Brand Manager: Bear Paws

Serv, a global executive recruitment partner, is hiring on behalf of our client Dare Foods for a Brand Manager of the Bear Paws division.

Dare Foods is a proudly Canadian, privately owned, family-run organization with a long-standing reputation for building trusted household brands. Unlike many multinational organizations, Dare offers marketers true end-to-end ownership, direct exposure to executive leadership, and the ability to shape brands from strategy through execution.

This is an opportunity for a growth-minded marketer who wants broad ownership, meaningful visibility, and the chance to make a real impact inside an agile and collaborative organization.

To learn more please visit: https://www.darefoods.com/

This is Dare's biggest brand desk and one of the most exciting seats in Canadian CPG marketing. Bear Paws is a beloved, iconic Canadian brand with $100M in brand sales and $2.5M in planned media investment for 2027. The incoming Brand Manager will take ownership of a full portfolio of sub-brands and lead meaningful work across every core marketing competency.

• Dare's largest and highest-profile brand portfolio- the biggest desk in the marketing organization
• $100M in brand sales with $2.5M in media budget planned for 2027
• True end-to-end scope: annual and 3-year strategic planning, innovation from scratch, consumer communications (media + creative), licensing program participation, and full P&L ownership
• High visibility role with frequent cross-functional exposure and regular touchpoints with the executive team

If you love building brands, shaping consumer experiences, and leading strategy from concept to commercialization, then this role is for you. As Brand Manager, you will act as the business leader for the brand, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to drive growth, innovation, and long-term portfolio strategy.

This role includes:

• Owning the assigned brand business and contributing to long-term portfolio strategy
• Leading innovation projects from ideation through commercialization
• Partnering with R&D teams on product development, testing, and refinement
• Building and executing integrated marketing and communication plans
• Managing agency relationships across media, creative, digital, and in-store marketing
• Collaborating closely with Sales teams and supporting customer-facing initiatives
• Managing significant marketing budgets and supporting P&L ownership
• Driving consumer awareness, household penetration, and growth initiatives
• Supporting licensing partnerships and strategic brand collaborations
• Presenting recommendations and business updates to executive leadership
• Partnering cross-functionally across Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Operations
• Contributing to annual business planning and innovation pipeline development

• 5+ years experience in brand marketing within CPG or related consumer categories
• Strong understanding of brand positioning, consumer marketing, and brand building fundamentals
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing multiple priorities simultaneously
• Exposure to innovation, communications, partnerships, or portfolio strategy work
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to think strategically while also executing day-to-day initiatives
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset
• Strong curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly visible environment
• Hybrid work flexibility with ability to work onsite regularly as required

• Is proactive and accountable
• Thinks strategically and executes consistently
• Communicates with clarity and confidence
• Brings a positive, growth-oriented mindset
• Is highly organized and dependable
• Embraces learning and feedback
• Cares deeply about doing great work
• Understands what makes brands meaningful to consumers
• Wants broad ownership and long-term career growth
• Leads with humility, curiosity, and strong collaboration skills

Location: Cambridge Ontario | Hybrid. Dare offers a hybrid working model, where time will be split 2 days in-office and 3 days at-home