Red Lobster, one of the most iconic advertisers and beloved restaurant brands, is looking for an ambitious and strategic Associate Brand Manager (ABM) – Advertising to join our marketing team at our headquarters in Orlando, FL. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advertising, this role will play an integral part of accelerating opportunities to help drive traffic, grow revenue, and enhance guest engagement.
The ABM will focus on Local Marketing, Partnerships, Activations, Owned Channel Communication, Gift Card Promotions, and Strategic Planning Support while working cross-functionally to bring the Red Lobster brand to life through compelling campaigns and initiatives.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Local Marketing
- Lead development and deployment of local marketing plans and tools to mobilize the restaurant’s sales and community-building initiatives
- Work with and advise field operations leaders on local marketing efforts
- Collaborate with creative teams to develop offers and market-specific advertising content
Manage Initiatives, Programs, Events, and Partners
- Support the development and execution of concept-level initiatives and programs that amplify the annual media plans and Marketing Calendars.
- Collaborate with channel leads to integrate acceleration efforts into the broader marketing strategy, leveraging cultural moments, media strategies, third-party partnerships, and PR opportunities.
- Assist in executing brand partnerships and activations.
Owned Channel Communication
- Partner with the marketing and loyalty teams on the creation, proofing, approvals and deployment of marketing creative across the owned channels: email, mobile app, SMS.
- Assist in the creative development process for owned social media platforms, working closely with the Brand Manager and agency.
- Monitor performance metrics and adjust strategies to maximize engagement and ROI
Gift Card Promotions
- Lead strategic development and execution of Red Lobster’s gift card promotional calendar
- Partner with Gift Card Manager, who leads retail/third-party relationships, to ensure programs are cohesive
- Oversee creative development for gift card assets and track performance to optimize effectiveness.
Strategic Planning Support
- Play a key role in building and gaining alignment on strategies, plans, and KPIs of prominent marketing accelerators under the direction of the Sr. Director of Media & Advertising.
Agency and Stakeholder Collaboration
- Foster strong relationships with agency partners and Restaurant Support Center teams to stay informed on initiatives.
- Work closely with the Director of Communications and Director of Paid Media to support marketing acceleration efforts.
- Collaborate with the Gift Cards Manager on non-third-party gift card promotions.
Budget and Performance Management
- Work with agencies and internal teams to manage project budgets effectively.
- Track and analyze performance to optimize marketing initiatives.
REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Marketing & Communications Expertise
- Ability to translate business objectives into effective communications strategies.
- Experience in developing and evolving marketing plans over time.
- Strong understanding of consumer behavior, industry trends, and best practices.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present confidently to senior leadership.
- Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing agency relationships.
- Ability to influence and guide teams while ensuring project timelines, scopes, and budgets are met.
Owned Channel Proficiency
- Understanding of owned marketing channel creative best practices including KPIs, tools, trends, and execution processes.
- Strong project management skills and attention to detail, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives independently.
Technical Skills
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, with the ability to craft high-impact presentations that tell a linear, data-driven story
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business Administration, or a related field
- Minimum of 3 years of marketing experience (agency or brand side) across the responsibilities managed in this role
- Local marketing experience strongly preferred
OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bold, proactive mindset with a passion for continuous learning and innovation
- Ability to thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments
- Strong multi-tasking and problem-solving skills
- An open, adaptable approach to new challenges and opportunities
- Desire to do great work and have fun doing it
