Job Type: Full-Time
Classification: Exempt
Location: ZQUARED Headquarters- Chesterfield, MO(On-Site)
Department: Brand Management
Reports To: Director of Brand Management
Schedule: 8AM-4PM, M-F
Overview
ZQUARED is a multi-brand operator on Amazon and Walmart. Through our Brand Management model, we take an investment position in the brands we partner with: purchasing inventory, owning the marketplace P&L, and integrating content, advertising, and brand protection under one operational system. We currently manage a portfolio of 50+ brand partners across multiple pods and continue to scale toward 100.
Role
The Brand Manager at ZQUARED is the strategic lead and primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of brand partners. Working as the quarterback of a cross-functional pod - composed of a Brand Manager, a Content Specialist, and an Advertising Specialist - this role owns the brand relationship, sets the strategic direction, and is accountable for revenue, margin, and growth outcomes across the portfolio. The Brand Manager directs and approves all brand-facing work produced by the pod, ensures execution standards are met, and represents ZQUARED in all brand partner conversations.
Responsibilities
Brand Relationship Management
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned brand partners, building and maintaining trusted relationships.
Lead cadenced calls and quarterly business reviews with each brand partner.
Translate brand partner needs and objectives into an actionable strategy and aligned execution.
Manage all aspects of Amazon Seller Central and Walmart Seller Center for assigned brands.
Brand Strategy Development
Develop and execute portfolio-level brand strategy aligned with each partner's commercial goals and ZQUARED's investment thesis.
Identify and lead 1–2 named growth initiatives per brand each month (minimum 12 per brand annually) - including catalog expansion, channel expansion, pricing optimization, advertising restructure, and brand protection actions.
Conduct ongoing market research to identify trends, competitive threats, and white-space opportunities.
Own pricing strategy, including promotional cadence, MAP enforcement coordination, and discount management to maximize sales and contribution margin.
Content Creation and Management
Lead content strategy and priorities for each brand to drive organic ranking, conversion rate, and brand search performance.
Work with the Content Specialist to set direction on listings, A+ content, brand store, and marketing materials.
Review and approve all brand-facing content before publication; nothing goes live without Brand Manager sign-off.
Ensure content aligns with brand standards and current Amazon AI optimization standards (COSMO/Rufus).
Data Analysis & Reporting
Analyze sales, advertising, and contribution margin data to evaluate brand and portfolio health.
Utilize market intelligence, brand analytics, and proprietary internal reporting as part of daily decision-making.
Generate and deliver monthly performance reports and quarterly business reviews with strategic insights and recommendations.
Track KPIs against forecast and make timely pricing, ad spend, and inventory decisions to defend portfolio outcomes.
Collaboration & Communication
Lead the day-to-day operations of the pod, including weekly syncs, deliverable approvals, and clear assignment of accountability.
Partner with the Advertising Specialist on advertising strategy and optimization with clear targets for TACOS, iROAS, and incremental contribution.
Partner cross-functionally with Inventory, Brand Operations, and the Director of Brand Management to ensure portfolio-wide consistency.
Coordinate with the Inventory team on demand planning and forecasting; flag inventory risk and opportunity proactively.
Communicate proactively with brand partners across phone, email, and CRM with clear documentation of decisions and direction.
Other Responsbilities
Establish and oversee documentation standards for the pod to ensure data integrity and marketplace compliance.
Continuously evaluate and refine brand management processes in partnership with Brand Operations; contribute to process improvements that scale across the team.
Use available AI tools as leverage in daily workflow.
Operate with a high standard of professional conduct, treating every brand partner as a long-term capital investment.
First 90 Days
The Brand Manager will progress through three structured phases during onboarding, each with clearly defined milestones.
Days 1–30 | Learn the Operating System
Complete onboarding and shadow each existing pod to absorb operating rhythm.
Take full ownership of assigned portfolio and complete a baseline diagnostic on every brand.
Establish weekly 1:1 cadence with the Director of Brand Management and pod specialists.
Become operational in internal analytics, project management, and CRM platforms.
Days 31–60 | Establish Pod Rhythm
Run a 30-day strategy review with every brand partner in the portfolio.
Build a forward-looking growth initiative pipeline for each brand (12+ per year).
Consistently meet response time standards (4 business hours urgent, 24 business hours standard).
Lead the first weekly pod meeting with the team.
Days 61–90 | Drive Outcomes
Deliver against quarterly revenue and TACOS targets.
Demonstrate command of pod dynamics - clear briefs, fast feedback, no missed approvals.
Earn explicit positive feedback from at least one brand partner regarding strategic value delivered.
Execute on at least three high-conviction growth initiatives across the portfolio.
Success Metrics & Expectations
Financial Performance
Quarterly and annual revenue forecast attainment across assigned portfolio. Performance-based bonus tiered at 100%, 105%, 110%, and 120% attainment.
Contribution margin and TACOS performance within portfolio targets.
Monthly P&L review and forecast updates owned by the Brand Manager.
Operational Standards
Response times: 4 business hours for urgent issues; 24 business hours for standard requests.
Documentation: 100% of material brand partner communications and decisions logged in the CRM; all execution managed in the project management system.
Approvals: 100% of brand-facing content reviewed and approved by the Brand Manager prior to publication.
Strategic Output
1–2 named growth initiatives per brand per month (12+ annually).
Monthly deep dives delivered for every brand in the portfolio.
Quarterly business reviews delivered for top-tier brand partners.
Pod Leadership
Clear, complete briefs delivered to specialists with actionable direction.
Feedback delivered within 24 hours of work submission.
Zero unauthorized content publication; all work flows through proper review.
Job Qualifications
Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred.
5+ years of experience in brand management, e-commerce, or a related field.
Proven track record of owning revenue and margin outcomes for a brand or portfolio.
Strong working knowledge of Amazon Seller Central, Vendor Central, advertising, and Brand Registry.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief specialists clearly and lead executive-level partner conversations.
Demonstrated commercial literacy — comfort with P&Ls, contribution margin, and trade-off analysis.
Discipline with project and CRM systems.
Demonstrated comfort using AI tools as part of daily workflow.
Preferred Experience
Experience managing a multi-brand portfolio across Amazon and Walmart.
Familiarity with performance and advertising platforms.
Background in CPG, health & wellness, or consumer durables.
Exposure to brand protection and MAP enforcement workflows.
Experience leading cross-functional teams or specialist resources toward defined outcomes.