Associate Brand Manager, DCS Chocolate
Location: US | Function: CGO / Marketing | Reports to: Sr. Manager, DCS Chocolate
How will you fit in the big picture?
The Chocolate DCS team drives brand strategy, marketing and product innovation, and whitespace growth across Hershey's chocolate portfolio and adjacent categories, including Reese's, Hershey's, Kit Kat®, PayDay, Cadbury, and Brookside. The Associate Brand Manager, DCS Chocolate will help develop holistic, consumer-grounded growth initiatives for the Kit Kat® and Variety portfolio. This role translates trends, unmet consumer needs, and whitespace opportunities into strategies and leads initiatives from discovery and ideation through commercialization to support Hershey's growth ambitions.
What will you do?
- Identify growth opportunities. Leverage knowledge of chocolate and broader snacking trends, consumer needs, and category dynamics to identify whitespace opportunities and translate insights into actionable innovation strategies.
- Develop strategic recommendations. Analyze and structure complex business opportunities, build clear recommendations, and present compelling points of view to leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Lead innovation from idea to market. Support new product and non-product initiatives from discovery and ideation through development and commercialization, balancing consumer relevance, business value, and executional feasibility.
- Drive cross-functional execution. Coordinate projects across virtually every function in the company, aligning partners, managing multiple priorities, and delivering milestones on time.
- Manage external partners. Lead activities with third-party suppliers, agencies, and research vendors to deliver high-quality insights, creative solutions, and project outcomes.
- Build brand and business capability. Apply strong strategic thinking, planning, analytics, and general management skills to create economic value and strengthen the Kit Kat® and Variety portfolio.
Minimum Requirements
Education: Bachelor's degree required. MBA or relevant master's degree preferred.
Experience: Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience.
Skills: Strong leadership, strategic thinking, planning, analytical, project management, and communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver against timelines. Functional marketing expertise and experience with syndicated data, such as Circana or Numerator, preferred.
Benefits and Perks
At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.
- Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
- Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
- Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
- Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility
Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $108840 to $136050 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance-based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well-being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey's benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com
