ZURU Toys

Senior Marketing Manager

ZURU Toys  ā€¢  Auckland, NZ (Onsite)  ā€¢  1 month ago
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Job Description

We're looking for our next Senior Marketing Manager to lead the Americas for ZURU Toys! šŸ§øšŸŖšŸŖ€
ZURU is on a mission to disrupt industries, challenge the status quo, and catalyse change through radical innovation and advances in automation. This is in play in different pillars of the company: ZURU Toys are re-imagining what it means to play; ZURU Tech is shaping a better future by leading the next building revolution; and ZURU Edge is pioneering new-generation FMCG brands to better serve modern consumers.
Founded in 2003 by EY Entrepreneur of the Year and World Entrepreneur Hall of Fame brothers Nick and Mat Mowbray, ZURU has quickly grown to a team of over 5,000 direct and indirect members across more than 30 international locations.
One of the largest toy companies in the world, our globally recognized and award-winning brands include Bunch O Balloons, Mini Brands, XSHOT, Rainbocorns, and Smashers. Our global FMCG brands include MONDAY Haircare, Rascals, NOOD, BONKERS, and Gumi Yum Surprise.
Position ImpactAs Senior Marketing Manager for the Americas, you will play a critical role in driving ZURU's market dominance across one of our most strategic regions. Your leadership will directly influence how our brands show up in-store and online, ensuring every dollar invested delivers measurable growth.
By translating global brand strategies into locally relevant retail activations, you'll create seamless shopper journeys that convert awareness into purchase. Your strategic retailer partnerships will elevate ZURU from vendor to category captain, while your close collaboration with Sales will arm them with the insights and tools needed to win listings and exceed targets. This role is essential to ZURU's continued expansion and market leadership in the Americas.
ZURU is built on autonomy, ownership, and real impact. This is not a 9–5 environment. It is a high-performance culture grounded in deep collaboration, raising the bar, over-preparing, and winning the right way while staying a good human.
If that sounds like you, read on.

Roles & Responsibilities

  • Strategic Retailer Partnerships: Lead high-level marketing relationships with key retailers across the Americas, developing Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that position ZURU as a strategic category captain and secure buy-in for long-term growth initiatives
  • 360° Shopper Marketing Strategy: Define and direct shopper marketing strategies for Spring and Fall seasons, creating cohesive shopper journeys that connect upper-funnel media with lower-funnel conversion tools across Retail Media, eCommerce, and in-store activations
  • Trade Investment Strategy: Partner with Sales to direct co-op marketing and trade investment strategies, negotiating bespoke content packages and digital activations to achieve "share of voice" dominance within retailer ecosystems
  • Sales Enablement & Collaboration: Maintain strategic alignment with Sales Leadership, providing the context, confidence, and collateral they need to secure listings and execute aggressive plans that drive demand in market
  • Data-Driven Performance Management: Oversee analysis of weekly POS data to identify chase items, slow movers, and media line performance, translating insights into actionable trade strategies aligned with 360° campaign objectives
  • Commercial Investment Planning: Own brand and SKU investment strategy alignment, balancing pricing structures and marketing percentages to ensure profitable growth and maximum ROI across the region
  • Budget Management: Direct local media budgeting based on Order TVA (Total Value Added), dynamically allocating spend to highest-opportunity channels and retailers
  • Brand Localization: Ensure global assets are culturally relevant and fit for regional use, briefing global teams on local asset production needs including retail chase content for social platforms and retailer-specific requests
  • Agency & Partner Management: Manage and optimize relationships with local agencies (Merchandising, Media, Translation, VOD) and licensors, ensuring execution meets global standards while delivering local results
  • Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the marketing team, elevating their focus from administrative tasks to high-value strategic initiatives that drive meaningful business impact

Skills & Experience

  • 7+ years of marketing experience with proven success in trade marketing, shopper marketing, or retail marketing, preferably within consumer goods, toys, or FMCG sectors
  • Strategic Retailer Relationship Management: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute Joint Business Plans with major retailers, transforming vendor relationships into strategic partnerships
  • Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of trade investment strategies, budget management, ROI optimization, and the ability to balance brand building with sales activation
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency in analyzing POS data, market insights, and campaign performance to inform strategy and drive continuous improvement
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Exceptional collaboration skills with proven ability to work seamlessly with Sales, Global Marketing teams, and external agency partners to deliver integrated campaigns
LIFE@ZURU
ZURU is on a quest to reimagine tomorrow. Founded in 2003, ZURU Group has rapidly grown and now spans three core divisions—ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge (consumer goods) and ZURU Tech (construction).
Known for its cutting-edge software and world-leading automation and manufacturing systems, ZURU has over 5,000 team members in over 30 global locations, making it perfectly placed to continue building its reputation as one of the fastest-growing and most disruptive companies in the world.Ā At ZURU, we have cultivated a high-performing culture that encourages excellence. Our team works towards ambitious goals, learning, performing, and improving together, all while having fun. We empower talented individuals to do their best work every day.
At ZURU, you get out what you put in. You are responsible for driving your own career and we provide the platform to achieve it. As ZURU is on such a fast growth trajectory, there are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else.Ā Get to know us a little better by checking out @lifeatzuru on Instagram orĀ  www.zuru.comĀ Learn more about our values and explore the hiring journey onĀ  ZURU Careers
WHAT WE OFFER🌱 Culture for Growth🧘 Health BenefitsšŸŒŽ Global OpportunitiesšŸ’” Surrounded by an A Player TeamšŸ’° Competitive RemunerationšŸ“ Lots of fresh fruit, coffee, pals fridge and more
ZURU – Tomorrow ReimaginedšŸš€ ZURU.comĀ | #LI-JK3
ZURU Toys

About ZURU Toys

ZURU is a disruptive and award-winning company that designs, manufactures and markets innovative toys and consumer products.

Inspired by kids and imaginative play, ZURU is one of the fastest growing toy companies in the world and is known for their agility, creativity and new-age manufacturing techniques.

The company that started in New Zealand now employs more than 5,000 staff across 18 offices, produces 600,000 toys a day and distributes to most major retailers in over 120 countries.

ZURU has delighted millions of families all over the world with brands such as Bunch O Balloonsā„¢, X-Shotā„¢, Rainbocornsā„¢, Robo Aliveā„¢, Smashersā„¢, 5 Surpriseā„¢ and Metal Machinesā„¢ as well as through partnerships with entertainment properties, including Nickelodeon, Disney, Universal Studios and DreamWorks.

With a strong commitment to the community, ZURU supports Captivating International, local China orphanages and also student development programs in Asia and in New Zealand.

ZURU will continue to pave new ways for kids to play and focuses on reimagining what this looks like every day.

Industry
Manufacturing & Production
Company Size
201-500 employees
Headquarters
, NZ
Year Founded
2002
Website
zuru.com
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