Associate Market Activation Manager - Southern Europe Cluster

Overview

The Market Activation role is a 'hands on' downstream marketing lead within the Southern European Cluster organisation. The main geographical focus is on Italy, Spain and Portugal.

This role is responsible for best-in-class in-market execution of sell-out focused activities across customers and channels. Operating as a commercially embedded marketeer, the role is guided by the Cluster Lead and Sales team to drive trade marketing excellence, optimise assortment and portfolio execution, and deliver high-impact promotional and activation plans.

The Market Activation role ensures that customer plans (JBP) and promotional plans are being converted into tangible commercial outcomes - driving visibility, distribution, sell-out and profitable growth within the Cluster.

Responsibilities

Cluster Market Activation & Execution Excellence

• Translate JB, NPD and promo guidelines into actionable Cluster activation plans
• Lead end-to-end execution of product launches across all relevant channels
• Ensure excellence in physical and digital point-of-sale execution (displays, fixtures, content, toolkits), by following Global Design guides (exceptions will require escalation and strong business case to support deviations)
• Drive consistent execution standards across key accounts
• Monitor in-market implementation and highlight execution gaps to Cluster Lead
• This role is accountable for ensuring that marketing plans are not only developed, but delivered flawlessly.

Assortment & Portfolio Ownership (Cluster Level)

• Own the Cluster-level view of assortment, range and SKU prioritisation within the Regional framework
• Adapt portfolio strategy to reflect cluster-specific customer, channel and competitive dynamics
• Support and align with Sales on category reviews, customer range presentations and distribution expansion
• Coordinate lifecycle execution including new product introductions, rationalisation and transitions
• The role ensures the right products are available, visible and prioritised across the Cluster.

Promotional & Trade Marketing Leadership

• Develop and manage the Cluster promotional calendar
• Develop promotional mechanics and determine timing to support the commercial objectives
• Support Sales to optimise trade spend effectiveness and return on investment
• Evaluate promotional performance and recommend corrective actions where required
• Ensure pricing and promotional execution align with broader commercial strategy
• The Market Activation role drives disciplined, ROI-focused trade marketing execution.

Commercial Partnership & Customer Engagement

• Act as the dedicated marketing counterpart to the Cluster Lead
• Support customer sell-in conversations with robust category, portfolio and activation rationale
• Support in development of customer activation plans tailored to account priorities
• Provide Cluster lead with trade marketing input for demand forecasting and S&OP discussions
• Support high-level customer presentations and activation storytelling
• The role strengthens commercial credibility and ensures marketing and sales operate as a unified growth team.

Market Insight & Feedback Loop

• Act as the "voice of the Cluster" to Regional Category Marketing
• Collect feedback on launches, activations and competitive dynamics
• Identify execution issues pre- and post-launch for escalation by Cluster Lead
• Highlight emerging opportunities, white space or range gaps
• Contribute insights to inform future NPD and portfolio planning
• This role ensures that market realities are reflected in upstream decision-making.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate execution timelines with Supply Chain, Finance and Regional Marketing
• Ensure marketing assets are localised and delivered in line with cluster needs
• Support internal product training and commercial readiness initiatives
• Maintain disciplined project tracking and execution governance
• The Market Activation role ensures alignment and execution control across stakeholders.

What does success look like?

• Quality and timeliness of activation execution
• Launch execution effectiveness
• Distribution and assortment optimisation
• Promotional performance and ROI
• Contribution to Cluster growth targets
• Execution compliance and visibility standards
• Quality and actionability of market feedback

Qualifications

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Data-informed decision-making
• Growth mindset
• Hands-on and delivery-focused
• Proactive and solution-oriented
• Strong ownership mindset
• Credible, collaborative and resilient
• Customer and results focused

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 5-8 years' experience in Marketing, Trade Marketing or Commercial roles
• Experience within FMCG, consumer durables or similar fast-paced environments
• Demonstrated success in delivering in-market execution and activation plans
• Proven ability to cooperate with Sales teams and Regional functions
• Ability to operate effectively within a matrix (Global / Regional / Cluster) environment
• Data-informed decision-making
• Fluent in Spanish and English. Italian is a pre.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• BA degree in Marketing, Business Admin, International Business or a similar discipline
• Experience in trade, shopper or category marketing
• Exposure to retail environments (physical and eComm)
• Ownership of multiple product launches
• Promotional planning and execution

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Data driven decision making
• Project and program management
• Influencing without authority
• Presenting to a range of audiences
• Clear and strong communication style