Field Marketing Manager Needed at Darden Restaurants in Orlando, FL

Postition OVERVIEW: A field Marketing Manager (FMM) takes lead responsibility for developing plans and executing initiatives that support the Sales and Marketing Manager (SMM) and the restaurants in building sales and guest relationships. The FMM collaborates with the field (Regional Directors and restaurant leadership) to ensure that all initiatives are consumer-relevant, fiscally sound by providing an ROI and supportive of operational excellence. JOB DESCRIPTION: • Converts brand strategies into innovative action plans to achieve marketing growth opportunities and develops new strategies to leverage market segments
• Applies an understanding of consumer, market and industry trends to daily work activities associated with the development and execution of brand-building opportunities
• Monitors and analyzes key brand performance metrics
• Develops Sales and Marketing Managers members by seeking out and supporting training, development, and other professional growth opportunities; manages individual and team performance through coaching, feedback, and performance management discussions
• Develops and nurtures relationships with other Restaurant Support Center teams to remain informed of initiatives and disseminate applicable guest and operations feedback
• Manages resources, tasks, contracts, scope, and budgets for projects; supports and manages budgeting, contract agreements, and invoice payment for vendor-related work
• Supports others in modeling the financial impact of  programs to achieve financial goals (guest, sales, margin)
• Develops and communicates promotional performance overviews; identifies implications and recommendations for success of  future promotions
• Monitors and analyzes key restaurant performance metrics—guest count growth, SSS, average check
• Oversees and develops briefs to guide projects ; plans, organizes, monitors, and controls all aspects of a project and ensures engagement, commitment, and risk management; provides ongoing communications support on project status to ensure senior management alignment
• Manages all aspects of the new store opening process including the training of the SMM, communications materials, PR agency management and 30-60-90 day follow-up field support
• Develops and manages national and/or local promotion marketing and sales-building initiatives
• Coordinates creative and initiatives for local markets with Brand Marketing Manager
• Develops and champions brand equity guidelines; takes ultimate responsibility and oversight in ensuring that field programs  support the brand promise and are aligned with operational excellence
• Seeks operator feedback and insight to ensure new products support operations excellence
• Manages PR  agency and partners
• Manages menu printing and field collateral needs EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, & OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS: • Field Strategy Development:  Demonstrates the capability to develop and create clear and compelling business-building field  strategies and evolve, train and support these strategies over time as best practices
• Brand Equity Management: Demonstrates the capability to ensure all brand activities build brand equity in the field
• Public Relations & Media Management:  Demonstrates the capability to develop and manage a variety of public relation techniques for brand-building publicity
• Local Promotion Development and Management: Demonstrates the capability to lead local programs and events that build the brand and drive the business especially in the areas of private dining, corporate and large party reservations, hotel and meeting planner reservations.
• Local Promotion Management & Development: Demonstrates the capability to lead local promotions that build the brand and drive the business
• Consumer Knowledge: Demonstrates knowledge of current consumer and industry behaviors, trends, attitudes, preferences, and needs
• Operations Knowledge:  Demonstrates understanding of new programs/limitations interface with operations to ensure excellence in execution
• Project Management: Demonstrates the capability to achieve desired outcomes on time and within budget through the application of project management principles and techniques
• Brand Activation: Demonstrates an understanding and capability in executing the brand strategy
• Bachelor's Degree (Marketing, Business or related field) required; MBA  preferred
• 3+  years field marketing experience; preferably with LongHorn Steakhouse or in hospitality or retail
• Successful management  and execution of business-building field programs required
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and hold field team members accountable for performance preferred
• Some travel required
• Passion for food and hospitality
• Or, equivalent combination of education, training and experience 

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $73,700 - 98,300

 

* All qualified candidates please submit your resume to:  JMerrick@darden.com