Senior Director

Kinder’s is seeking an experienced team member to drive our Event Marketing capability who is passionate about being part of a team of hard-working people focused on bringing the future of flavor to consumers everywhere.  

We are a fast-growing company focused on bringing consumers amazing flavor solutions that are as exciting and delicious as they are simple to use to our consumers whether they are experienced cooks or first-timers in the kitchen.  We are obsessed with quality and are 100% committed to being the most innovative company in any market we serve.  Our mission is to bring awesome flavor to consumers whenever and wherever they are looking for it and whatever for they are looking for it in (seasonings, sauces, gravy, marinades, or anything else we can come up with).  We have experienced tremendous growth over the last 5 years, but we think we are just getting started.  We love our consumers and are fired up to be part of their flavor journey.  And we need more great folks to help us continue to raise the bar for what they think is even possible in their own kitchens.

How You Will Have an Impact at Kinder’s: 

The Senior Director of Event Marketing at Kinder's will work with the VP of Consumer Experience to lead the evolution of our field marketing and event capability. This is a high-impact role responsible for overseeing the evolution and development of our field marketing capability across a broad range of consumer activations including sports marketing, retailer support, affinity network marketing, and more.  We are looking for someone that is passionate about consumers and excited to build a team of people that are passionate about bringing our brand to life and sharing our love for food. 

Key Responsibilities:

Event Marketing Strategy & Planning:

• Develop, in partnership with leadership, and deliver a holistic event marketing strategy aligned with overall brand marketing strategy and consumer engagement goals.
• Build an integrated calendar of key events including industry events, trade shows, sporting events, consumer / affinity group festivals, culinary activations, and unique experiential opportunities that resonate with our target audiences and product categories.
• Engage cross-functional stakeholders to understand internal event support need including retailer demos, roadshows, activations, and other events to drive retailer sales or relationship development goals. 
• Identify trends and best practices in event marketing within the CPG and broader consumer industries to drive clear understanding of excellence.
• Establish clear objectives for event success (by event type) including consumer engagement, brand affinity, media impressions, or other KPIs as may make sense on a case-by-case basis.
• Develop tools to prioritize deployment of field resources based on brand, financial, and / or relationship impact.

Event Execution & Leadership:

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of all marketing events, from large-scale national activations to targeted regional programs.
• Oversee all logistical aspects including venue selection, vendor management, booth design/build-out, staffing, catering, AV, and permits.
• Partner with Creative team to develop creative direction for key events and to develop experiential elements that bring our products to life in ways that are unique and engaging.
• Support corporate event needs on a case-by-case basis (e.g. planning / execution for key company events).
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (Growth & Studio team, Sales, Product Development, Creative, Legal) to ensure seamless integration and alignment across all event touchpoints. 
• Ensure every event results in a consistent, premium brand experience and delivers against program goals.

Field Marketing Operations:

• Build and manage a high-performing event marketing team, including internal staff, agencies, and freelance talent.
• Manage external agencies, contractors, and production partners to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables within budget.
• Develop training / education tools for internal and external event marketing staff to ensure consistent execution with brand and consumer experience standards.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Regulatory departments to ensure compliance with labor, food safety, and other relevant laws or regulations.
• Oversee budget planning, allocation, and forecasting for all event marketing initiatives, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximizing impact.

Event Analytics & Reporting:

• Implement robust tracking and reporting mechanisms to measure the quality and effectiveness of event marketing programs.
• Analyze post-event data, consumer feedback, and market insights to identify areas for optimization and continuous improvement.
• Present regular reports and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Act as a passionate brand ambassador at all events, ensuring a consistent and compelling brand experience for consumers, partners, and media.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing event marketing team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with cross-functional leaders and senior leadership to drive strategy development and execution that aligns with Brand goals and overall company vision while delivering against key internal and external stakeholder objectives
• Be an internal and external champion for the brand(s) and company values to ensure that field marketing activities stay true to our core, consumer-first values

What You Bring to the Table:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in event marketing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within, food, CPG ,sports, or alcohol industry.
• Proven track record of successfully planning, executing, and measuring large-scale consumer and trade events that drive business results.
• Deep understanding of experiential marketing principles, consumer engagement strategies, and retail activation within an event context.
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large event budgets.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Creative thinker with a passion for innovation and delivering memorable brand experiences.
• Ability to travel frequently (estimated 30-40%) to attend and oversee events.
• Proficiency with event management software, CRM, and analytics platforms.
• Bachelor's degree preferred (MBA a plus).

Personal Characteristics

• Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach)
• Excellent problem-solving skills, analytical mindset, and attention to detail
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Passionate people-lover excited by the opportunity to build strong relationships with teammates and consumers.
• Long-term thinker that is capable of driving alignment around a vision and goals and helping the organization align on how to work toward those goals
• Thrive in a dynamic, lean, and agile environment. 
• Collaborative mindset with an ability to find creative solutions.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and is willing to speaks their mind
• Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower where required

Location & Travel

The position will be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun.  Few currently allow for 1 flex day per week with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them and their teams.

As noted, travel is expected to be a core component of this role with significant travel required, albeit typically with reasonable advance notice.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $235,000- $255,000 per year. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.