Brand Manager

Description: Grow Iconic Brands with a Family-Owned Food LeaderRuiz Foods has been family owned since 1964, is one of the largest Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S., and is the proud maker of two #1 brands: El Monterey, America's #1 frozen Mexican food brand, and Tornados, a convenience-store favorite on the roller grill. Guided by our values of Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Respect, Safety, and Teamwork, we're looking for a Brand Manager who's ready to shape the future of our foodservice business and grow their career with a company that invests in its people and its brands.

Why You'll Love Working Here: Real ownership and visible impact: Lead strategy, innovation, and P&L results for brands sold in convenience stores and foodservice outlets nationwide. Room to grow: Work side by side with senior leadership and cross-functional partners, with tuition reimbursement to support your continued development. A culture that feels like family: Join a company built on family values, entrepreneurial energy, and a commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work. Competitive rewards: Competitive base salary with bonus opportunity, health care coverage, life, accident and disability insurance, 401(k), and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Experience: 5+ years in brand management, innovation, product marketing, or category management in food manufacturing or foodservice Must-have: Proven success developing food products and leading cross-functional commercialization from concept through launch Strongly preferred: Convenience store or foodservice channel experience Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, Culinary, or related field; MBA preferred About the RoleAs Brand Manager, you'll lead brand, portfolio, and go-to-market strategy for our foodservice business, which serves convenience stores and other foodservice outlets. You'll turn consumer, operator, customer, and channel insights into differentiated products, compelling customer solutions, and profitable growth plans. Partnering closely with Sales, R&D, Operations, Finance, Category Management, and Supply Chain, you'll take ideas from concept through commercialization and in-market performance, and you'll lead change by building alignment around new strategies and ways of working.

What You'll Do: Set the strategy: Build annual and long-range brand, portfolio, channel, and go-to-market plans aligned with company growth and profit goals. Find the next big opportunity: Identify unmet consumer, operator, distributor, and customer needs and turn them into clear growth platforms. Lead innovation end to end: Drive new product and renovation initiatives from concept and validation through launch and post-launch optimization, starting with clear product briefs that define needs, cost, pricing, margin, and success measures. Deliver great food: Partner with R&D, Culinary, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to create finished goods that excel in taste, quality, ease of preparation, hold performance, food safety, and operator profitability. Win in every channel: Build strategies for roller grill, hot case, grab-and-go, vending, education, healthcare, and other foodservice occasions. Equip Sales to win: Develop differentiated positioning, value propositions, selling stories, and launch plans that gain distribution and drive velocity. Build the brand: Lead campaigns and marketing communications across traditional, trade, and digital media. Own the numbers: Manage marketing budgets and portfolio P&Ls, set KPIs, and lead quarterly business reviews using scan, shipment, and consumer data. Lead and influence: Guide cross-functional teams with clear owners and milestones, build the business case for change, and drive adoption of new strategies and processes. Stay ahead of the market: Track competitors, menu and flavor trends, channel economics, and industry shifts. Manage partners and events: Direct research, design, packaging, and agency partners, and support planning for NACS and the C-Store Foodservice Forum. What You'll Bring Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, Culinary, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered. 5+ years of brand management, innovation, product marketing, category management, or related experience in food manufacturing or foodservice. Proven experience developing food products and leading cross-functional commercialization from insight through launch and in-market optimization. Strong strategic thinking, with a track record of brand, portfolio, and go-to-market strategies that deliver profitable growth. Solid understanding of the foodservice value chain, including operator needs, distributor dynamics, customer margin expectations, and consumer value. Strong financial acumen across P&L management, pricing, budgets, product economics, and trade investment. Analytical, insight-driven mindset that turns data into clear business decisions. Proven change leadership and the ability to influence Sales, R&D, Operations, Finance, agencies, customers, and senior leadership. Excellent communication skills, including persuasive customer presentations and executive updates. An entrepreneurial spirit paired with the discipline to execute in a scaled manufacturing organization. Strong project management, organization, and attention to detail; proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Nice to Have: Experience in convenience stores, prepared food programs, distributors, restaurants, education, healthcare, vending, or other foodservice channels. Experience leading agencies, research partners, packaging development, and customer or operator research. A track record of measurable results through innovation, portfolio optimization, distribution gains, and improved profitability. Ruiz Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Experience Required: 5 years: Brand management, innovation, product marketing, or category management in food manufacturing or foodservice Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.