Senior Brand/Portfolio Manager, Wholesale Marketing - Europa Eyewear

Role Description
The Senior Brand/Portfolio Manager for Europa Eyewear’s Wholesale Marketing Department (B2B brands) is a critical leader responsible for strategy, growth, and management of Europa’s imported brands. This role builds and executes brand strategies while ensuring effective go-to-market (GTM) plans, coordinating closely with Product, Sales and Channel Marketing. The Senior Brand/Portfolio Manager drives cross-functional project initiatives, tracks brand performance, and maintains consistent brand identities across all channels. This role is pivotal in reinforcing Europa Eyewear’s position as the leading independent eyewear company in North America (N.A.). Brands include: Scott Harris, Michel Ryen, DB4K, Cinzia, Cote D’Azur, Adin Thomas, INVU N.A., and Elements

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management & Brand Strategy (B2B Brands excluding American Optical + STATE)
  1. Map Europa’s brand portfolio to capitalize on opportunities within the optical market; ensure each brand has a unique value proposition (UVP), market position, and customer/consumer target. minimizing overlap/risk of cannibalization and maximizing market share opportunity
  2. Create brand plans, relevant targets/key performance indicators (KPIs), and accountabilities to align with the company’s objectives of driving market share and accelerating growth, with Scott Harris and Michael Ryen, which currently represent 50% of total revenue, being of the most critical importance
  3. Define strategic brands plans for the portfolio which includes defining distribution strategies, pricing, and promotions which drive both sell in and sell through
  4. Work closely with the Product Team to ensure collections and product launches are distinguished by brand, imbued with its DNA, and influenced by its customer target
  5. Regularly assess market trends and competitive activity to identify “need gaps” and ensure brands and positioning remains relevant; help leadership identify relevant white space opportunities for future growth
  6. Assume responsibility for the visual identity of the identified brands, directing the creative execution of marketing assets and imagery, ensuring all market touchpoints are on brand
  7. Oversee the ‘Brand Ambassador Program’ with top sales reps designed to facilitate feedback from and provide peer-to-peer coaching on identified brands
• Go-To-Market (GTM) Execution
  1. Work closely with PD, Sales Leadership and Channel Marketing to bring product, campaigns, and seasonal initiatives, to market in a timely and impactful way
  2. Manage the cross-functional GTM calendar for seamless execution; and assess the ongoing performance of GTM efforts to identify improvements, and continuously optimize
  3. Develop rep toolkits including training materials, point-of-purchase (POP) materials, displays where appropriate, promotional plans and digital assets that promote our brands and align with market and sales team needs
     
     
• Project Management
  1. Manage end-to-end brand initiatives, including timelines, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication
  2. Ensure projects are executed on time, within scope, and aligned with strategic objectives while maintaining high quality
  3. Lead cross-functional teams, facilitating effective marketing, sales, and PD collaboration
  4. Oversee vendor relationships and manage external resources, aligned with brand strategy
• Budget Management, Performance Tracking & Analysis
  1. Collaborate with VP of Marketing to develop appropriate annual brand budgets; and manage accordingly, monitoring spending to targets
  2. Analyze brand performance metrics and KPIs for strategy and campaign effectiveness
  3. Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to drive continuous improvement
  4. Maintain comprehensive brand plans that include objectives, tactics, timelines, and performance reviews, ensuring data informs future decisions

Competencies Needed for Success

• Leadership: Guides and influences cross-functional teams to achieve brand objectives
• Strategic Thinking: Balances long-term brand vision with operational execution
• Project Management: Efficiently manages timelines, resources, & communication across initiatives
• Analytical Skills: Leverages data to track performance and drive strategic decisions
• Creative Leadership: Ensures consistency and impact in brand messaging and creative assets
• Communication & Financial Acumen: Articulates strategies clearly, managing budgets, and ROI

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required, MBA preferred
• 5+ years brand management experience, preferably in a B2B environment
• Prior experience leading teams and managing complex initiatives
  
  

Position Details

• Full-time position based at our Vernon Hills, IL Headquarters
• Hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days in office per week, additional days may be required to meet business need
• Travel approximately 20% of the time (to attend trade shows, meetings, industry events, etc.)

About Europa Eyewear

Europa Eyewear, based in Vernon Hills, IL, is one of the largest independent designers and manufacturers of eyewear frames in the United States. Europa offers a diverse portfolio of 11 independent eyewear brands, including STATE Optical Co., which launched in 2015, and American Optical (AO Eyewear), which the company acquired in 2019. Europa also built and maintains the largest eyewear manufacturing facility in the United States. eyebobs became part of the platform in April 2023 and is an omni-channel market leader in premium readers based in Minneapolis, MN.

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