Associate Marketing Manager, Product & Innovation
YOUR DAILY MISSION: Bring our brand to the world, through strategic marketing initiatives and innovative product development!
WHO ARE WE?
We’ve been making kick-ass coffee for over 25 years.
We’re Canada’s #1 selling Whole Bean coffee. All our coffee is Organic and Fairtrade, roasted right in the Canadian Rocky Mountains smack dab in the middle of nowhere.
And it’s not just our coffee that’s good. We’ve been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada by Great Place to Work since 2015. We work hard and have fun. That’s how we roll.
WHO ARE YOU?
You love innovation. You love brand. You love insights. You know how to bring these all together to support marketing initiatives. And this ain’t your first rodeo! You’ve led successful marketing projects before. Product marketing and innovation is your jam. You’re creative & have exceptional story-telling chops. You’re a go-getter who drives projects forward, never sitting back and waiting for things to happen. You’re passionate about marketing and pride yourself on being connected to current events and trends. You learn quickly, absorbing info like a sponge, and you set out to deliver kick-ass projects and tasks on time, every time. Woah, is this... fate?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Grow the Kicking Horse Coffee Brand across North America. We are hiring an Associate Marketing Manager, Product & Innovation to work with our marketing team to execute strategic plans, develop insights, and provide support to our sales teams. You will work with cross-functional teams and the marketing team to ensure our priority projects stay on track. Using your smart-ass branding skills, intentional planning, insight experience, and a hint of cheekiness, you will be responsible for the following:
RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Marketing
- Support the creation of KHC’s first-ever Product Marketing strategy, building clear guidelines for bringing our product philosophy & RTBs to life
- Build toolkit of disruptive & ownable product marketing assets
- Act as internal product marketing expert, proactively seeking opportunities to integrate product marketing best practices into all brand communications
- Lead product marketing communications for all new product launches, ensuring impactful & consistent messaging across all channels.
- Champion our product both internally & with external partners to ensure that product RTBs are communicated in a compelling & consistent way across all channels & consumer touchpoints
- Stay connected to industry trends & best practices to ensure KHC’s product marketing breaks through vs. our competitors
Innovation Planning & Execution
- Lead the planning and execution of disruptive innovation initiatives, aligned with company goals; from developing detailed project timelines to leading cross-functional team meetings & developing go-to-market plans, you will ensure that all innovation projects are executed in a remarkable way from start to finish
- Lead innovation performance tracking to draw real-time insights & recommendations to adjust go-to-market tactics and improve ROI for future launches
- Seek sustainable growth opportunities by identifying consumer-relevant insights and keeping your finger on the pulse of cultural trends and conversations.
Trade Marketing
- Lead trade marketing tool & program development across all channels with emphasis on away-from-home, ensuring consistency with brand guidelines.
- Interface with the cross-functional away-from-home team, providing insights for operators/customers and work with innovation team to launch new product ideas.
- Lead the development of new product sell-in materials (i.e. sell sheets, and pitch decks) and roll-out with our sales distribution partners, ensuring alignment with internal key stakeholders.
- Lead on-site brand & trade marketing activations (travel involved).
Cross-Functional & Marketing Leadership
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales and product development, to ensure alignment and effective execution of marketing initiatives.
- Support the overall marketing strategy by coordinating with internal teams and external partners.
- Support the marketing team in owning and leading team meetings, capturing follow-ups and navigating next steps.
Agency Management
- Write clear and focused briefs that will inspire our agency teams to deliver strategically sound and remarkable creative/communications.
- Lead packaging design and development from brief to final proof approvals.
- Collaborate with the internal marketing team and external agency team to plan and execute campaigns across various channels (digital, traditional, social, etc.).
- Monitor campaign performance, analyze key metrics, and provide insights for optimization.
Market Research and Analysis
- Analyze consumer behavior, market conditions and industry trends to report on the state of the business and provide insights to inform marketing strategies.
Budget Management:
- Lead the development and manage marketing budgets.
