About Combe Inc.

Founded by Ivan Combe in 1949, Combe Incorporated, is a privately held, family-owned personal care company based in White Plains, New York with revenues approaching $500mm. Combe has grown consistently and resiliently over the last seven decades; it generates approximately 30% of its revenues from markets outside of the U.S. The company has transitioned to its third generation of Combe family leadership, under the direction of Keech Combe-Shetty, Executive Chair, and Akshay Shetty, Chief Executive Officer.

Combe Incorporated, puts consumers’ most personal personal care needs at the center of everything they do. Combe has been operating like a start-up since before the term ‘start-up’ even existed. Ivan Combe launched the company with the idea of making products that addressed the unmet needs of consumers in categories that either didn’t yet exist, or that the big companies simply ignored. It was a brilliant business model, and today they continue to create and cultivate brands that push cultural and innovation boundaries to deliver new solutions and greater satisfaction for our consumers around the world. Combe has a proven track record of successful category and brand development, having created disruptive brands including Clearasil, Odor-Eaters, Just For Men and Vagisil. But time and experience have not dampened its entrepreneurial spirit. Combe is always looking for the next personal personal "issue" to solve. “We are unique in the CPG world because we bring the “&” to work every day. We are both deeply rooted & always exploring. We are time-tested & future-minded. We are three-generations-savvy & next-generation-bold”. You may find more information at www.combe.com

Role Summary:

The Assistant Brand Manager supports the brands by leading executional efforts in developing and implementing brand marketing plans and new product launches. This contributes to the achievement of BU’s annual and long-term sales and profitability goals.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assists brand manager to drive business performance including strategy, tactics, revenue, profit objectives and market share.

• Analyzes the business and has an in-depth understanding of key drivers, share, composition, science, pricing/counts, packaging, claims, competition, consumer profile, consumption, profitability, etc., and passionately pursues a growth-oriented agenda addressing areas of weakness with a bias for driving action to optimize results.
• Analyzes brand, category, and consumer need-states, sales and trends, utilizing Nielsen/IRI data as well as Amazon data/Etailers, and reports key findings. Looks at trends and makes recommendations for new campaigns, promotions and potentially product introductions or renovations.
• Coordinate and maintain a repository of competitive activity across all channels including promotions, package/claims and social media & Amazon.
• Supports brand leader in the commercialization of new product introductions into the US market, collaborating with the cross-functional teams, managing timelines and team communication. Requires coordination with Sales department to ensure that all sales support materials are developed and executed on a timely basis.

• Monitors and controls assigned brand expense budgets. Works jointly with Finance to establish and monitor accrual and forecasting budgets and balances. Tracking and managing budget spreadsheet on coupon spending, redemption, and marketing research.

• Assists in the development, execution and analysis of branded promotional, advertising, public relations and social media plans. Responsibilities include assisting in the management of outside suppliers, providing support in the coordination of plans and development of related support materials, for example:

• Liaison between creative and marketing to ensure creative changes (i.e TVC copy) are accurate vs boards. Routing through brand team for approval.
• Guide creative/media which assets are the most up to date based on strategy.
• Sending samples, preparing and tracking TV ready mockups to sales, or to be used in TV integrations (i.e. The REAL)
• Proofreading/Editing blogger articles
• Manage creative to deliver packaging mock ups
• Special packs for specific customers (i.e. Club Packs)
• Identifying and managing all aspects of consumer promotion programs: FSIs, IRCs, Sampling, Digital Coupons
• Reading through website to ensure packaging images, claims, copy and colors are correct and remain up to date
• Determining coupon values, expiration date and following up with Sales and Ops to ensure coupons are printed correctly
• Updating reports for SEC, Ops Team Meeting, Consensus Meeting deck preparations (updating tables, charts and Nielsen data)
• Volume forecasting
• Conducts Brand Plans post-activation analysis, and budget management
• Assists in the execution of market research. Acts as a liaison between the Brand Manager and the Market Research Manager to coordinate the development of the research design and ensures the timely delivery and analysis of all related research materials, with recommendations for next steps
• Communicates marketing programs to Sales, Consumer Affairs, and other interested parties. Includes the distribution of promotion calendars, sales support materials, business trends, competitive activity
• Ensures all consumer/customer facing materials (IRCs, FSI’s, Shelf Talkers) are correct via precise proofreading and approvals
• Respond to ad hoc information requests from the marketing team
• Develop and coordinate presentations for meetings
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skill and Ability Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills with ability to present insights based off of analysis
• Solid understanding/extensive user of core Social Media platforms and Amazon
• Computer skills in Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to thrive in entrepreneurial environment. Must be a self-starter

Education and Experience:

• MBA preferred
• Bachelor’s degree is required. A major in business/marketing is preferred.
• 3-4 years of relevant work experience (if candidate does not have an MBA, experience must be in marketing or brand management)

Working Conditions:

Office environment. At least two days in the office (Tuesdays & Wednesday) additional days may be required by the manager, based on business priorities

Compensation:

$85,000 to $110,000 annual salary depending on experience