Activation Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Enthuse is an education-led marketing agency. We’re a passionate team of marketers, educators, and instructional designers all dedicated to a singular mission – we teach the world to love our client’s brands.

We’re also one of the fastest growing WBENC-certified, 100% women-owned and led marketing agencies in the United States. So, join us and help create engaging content, delivered by world-class storytellers through unforgettable experiences that drive real business results. And do so while taking pride in the fact that each year, we devote a portion of our profits to help empower other women entrepreneurs who often don’t have equitable access to resources like capital, mentorship, and community.

This position must be based within Chicago, IL

The Field Activation Manager is responsible for delivering impactful activations across a field unit. This position will manage a team of 5-10 Activation Specialists who are each responsible for developing, promoting, and delivering consumer and/or customer activations for a large portfolio of spirit brands in target on-premise accounts.

Reporting to the agency’s Field Activation Director, the role will assess and report on field activities and drive delivery against activation goals.

Core Responsibilities/Activities:

• Legal and Compliance Accountability. Enforce and monitor all legal and marketing code guidelines with direct reports
• Staff Management. Hire, onboard, and coach local Activation team, providing mentorship, and career development
• Activation Strategy. Plan, track, and drive opportunities for team using market-level channel intelligence
• Network Relationships. Communicate regularly with client network to align on activation activity for local team
• Budget Management. Manage financial responsibilities for local unit, including account support and T&E planning
• Agency Engagement. Leads key initiatives on behalf of designated team including: 
  • Category knowledge and skills training
  • Point of Sale Management
  • Programming implementation
  • Brand, market, competitive and consumer insight curation
  • Local reporting efforts
• Cultivate Opportunities. As a local market expert, seek out opportunities within the market to leverage resources and partners for client’s brand portfolio
• Travel and Work-Withs. Travel within the assigned territory to work with direct reports 1:1 to gain an understanding of individual successes and challenges
• Drive local team culture. Highlight team successes, drive support for local initiatives across the agency team and with local client

What Success Looks Like: 

• Achievement of goals within market territories 
• Positive 360º feedback from manager, direct reports, and client partners
• Share of success stories through strategic communications such that local progress is clearly communicated to and understood by both agency and client
• High team retention rate/career advancement within agency network

The physical demands of this role require the following:

• Must be able to regularly lift, carry, push, and/or pull items weighing at least 15 pounds and up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to perform physical tasks associated with the role, including moving materials, equipment, and supplies as needed.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, and perform repetitive motions for extended periods as required by the position.

The above is not a complete listing of all miscellaneous, incidental, or similar duties which may be required from day to day.

• College degree (4-year) or B.A./B.S. equivalent with focus on Communications, Marketing or Business strongly encouraged
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the bev-alc industry
• 2-3 years people management experience preferred
• Event management experience is a plus
• Proven strong customer relationship experience
• Strong budget management skills
• Knowledge of liquor laws, regulations, and rules 
• Deep understanding of market trends and competition activity is an asset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Persuasive selling and negotiation skills are required to develop and maintain strong relationships
• Ability to work remotely
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel on an ad hoc basis including nights and weekends required
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel to and from accounts
• Desire to lead, coach, and develop a team
• Bilingual (English and Spanish-speaking) a plus
• Manage administrative tasks with attention to meeting agency compliance guidelines and standards

The base compensation range for this job classification is between $95,000.00-$125,000.00 annually. The determination of what a specific employee in this job classification is paid depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, prior employment history/job-related skills and qualifications, length of service, brand program, and geographic location. This job classification is bonus-eligible, with bonus potential subject to applicable bonus plan terms and conditions.

This position offers incentive opportunities plus full benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k with match, PTO time and more!

Enthuse Marketing is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship, disability, genetics, pregnancy, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Enthuse is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for other reasons in the employment application and hiring process, in accordance with applicable law.  To request an accommodation please contact recruitment@enthuse-marketing.com.