- Monitor expenditures, ensure cost-effectiveness, and provide financial insights for budget optimization.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A degree in business, marketing, or communications required
- 1-2 years of CPG marketing experience
- Exceptional ability to use Microsoft software such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Proven ability to conduct data analysis using consumer and customer data; AC Nielsen data experience an ASS-et
- Experience leading product development & packaging design projects
- Project management experience is required
- Experience with digital marketing, Adobe Creative Suite or Shopify is an ASS-et
- Bilingual in both French and English is an ASS-et
WHAT WE VALUE - AND WHAT WE LOOK FOR
Do What’s Right. It’s not always neat and tidy. It means taking care of people, the planet and the business. No posturing, no greenwashing, just grown-up conversations and real accountability.
- Let data do the talking. You ask the tough questions and dig into the facts – because guessing is for trivia night, not business.
- Put people first always. You care about wellbeing, dignity and helping others grow – whether it’s your teammate, your barista or your community.
Never Half-Ass It. We’re on a mission to annihilate mediocrity. It’s not about burning out - it’s about showing up, caring deeply, working smart, and taking our craft seriously (but not ourselves).
- Prep like a pro. You know that thoughtful planning beats last-minute scrambling. Panic is not a strategy.
- Ask for back up when you need it. You’re all about collaboration, not heroics.
Cut the Bullshit. It’s about systems that work without waste, kindness without drama and root-cause thinking over quick fixes. No fluff, no fuss – just clarity, honesty and getting to the heart of things.
- Keep it simple (and smart). You know that simple doesn’t mean basic – it means clear, clever and effective. Clunky systems, vague processes? Hard pass.
- Take feedback like a champ. You’re open, curious and humble enough to hear hard truths – and smart enough to use them to get better.
Be Remarkable. We’re not here to play it safe or follow the crowd. We’re here to break patterns, defy expectations and drop a few jaws along the way. If it’s forgettable, it’s not for us.
- Bring the magic, not the meh. You care deeply about your craft and push for excellence – not because someone’s watching, but because it matters.
- Take initiative like it’s second nature. You spot opportunities to make things better and make it happen.
Do It All With Love. Love? Buck yeah, Love! It’s our not-so-secret ingredient. We care deeply about the work we do, the people we work with, and the impact we have. That love shows up in every cup.
- Lead with kindness, always. You treat people with care and respect – even when things gets messy.
- Make space for joy. You believe laughter belongs at work. You bring good vibes, light moments and know that joy fuels great work.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
- This is a GTA-located remote role. You’ll be required to attend regular meetings in downtown Toronto.
- Must be able to travel to HQ in Invermere, BC at least twice per year for all-company events and meetings.
- This is a full-time permanent position in our Marketing department.
- The annual salary range for this role is $70,000 - $78,000.
PERKS TO PIQUE YOUR INTEREST
When individuals thrive, communities thrive. And we are here to help that happen. The following perks and programs have been designed with intention, to ensure our people prosper.
- Mug Fillers: Damn good discounts on coffee beans and all the caffeine you will need to keep you fuelled.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Designed to support employee wellness and mental health, our benefits program is as full as our mugs! We offer our full-time team members with:
- Extended medical, dental and vision coverage.
- Annual $2,000 flexible paramedical services coverage.
- Access to our emergency or crisis support through our Employee & Family Assistance Program.
- Annual $700 Wellness Allowance.
- A whole heck of a lot of time off including 4 weeks of paid vacation after one year of work.
- Celebrate your birthday with a paid day off and a $100 gift certificate to your local business of choice.
- Community Giving: Our Dream Fund provides Kicking Horse Coffee dreamers with financial funding to put towards community projects.
- Coffee Education: Deep dive into the soul of what we do, explore everything from processing methods to brewing techniques through our Coffee Education programming.
- Training and Development: We believe in supporting personal and professional growth. Learning is key to doing great work, but more than that, it helps us stay curious, adapt to change, and become masters of our fields.
- Exceptional Human Beans: Working with a kick-ass team? We think that is the best perk of all. Our crew of coffee lovers love what they do and are great at it too!
HOW TO APPLY
Sound like your cuppa? You should probably apply. Create your account with our candidate portal (through Get Hired) and submit your resume and application form. Since you’re more than just a resume, please be prepared to answer a few questions about yourself in your online application, including:
- Tell us one thing about yourself we would not find on your resume.
- What brand are you most proud to have worked on and why?
- Why do you want to work with us?
This posting will remain open with applications reviewed as they are received. So don’t delay, apply right away!
SPIRIT OF LOVE
Love means welcoming everyone to ensure an inclusive place for all. We seek team members from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures.
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