At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead brand strategies and drive growth in a dynamic marketing environment.
- Company: Join Thornton & Ross, a forward-thinking company committed to health and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and wellness support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on brand success while developing your marketing skills.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in FMCG or Consumer Health with strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
Company: Thornton & Ross (STADA Group)
Department: Consumer Marketing - OTC
Location: Reading, United Kingdom
Job Level: Professionals
STADA UK Thornton & Ross is on an exciting growth journey with more than 700 employees being fully committed to our purpose of Caring for People's Health as a Trusted Partner. Together we are shaping the future of Thornton & Ross by living our values of Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Agility and One STADA. If you want to work in an open culture where your uniqueness is valued, join our Marketing Team.
Role Purpose
The Senior Brand Manager plays a critical role within STADA UK's CHC Marketing organization at a time of accelerated growth, portfolio expansion, and increasing strategic ambition. This role is responsible for shaping and delivering the long-term brand and portfolio strategy, driving in-market excellence, and unlocking sustainable growth through superior execution, insight-led decision-making, and cross-functional leadership. Acting as a key business partner to Marketing, Digital, Insights, Sales, Medical, Regulatory, Supply and Finance, you will lead the development of brand strategies, oversee major initiatives, and elevate marketing culture and capabilities across the organization.
How You Will Make Impact
- 360 Brand management & Portfolio leadership: Lead the development of long-term brand strategies and annual brand plans, ensuring a clear, insight-driven, consumer-centric approach. Own the full activation roadmap across ATL, BTL, digital, PR, shopper, and e-commerce, ensuring integration, consistency, and excellence. Drive portfolio prioritisation, resource allocation, and scenario planning to maximize growth and profitability. Oversee day-to-day brand execution while empowering Brand Managers to deliver with autonomy and accountability. Monitor competitive dynamics and proactively shape brand positioning and category strategy.
- Performance, Analytics and Commercial Ownership: Own full brand P&L and A&P budget strategy and investment decisions, ensuring optimal ROI and alignment with business priorities. Lead monthly performance reviews with cross-functional teams, translating data into clear strategic recommendations. Build and refine performance dashboards and reporting frameworks to improve visibility, agility, and decision-making. Partner with Sales to strengthen customer-facing narratives, optimise promotional strategy, and unlock distribution opportunities. Demonstrate strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of P&L drivers, pricing, and profitability levers.
- Innovation, Renovation & Pipeline Acceleration: Contribute to innovation strategy for the portfolio, from opportunity identification to concept development and business case ownership. Oversee NPD/EPD projects, ensuring cross-functional alignment, on-time delivery, and launch excellence. Shape the medium-term innovation roadmap in partnership with global teams, ensuring relevance for the UK market. Drive post-launch evaluation and continuous optimisation of innovation performance. Identify lifecycle management opportunities to strengthen brand equity and accelerate growth.
- Cross-Functional leadership and Stakeholders Management: Act as senior project lead across Sales, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Medical, Finance, and external agencies. Ensure clarity of roles, timelines, and deliverables across all brand initiatives, driving accountability and pace. Build strong relationships with global teams to influence strategy, secure resources, and share best practices. Represent the brand and portfolio in key business forums, providing clear, data-driven recommendations to leadership. Elevate ways of working by embedding One STADA processes, performance culture, and marketing excellence frameworks.
- Capability Building & Team Development: Contribute to building a high-performance marketing culture grounded in curiosity, ownership, and continuous improvement. Lead by example with a positive, hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset. Support recruitment, onboarding, and capability-building initiatives within the marketing team. Coach and mentor Brand Managers, supporting their development in strategy, analytics, and cross-functional leadership.
What We Are Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field (preferred).
- 4+ years of experience in FMCG or Consumer Health (strong advantage).
- Strong executional capability, with the ambition to deliver best-in-class brand building.
- High energy, hands-on approach, and a positive, growth-oriented mindset.
- Strong analytical capability and comfort working with digital, insights, and performance data.
- Demonstrated commercial acumen, with an understanding of P&L drivers.
- A creative, "think outside the box" mindset combined with a strong sense of ownership.
- Resilience and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Ability to influence, lead cross-functional teams, and manage multiple stakeholders.
How We Care For You
- Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
- Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme offering 8% employer contribution rates.
- Hybrid working - we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.
- 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to 5 additional days.
- Free winter flu jab.
- Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing - offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.
- Electric Car Scheme through Octopus Energy, plus free on-site EV charging.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Enhanced Family Leave.
STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment. We are looking forward to your application and welcome applications without a pharmaceutical background.
Senior Brand Manager in Reading employer: STADA Group
At Thornton & Ross, part of the STADA Group, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive and dynamic work culture that values each employee's unique contributions. With a strong commitment to professional development, our team enjoys numerous growth opportunities, competitive benefits including hybrid working arrangements, and a focus on wellbeing. Join us in Reading, where you can make a meaningful impact in the Consumer Health sector while being supported by a collaborative and innovative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Brand Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Thornton & Ross on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research their recent projects and campaigns. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their growth journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their values of Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Agility, and One STADA. Make it personal and relatable to stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a simple gesture that shows your enthusiasm and professionalism.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Brand Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Brand Manager role. Highlight your experience in brand management and any relevant achievements that align with STADA's values of Integrity and Entrepreneurship.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for consumer health and how your skills can contribute to our growth journey at Thornton & Ross.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since the role involves performance analytics, be sure to mention any experience you have with data-driven decision-making. We love candidates who can turn insights into actionable strategies!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at STADA UK.
How to prepare for a job interview at STADA Group
✨Know Your Brand Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Thornton & Ross's brand portfolio. Understand their key products, recent campaigns, and market positioning. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your insight-driven, consumer-centric approach during the discussion.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss how you've used data to drive brand performance in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've translated analytics into actionable strategies, especially regarding P&L management and ROI optimisation. This will highlight your strong commercial acumen.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Leadership
Think of specific instances where you've led cross-functional teams to achieve brand goals. Be ready to share how you managed timelines, roles, and deliverables while fostering collaboration. This will show your ability to influence and lead diverse stakeholders effectively.
✨Emphasise Your Innovative Mindset
Prepare to discuss your experience with innovation and product development. Share examples of how you've contributed to new product ideas or improvements, and how you ensured successful launches. This will align with their focus on driving growth through innovation.
