Brand Marketing Manager Europe SOREL

Reports to: Sr Brand Manager

Permanent contract

EMEA HQ, Geneva (Switzerland)

Hybrid mode (2 days/week home-office)

At the earliest convenience

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia, we're as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we're proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: "It's perfect. Now make it better." As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

Discover a world of diversity within our team of 700+ across 13 European countries, united by the common goal of elevating Columbia to the pinnacle of outdoor brands in Europe. Our omnichannel approach seamlessly integrates Columbia and Sorel brands' engaging in-store and online experiences.

Nestled at the heart of the Alps in Geneva, Switzerland, our European headquarters hosts the Executive Committee, go-to-market functions, and Planning and Logistics teams. In Schiltigheim, near Strasbourg, our shared services center thrives with over 100 professionals managing Finance and Operations/Customer Service. Our distribution center in Cambrai ensures swift delivery to customers, while our 30+ Columbia stores adorn major European outlet centers. Finally, the Sales and Trade Marketing teams are displayed in four regions across Europe, close to their customers and markets.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Located in our EMEA headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland), the SOREL Go To Market team is working along the Columbia Go To Market Team, the DTC team as well as with the digital cross-border account.

The SOREL team is agile – one European Sales Manager, one Key Account Europe, based in Geneva. The Sorel Marketing Manager is part of the Brand Marketing organization along with Public Relations, Content Creation and Content Creator program management, and Paid Media planning.

The Brand Marketing oversees the brand activity in Europe – coordinating agencies in countries, working with the Trade Marketing team across the regions and implementing global strategy – to meet the overall brand goal. We are building activation along a multi-year roadmap and seasonal initiatives, aligning BRAND / DTC / WHOLESALE to emulate our consumer offensive.

ABOUT THE POSITION

To achieve our 3-year plan and execute our seasonal initiatives, we have established a strong go-to-market process in which brand marketing plays a key role. In this newly created role, you will own the brand message and drive the brand activation across Europe for SOREL. You will be in charge of the budget activation and agency management.

Together with the Sorel Sales Manager Europe and Sr Brand Manager Europe, you will develop a Pan-European marketing and communications strategy that will inspire and engage our customers. This strategy will include advertising, public relations, events, influencer strategy, trade marketing, social media, co-op and in-store marketing, and will be developed in collaboration with the global SOREL structure and in-countries marketing teams.

Additionally, you will strive to become a strong partner of the Columbia Brand Marketing team, guiding how best to integrate our Columbia LIFESTYLE component into our seasonal campaigns, including the HERITAGE collection, READY TO ROAM Collection, and COLLABS. Our goal is to inspire our customers with our marketing efforts and continue to grow our brand.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

SOREL:

• Co-own the Europe Go-To-Market planning process, ensuring alignment with company objectives and market trends.
• Brief local marketing managers on the marketing communication strategy, fostering collaboration and coordinating execution to amplify brand messaging effectively.
• Provide countries with tailored tools for advertising, promotions, co-op, and in-store marketing, aligning with global and Pan-European strategies to enhance brand visibility.
• Cultivate strong relationships with the global marketing team to ensure synergy and consistency in brand values and marketing initiatives.
• Serve as the primary marketing liaison for Sorel across European country organizations, facilitating seamless communication and alignment of marketing efforts.
• Take ownership of the departmental budget for Sorel, strategically allocating resources to maximize ROI and drive business growth.
• Lead the development and execution of the seasonal Omni Channel calendar, optimizing channel mix and timing to maximize brand exposure and customer engagement

Columbia Lifestyle Collection:

• Act as the Lifestyle market and Culture expert for the EU organization, informing regional and global stakeholders about trends, consumer insights, competitors, media, events.
• Partner with Merchandising and Sales to define Columbia's 3-year and seasonal strategies for Lifestyle (Win with authenticators)
• Contribute to the Columbia seasonal marketing plans, bringing specific marketing (Media, PR, social events) recommendations for Lifestyle initiatives, including inline, collections and collabs

YOU ARE

• A trailblazer: Able to create a role from scratch, own a topic from the beginning, take initiative, and work independently
• A Customer-centric advocate who develops campaigns that resonate with audiences
• A strategic thinker able to advocate for your vision.
• Able to collaborate and communicate effectively, and influence Senior leadership & cross-functional teams.
• A "doer" who takes action and is willing to perform hands-on operational tasks.
• Able to demonstrate patience, diplomacy, and ability to work under pressure.

YOU HAVE

• University degree in Marketing or in Business.
• 5-8 years of experience in a Marketing function, preferably in Brand and Trade marketing
• Strong general marketing and communication experience in a multi-channel media environment
• Strong work experience and proven successes in Public Relations
• A solid experience in and knowledge of the lifestyle footwear/fashion industry, experience within an international environment and in B2B2C distribution channel
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, other languages preferred.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat)

PERKS & BENEFITS

Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products

Soft mobility policy (Geneva office only)

Health insurance allowance for employees in Switzerland

Pilates and yoga classes on our premises, and running groups or sports activities

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning

A monthly Learning Hour for training, discovery and learning

Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights...)

DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

ABOUT THE CULTURE

• At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.
• Our "Always Be Learning" culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
• "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.

To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle:

ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS

Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear Company? Apply now to help us connect active people with their passion The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks.

If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team

Interview with the hiring manager (online or in-person interview)

Interview with the main stakeholders + case study presentation (if applicable)

Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are thrilled to extend you an offer

Here at SOREL, we believe you are your most powerful tool and the determination you find within is an unstoppable force. SOREL challenges the status quo by creating unexpected footwear that pushes the boundaries of function-first fashion. We stay in motion so you can push yourself forward.

Being part of the SOREL tribe is for the few that dare to draw outside the lines. It's a culture comprised of individuals audaciously pushing forward as one. New ideas fuel us as we explore the unknown, while never being afraid to charge the edge. SOREL is an institution of creators, doers and leaders who bring the spirit of the boot in everything we make.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.