Sr. Brand Manager - Pasta Sauce

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. Mezzetta is seeking a high-impact Senior Brand Manager to lead the Pasta Sauce category, a strategically important business and key growth priority for the company. Pasta Sauce represents a focal category for Mezzetta and one of the most competitive and unique categories in the store, requiring a talented and experienced leader capable of building a differentiated position in a highly dynamic marketplace. This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for business performance, category strategy, innovation, and long-term growth planning. The Senior Brand Manager will shape the future of the business by defining where to compete, how to win, and what it will take to establish Mezzetta as a stronger and more relevant player in the category. This position is based in the Mezzetta Larkspur office just north of San Francisco. This position owns the direction of the business, setting priorities that accelerate growth and strengthen the brand’s position in category. The role defines where to compete, how to win, and what it will take to stand out, then drives action across the organization to deliver against those priorities. The scope spans the full business, from sharpening brand positioning and driving demand to expanding distribution and building a disciplined innovation pipeline. It requires a strategic, creative, and competitive leader who can move with speed, make sound decisions, and keep the organization focused on the growth drivers that matter most. Success in this role comes from building momentum, increasing household penetration, and establishing the brand as a strong player in the category. Responsibilities Business Ownership & Performance Own overall business performance for the Pasta Sauce portfolio, including revenue growth, share, and contribution Identify and act on the most critical growth levers to accelerate velocity, trial, and repeat Translate performance data into clear actions that drive measurable improvement Strategy & Positioning Define and refine brand positioning to create clear differentiation in a crowded category Establish a focused strategy for where to play and how to win Translate strategy into clear priorities that guide the organization Marketing & Demand Generation Lead development of integrated marketing programs that build awareness, drive trial, and increase repeat Partner with Digital and Creative teams to deliver compelling, high-impact campaigns Ensure marketing efforts are grounded in consumer insight and deliver measurable results Retail & Channel Expansion Partner closely with Sales to expand distribution and strengthen in-market presence across key retailers Support sell-in with strong, insight-driven stories that demonstrate category and brand opportunity Identify opportunities to improve competitiveness through pricing, assortment, and channel strategy Innovation & Portfolio Development Lead the innovation agenda for Pasta Sauce, identifying and prioritizing opportunities grounded in consumer and market insight Build and manage a pipeline of products that drive both growth and differentiation Partner with Innovation and R&D to bring new products to market successfully Cross-Functional Leadership Operate at the center of the business, aligning Sales, Insights, Finance, Supply Chain, and R&D around clear priorities Drive clarity, accountability, and momentum across cross-functional teams Contribute to key company processes including AOP, S&OP, and Monthly Business Reviews Lead through influence and collaboration across Sales, Finance, Insights, R&D, Supply Chain, and Digital teams. Drive strategic decisions across innovation, commercialization, pricing, distribution, and marketing to accelerate category growth. Serve as the category leader for Pasta Sauce, influencing cross-functional partners and senior leadership to align resources and priorities behind the growth agenda. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Marketing, or a related field MBA preferred 8–10+ years of progressive brand management experience in CPG Experience building, repositioning, or accelerating brands in highly competitive categories strongly preferred Strong influence management skills with the ability to drive alignment across cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders Demonstrated experience leading large, complex businesses or strategic growth initiatives Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate ideas into action Demonstrated ability to operate in competitive, fast-moving environments Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills Pay Range $180,000 — $220,000 USD Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace: At Mezzetta,