Sr Manager Creative Strategy

Overview

PepsiCo is a global leader in food and beverages, operating in over 200 countries with a portfolio that includes 22 iconic billion-dollar brands. Our vision is to be the global leader in beverages by Winning with Purpose, embedding sustainability and innovation into everything we do.

The Studio is PepsiCo Beverages North America's in-house creative agency. We bring culture-shaping, award-winning work to life across iconic brands like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Bubly, Mug, and Starry.

We're looking for a strategic and creative Senior Manager to join our in-house agency. This hybrid role offers the opportunity to serve as both a consultative partner for brand marketers and a key strategist within the in-house creative team. You will collaborate closely with brand leads to elevate creative briefs and brand platforms, ensuring they are rooted in consumer insights. At the same time, you will work directly with the in-house creative team on active briefs, helping to drive creative strategy and execution.

• Partner with brand leads on the development and refinement of brand positioning and creative platforms that drive consumer engagement and brand growth.
• Provide consultative guidance on strategies grounded in consumer insights, ensuring alignment with broader business and brand objectives.
• Consult on the development of inspiring, actionable creative briefs that align with brand positioning and growth strategies.
• Ensure all creative strategies are aligned with the brand's vision and contribute to delivering impactful, on-brand campaigns.

• Stay informed on emerging consumer trends and cultural shifts to ensure brand strategies remain forward-thinking and relevant.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of regular trend share-outs for the entire marketing department, ensuring teams stay connected to the pulse of culture.
• Use these insights to inform creative briefs and help elevate the work, ensuring it resonates with consumers and stays ahead of trends.
• Advocate for consumer-first strategies that connect with diverse audiences and drive business growth.

• Collaborate with the in-house creative team to respond to active creative briefs, providing clear strategic direction that aligns with brand goals and consumer insights.
• Collaborate with Insights partners to develop insight-informed briefs, ensuring that strategies are grounded in consumer data, market and cultural trends.
• Support the creative team throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring all creative work stays on track and meets brand expectations.

• Encourage innovative thinking and experimentation within the in-house creative process, seeking new ways to engage consumers and keep campaigns fresh.
• Help develop and implement best practices for creative brand planning within the in-house agency, ensuring campaigns are both impactful and on-brand.

• Mentor junior planners, fostering a collaborative and curious environment that empowers team members to grow and succeed.
• Contribute to leadership initiatives and help support senior team members in setting strategic direction across projects and campaigns.

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $118,700 - $198,800.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 15% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required, in marketing, Business, or related field. MBA preferred.
• 8-10 years in brand planning, strategic marketing, or a related field, with both consultative and hands-on brand development experience.
• Experience within a creative agency or in-house brand environment preferred. CPG or food/beverage experience is a plus.
• Proven success in developing brand strategies, creative platforms, and actionable creative briefs that drive consumer engagement and business growth.
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

• Strong collaboration skills with internal teams and external agencies, influencing stakeholders at various organizational levels.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to present strategies and ideas clearly to senior leadership.
• Ability to guide creative processes from concept to execution, ensuring alignment with strategic brand objectives.

• Passion for creative storytelling and a strong understanding of consumer insights and market trends.
• Experience leveraging cultural and consumer trends to inspire innovative and on-brand creative briefs.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.