ABOUT THE JOB:

The Marketing Director DACH will be responsible for leading the planning and implementation of all marketing activities in the DACH Country Cluster to ensure the successful promotion and growth of our brand and product portfolio towards different customer types. This role demands a passion for customer proximity, consistent excellence in execution, and a commitment to create bespoke customer experiences.

You directly report to the Managing Director of the DACH Cluster and dotted line to the VP Marketing Western Europe You are a member of the DACH commercial leadership team and key contact for global brand and regional marketing teams You lead and develop 2 part-time Marketing specialists, you manage the marketing budget and collaborate with local agencies. Work location is Cologne, travel is expected to be < 20% of the working time

 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
Business Planning and Execution:

Develop and implement comprehensive marketing plans that align with the company’s business, marketing strategy and the cluster growth objectives. Member of the Cluster Leadership team. Main contact to Global/Regional Marketing. Collaborate with global market intelligence to generate actionable customer insights, competitive mapping and market trends. Own the 12 mth rolling Marketing Plan for the Cluster, manage the Product Portfolio and identify gap filling/innovation needs. Ensure all marketing activities are executed to the highest standard, monitor & report performance in collaboration with Sales. Owner of the Cluster Marketing budget

Lead Customer Engagement for Industrial Key Accounts:

Cultivate a deep understanding of our customers through market research, customer feedback, and engagement initiatives. Foster strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders to better understand their needs and preferences. Support customer-specific innovation initiatives to grow their business. Collaborate with product development teams. Organize bespoke events & memorable experiences to deepen customer relationships. Support regional content creation and implement customer-centric marketing campaigns that enhance customer satisfaction. Oversee Brand & Product Marketing to Artisans Collaborate with global brand, regional marketing and agency teams to activate local communication channels and optimize content for local relevance. Create well selected and targeted local campaigns and customer experiences on fairs & events. Manage strategic partnerships with distributors, influencers and industry partners to leverage digital campaigns.

Lead the team on Trade Marketing to Distributors & Artisans:

Build and execute a brand activity plan for distributors in priority segments. Lead marketing initiatives for strategic distribution partners based on Joint Business Plans Support e-commerce sales with strong digital product & activation assets.

 

ABOUT YOU:

Master degree or equal by experience 10y+ of experience in Marketing roles in B2B/ B2C, preferably in Food or Beverages in international context. German (native), English (full proficiency). Any other European language is a plus. Deep understanding of business models in Food: Artisans, Chains, Food Manufacturing, CPG, private label producers, retailers Proven track record of developing and executing successful marketing plans that drive growth and customer engagement. Analytical business planning skills. Strong stakeholder management & influencing skills. Ability to work under pressure, prioritize tasks and keep the team motivated. Passion for food: Naturally curious about products and technologies for food.