VP of Marketing

About Us:
Since 1935, we’ve been on a mission to bring a little extra happiness to everyday life and inspire connections over food. We select the finest ingredients the world has to offer, craft premium products made with love, and never settle for shortcuts. We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves — and that’s the only way we’d put our name on it. 

Today, our small family company has grown into a national leader in specialty olives, peppers, and sauces under the leadership of CEO Jeff Mezzetta, and our commitment to quality has never wavered. With an 80-year legacy behind us and a bright future ahead, we’re seeking passionate, driven candidates to help us bring our cherished family traditions to a new generation.

The ideal candidate will have an immediate connection to our Core Ingredients:  

• Crunchy Crunchy: We are hungry for excellence.
• Own It: We think and act as an owner – with appetite, initiative, and responsibility.
• Connection: We build authentic relationships that foster trust and open communications.
• Vibrance: We come to work eager and passionate about fulfilling our vision. When we share our work, we share a part of who we are.

Vice President of Marketing 

The Role 

The Vice President of Marketing is responsible for driving profitable growth by maximizing the business potential of Mezzetta’s current portfolio and partnering to launch innovation growth plans into market. You will create a dynamic marketing discipline to authentically connect with consumers, create relevancy across the Mezzetta portfolio, and bring our brands to life across all meaningful aspects of the marketing mix and purchase journey. In addition, this role will help substantiate Mezzetta’s role as category leader within respective segments by bringing insight-driven, on-trend news to both consumers and customers. 

Responsibilities 

Master Brand Positioning, Communication Strategy, and go-to-market (GTM) product strategy: 

Partner with the CEO to finalize Mezzetta master brand positioning, to create brand value and influence through a sustainable relationship with internal and external stakeholders beyond functional product attributes to one of a beloved brand. Brand stewardship includes consistent use of a visual identity system, brand architecture, and communication hierarchy across all touch points. Deliver on-budget, growth-driving tactics that maximize the power of a master brand. 

Refinement and oversight of the execution of category strategies and innovation go to market strategies 

• Manage existing product portfolio across all aspects of the four P’s of marketing (product, price, placement and promotion). 

• Product segments and categories include olives, peppers, pasta sauce, hot sauces, marinades, and specialty items. 

• Ensure integrated annual plans that deliver on strategy, growth and financial ambitions. 

• Act as general manager for brand P&L, understanding opportunities and risks in line items from topline and bottom line. Advocate for improvements to brand P&L while weighing in voice of the consumer. 

• Partner with Finance to ensure accuracy of P&L inputs and run scenarios for existing business as well as new projects impacting brand, e.g. innovation launches, renovation changes, customer-specific opportunities. 

• Work with cross-functional teams to prioritize projects and related opportunities based on size of prize and strategic considerations related to the consumer and the customer. 

• Ladder up all opportunities to maximize the strength of the master brand. 

Ecommerce and Digital 

• Create compelling storytelling content across owned (website, social) and earned(press) channels. 

• Develop digital dashboards that demonstrate reach and engagement growth. 

• Refine and oversee execution of ecomm strategy to optimize and realize potential. 

Omnichannel and Shopper Marketing tied to Campaigns 

• Plan and implement best in class 360 campaigns. 

• Establish a best-in-class customer experience that incorporates in-store merchandising, signage, and marketing programs. 

• Partner with Sales leadership to develop customer presentations that highlight brand and product differentiation that drive growth across multiple categories. 

Brand Architecture and Packaging 

• Ensure existing and new product launches are cohesive as one master brand and leverage the power of the Mezzetta master brand. 

• Lead all aspects of packaging strategy translating consumer needs into impactful packaging design. 

• Oversee the development of packaging graphics modification projects across internal cross-functional teams, other segment leaders, and Sales to ensure smooth product/graphics development and launches. 

 

Leadership 

• Coach and develop the team to drive actions with clarity, speed and agility. 

• Develop a culture of marketing excellence by instilling deep knowledge and appreciation of the business, segments and competitive landscapes, and establishing a general management mindset across the marketing team. 

• Direct growth in marketing team’s business acumen including consumer insights, project management, financials, forecasting, building a business case, and sales/customer relations. 

Qualifications 

• 10+ years with general management and product marketing in the food or beverage industry with a consumer recognized brand. Strong CPG background – classically trained larger CPG w/ recent smaller/midcap business experience is ideal. 

• Bachelors degree in Marketing or Business Administration and/or related degree required; M.B.A. preferred. 

• Strategic leader with full responsibility for short- and long-term strategy plans in partnership with the Leadership Team.  

• Proven CPG-specific acumen in consumer expertise. 

• Deep, repeatable history of strong Sales and Customer partnerships. 

• Proven track record of driving profitable growth through product innovation and managing existing product portfolios. 

• P&L owner experience, including excellent business and financial acumen, enabling problem solving at the stakeholder level. 

• Previous experience attracting, leading and retaining a team for optimum outcomes and individual growth development.  

• Must be courageous, exhibiting the ability to challenge the business to capitalize on new consumption opportunities. 

• Strong analytical capabilities, ability to lead with data and facts. 

• Proven pricing experience + portfolio strategy/architecture experience. 

• Intellectual curiosity paired with strong analytical, interpersonal skills, willing listener, and conflict management skills is required. 

• Experience with digital, value creation, agency management (positioning, adv/coms, packaging). 

• Well versed in unlocking brand/business potential – passion, capability in driving change, creating, building in a in process-oriented org with the ability to push/optimize so process works for team. 

• Demonstrates focus on, and ability to teach team to understand “Why, What, How”. 

 

 

 

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:
At Mezzetta, we embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where you know you belong. Part of that commitment includes a zero-tolerance policy and being an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Mezzetta are solely based on merit, qualifications, abilities and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, family or parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive.