, marital status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.