Welcome to Hovis.

Our brand is iconic and loved by many. We're all about baking, with over 130 years of experience under our belts. Every day, we're churning out around 1.3 million delicious loaves of bread and bakery products throughout the UK and Ireland.

We've got an amazing team of 2,800 people working in 8 bakeries, 1 flour mill, and 2 distribution centres across the UK. And let us tell you, their hard work is what makes us successful. Whether they're experts in baking, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, or any of the departments in our head office, without them, we’d be toast!

Read on, find out more, and hopefully experience the goodness of Hovis for yourself.

What’s the opportunity?

We are looking for an energetic Brand Manager to play a key role in supporting our brand plans and continuing to establish Hovis & Ormo as sustainable, growing brands, creating value for all stakeholders.

We are looking for a bright, ambitious, and entrepreneurial marketer with a passion for building brands and inspiring strategic change to achieve our brand ambition.

The main purpose of this role is to be a key player in the development and delivery of annual brand plans, leading key projects and supporting cross-functional teams to deliver inspiring marketing activity.

What will you be doing?

• Digging deep into consumer trends and insights, identifying target consumer frustrations and unmet needs.
• Reporting on current and past performance trends for the category, brand, competition, and customer. Key metrics include market performance, brand health and purchase consideration.
• Utilising brand planning tools (e.g. brand positioning pyramid), you’ll contribute to the brand direction with both product and equity.
• Using market trends and consumer research to fuel and run with innovation ideas.
• Using your solid understanding of the P&L to plan and report on the financial impact of product strategies.
• Recommending activities and KPIs against brand strategies, estimating the funding needed.
• Recommending specific comms channels to most effectively deliver against brand jobs.
• Holding internal and external partners accountable for execution of brand comms quality, cost, and schedule.
• Building and maintaining project time plans with clear critical paths.
• Leading cross functional teams, holding members accountable and aligning key stakeholders to risk mitigation plans.
• You will be able to inform and excite internal and external stakeholders about key initiatives and their desired impact on the business and brand.

We're looking for someone who has true leadership qualities and can take ownership of this function within Hovis. You'll own what you do and have a knack for influencing different stakeholders in a positive way. Your positivity, encouragement, and consistency will help you guide individuals towards specific tasks and behaviours.

What are ‘must haves’ from you?

• Commerciality: using performance measurement and financial management to build the brand.
• Experience managing marketing budget and awareness around P&L implications.
• Brand marketing experience, including a UK FMCG food/drink environment.
• Project management skills: including prior implementation of stage and gate process within an FMCG NPD environment.
• Self-starter attitude, with excellent communication skills and resilient behaviours.

What would be ideal?

• Strong academic background with university degree attained at 2:1 or above.
• Past exposure to consumer and shopping marketing including a mix of activities such as NPD development and launch, brand planning, campaign development, PR, digital, experiential, ATL, annual brand planning.
• Experience within the bakery industry.

Why work for Hovis? What’s in it for you? 

At Hovis, we really get how crucial it is to take care of our colleagues. That's why, on top of your salary, we will provide you with a bunch of relevant benefits. Our benefits at Hovis are as varied as the people that receive them, and you can choose based on your needs. We’re all for adding that extra value, beyond just what’s on your payslip.

Some of the good stuff:

• Enhanced annual leave and maternity / paternity leave (and flexibility where possible to suit your needs)
• Three levels of pensions to choose from
• A benefits platform (Hovis Choice) which offers:
  • A variety of savings and cashback offers on day-to-day living
  • Eyecare vouchers
  • A healthcare scheme that can be tailored to your needs
  • Cycle to work scheme 
• We reward loyalty with generous long-service and colleague recognition schemes
• A focus on health and wellbeing, with various resources to support you

At Hovis, we believe in embracing diversity and creating a welcoming workplace for everyone. We're all about equal opportunities. Whether you're applying for a job or already part of our team, we promise to treat you with fairness, respect, and dignity. No matter your age, abilities, gender identity, relationship status, pregnancy or maternity, race, ethnicity, background, beliefs, union affiliation, political views, sexual orientation, or any other unique traits, you will be valued and included here at Hovis.

Does this sound like the role for you? Does Hovis seem like the kind of organisation you would like to work for? Do you have the relevant experience and skills? We would love to hear from you.

Location: Belfast.

Type of role: Full Time, permanent.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.