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