Creative Services Manager, Merchandising

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery®, Otis Spunkmeyer®, and Oakrun Farm Bakery®. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

The Merchandising Manager, Creative Services, is responsible for overseeing the development, management, and optimization of Aspire Bakeries' merchandising materials and processes. This role is critical to ensuring our merchandising efforts support strategic business goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. You will manage a team and collaborate with cross-functional partners, vendors, and key stakeholders to deliver high-quality merchandising solutions that enhance Aspire Bakeries’ brand presence and customer engagement. With a focus on continuous improvement and innovation, this role supports the success of sales, marketing, and customer development teams across North America. 

Responsibilities:

Finance Support 

• Manage and track the merchandising budget with a focus on fiscal responsibility. 

• Perform cost analysis to align with departmental strategies. 

• Review cost center changes and provide insights on causes. 

• Conduct project financial analysis and ensure accuracy. 

• Process accounts payable (AP) transactions. 

Research and Development 

• Lead the development and enhancement of merchandising materials. 

• Coordinate print production and gang printing efforts. 

• Oversee kitting and fulfillment of merchandising needs. 

• Support key customer merchandising initiatives. 

• Provide hands-on support for critical projects and customer needs. 

Outside Services Management 

• Manage vendor relationships, ensuring cost-effective and quality services. 

• Oversee trade show booth storage, print management, and agency collaborations. 

• Manage business card programs, apparel sites, and the merchandising website. 

Management and Operations 

• Supervise and optimize the workload of direct reports. 

• Oversee merchandising portfolio and ensure alignment with team goals. 

• Collaborate with vendors and stakeholders on procurement and inventory management. 

• Administer warehouse operations, demand planning, and transportation management. 

• Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

• Execute SAP transactions and manage purchase order (P.O.) placements. 

Sales and Service Support 

• Provide direct support to national account programs. 

• Partner with marketing, sales teams, and brokers to develop and launch custom programs. 

• Develop communication strategies for program rollouts. 

• Collaborate with Canadian and North American teams on merchandising initiatives. 

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED is required. 

• Proficiency in SAP and Excel. 

• Demonstrated experience in inventory management and budget oversight. 

• Strong vendor negotiation and relationship management skills. 

• Exceptional communication and collaboration abilities. 

• Ability to lead and manage a team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

• Experience with merchandising portfolio development and continuous improvement initiatives. 

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.