Our client, a rapidly growing consumer lifestyle brand, is seeking an experienced Experiential Marketing & Brand Merchandise Manager to lead two highly visible areas of the business: live events and branded merchandise.  This individual will be responsible for creating engaging brand experiences through industry events, community activations, and strategic partnerships, while also overseeing a growing merchandise business that serves as both a revenue stream and an extension of the brand's identity.  The role requires a unique blend of event management, product merchandising, project leadership, and brand storytelling. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys bringing concepts to life, and possesses a strong understanding of enthusiast-driven consumer communities.  You are equal parts marketer, project manager, and brand builder.  You enjoy creating memorable consumer experiences, have a strong eye for presentation and merchandising, and know how to translate brand strategy into real-world engagement.  You are comfortable operating both strategically and tactically, whether leading a major industry activation or launching the next merchandise collection.

• This role is based in Central NJ and has a hybrid work schedule.  The salary range for this role is approximately $100,000 - $130,000.

Responsibilities:
Experiential Marketing & Events

• Lead planning and execution of the annual event and activation calendar, including trade shows, industry conferences, consumer events, sponsorships, and grassroots marketing initiatives.
• Manage all aspects of event logistics including vendor coordination, exhibit development, shipping, staffing, budgets, and on-site operations.
• Develop activation strategies designed to increase brand visibility, consumer engagement, sales opportunities, and community growth.
• Establish event goals, performance metrics, and post-event reporting to evaluate ROI and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging, brand presentation, and operational excellence across all events.
• Oversee brand asset inventory, promotional materials, event displays, product sampling programs, and experiential touchpoints.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Identify opportunities to expand brand presence through local events, ambassador programs, strategic partnerships, and sponsorship opportunities.
• Build relationships with event organizers, community leaders, retailers, and industry partners.
• Support athlete, influencer, ambassador, or creator appearances and activations in coordination with broader marketing initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging communities and consumer trends to identify new opportunities for brand engagement.

Branded Merchandise & Product Programs

• Manage the development and execution of seasonal branded merchandise collections, including apparel, accessories, and promotional products.
• Partner with creative teams, suppliers, and production partners to develop products that align with brand positioning and consumer demand.
• Oversee merchandise assortment planning, sourcing, pricing strategy, production timelines, and inventory management.
• Coordinate product launches tied to key marketing moments, partnerships, campaigns, and events.
• Analyze merchandise performance, inventory productivity, and consumer feedback to inform future assortments and product decisions.
• Collaborate with digital commerce teams to optimize online merchandising, product presentation, and promotional opportunities.

Visual Presentation & Brand Experience

• Maintain visual standards across event environments, displays, merchandise presentations, and branded experiences.
• Ensure all consumer-facing touchpoints reflect a premium and consistent brand image.
• Work closely with creative and marketing teams to develop event-specific collateral, signage, and experiential concepts.

Budget & Performance Management

• Manage event, activation, and merchandise budgets.
• Monitor spending, vendor performance, and project timelines to ensure efficient execution.
• Track key business metrics including event participation, engagement, merchandise sales, inventory performance, and overall program effectiveness.
• Present recommendations and strategic insights to leadership based on program results.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Events, Merchandising, Communications, Business, or a related discipline.
• 5-10 years of experience in experiential marketing, event management, brand activations, merchandise management, consumer marketing, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale events, trade shows, sponsorships, or branded experiences.
• Experience overseeing branded merchandise, promotional products, apparel programs, or consumer goods collections.
• Strong vendor management, negotiation, and project management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, agencies, suppliers, and external partners.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms, project management software, and marketing analytics tools is preferred.
• Passion for consumer brands, active lifestyles, sports, fitness, wellness, or enthusiast communities is highly desirable.
• Ability to travel approximately 25-40% as needed.

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