Brand Activations & Partnerships Manager

WHO ARE WE?

We are the VMS Co-Op, a group of fast growing companies in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) space. The VMS Co-Op includes OLLY, SmartyPants and future acquisitions to come! This position's home company is OLLY.

About the Role 

OLLY is on a mission to bring delight to the world of wellness—and we believe brand experiences are a powerful way to deepen consumer connection.  As a key member of the Marketing Team, the Brand Activations Manager will lead the development and execution of experiential marketing, social impact moments and partnership strategies that drive brand equity, awareness, engagement, and conversion. This role works cross-functionally with Brand Strategy, Growth Marketing, PR, Social, eComm, Creative, Sales, and Shopper teams to deliver best-in-class activations and collaborations.  
We are looking for a self-starter who can take the initiative to develop and execute brand initiatives and moments from small scale social activations to large scale multi touchpoint activations that come to life digitally and IRL. You’ll bring experience building programs that effectively integrate multiple marketing tactics, with a strong grasp of how to deliver on strategy and ability to develop effective measurement plans.   

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnerships (Brand & Retail) (40%) 

• Lead the development of annual partnership strategy including identifying strategic targets, creating pitch materials, leading outreach and concepting, through to execution and cross-functional collaboration to bring partnerships to life. 
• Develop relationships with key partners (existing and new) to build brand awareness and visibility and create a unique selling proposition that differentiates OLLY from competitors. 
• Leverage a consumer-first mindset to develop partnerships that strengthen OLLY’s relevance with existing consumers and attract new consumers. 
• Identify and cultivate strategic retail partnerships in collaboration with the shopper marketing and sales team that enhance OLLY’s visibility, relevance, and consumer trust. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners (PR, Media, Creative and social teams) to amplify partnership efforts across earned and owned channels. 
• Track and report on performance metrics, including ROI, engagement, and conversion. 

Experiential Marketing (30%)  

• Lead the development and execution of experiential marketing campaigns, including pop-ups, brand events, and sampling activations. 
• Develop event concepts in partnership with internal and external partners, ensuring that events meet the strategic objectives and deliver on objectives.  
• Collaborate with internal teams and external agencies to bring activations to life, ensuring brand consistency and excellence. 
• Manage logistics, vendor relationships, and on-site execution for events and experiences. 
• Track and report on performance metrics, including ROI, engagement, and conversion. 

Social Mission (30%) 

• Support the Director of Marketing Communications in developing and executing social mission activations and moments that align with OLLY’s social impact strategy. 
• Manage day-to-day relationship with social mission partners, including building regular communication touchpoints and identifying opportunities to deepen or extend our collaboration with partners.  
• Lead execution of social impact initiatives across marketing channels, including developing briefs and collaborating with cross-functional partners. 
• Be a champion for our social mission that authentically rallies support internally and externally to drive change and impact.  

THE CANDIDATE

You are a strategic, creative, and highly organized marketer with a passion for building brands through immersive experiences and meaningful partnerships. You thrive in fast-paced environments, love solving problems, and bring a collaborative spirit to everything you do. 

CAPABILITIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• 5-10 years of experience in experiential marketing, brand partnership, or integrated marketing roles. 
• Proven ability to develop and execute high-impact consumer experiences (executed IRL and digital/social/ecom-based) and strategic partnerships that drive brand awareness, engagement, and trust. 
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple initiatives, timelines, and stakeholders. 
• Deep understanding of consumer behavior and how to leverage marketing channels—social, retail, influencer, and experiential—for maximum impact. 
• Strategic and creative thinker with a bias for action, comfortable pitching ideas internally and externally, with strong storytelling instincts, and the ability to balance bold ideas with pragmatic execution. 
• Highly collaborative, with experience leading cross-functional teams and working across internal and external partners. 
• Data-savvy and analytical, with the ability to measure program success, identify areas for optimization, and translate insights into actionable recommendations. 
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with a natural aptitude for partnership development. 
• Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships, including grants and activation spend 
• Adaptable and proactive, with a passion for purpose-driven marketing and a desire to contribute to social mission initiatives. 

​WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

• Initial video screen with a member of our Talent team
• Round 1: Conversation with the Hiring Manager + 1-2 conversations with other Ollies on the team
• Round 2: 2-3 conversations with team or cross functional Ollies
• Final Round: Homework*

*At OLLY, our final round is called Homework. Candidates who participate in this round are given 3 questions in advance to answer and present to the interview panel they previously spoke with in the process. We understand every candidate is different. If you need a reasonable accommodation to adjust this procedure, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can evaluate and provide other options that work for your needs

THE DETAILS 

​LOCATION: San Francisco, CA – hybrid work schedule​

HOURS: Full time, exempt (salary)

TRAVEL: Occasional travel for events and partner meetings. ​

MANAGER: Marketing Communications Director​

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. 

The salary range for this position is $114,000 - 138,000 dependent on experience and location.

WHAT WE OFFER: 

• An opportunity to work with an intelligent, inspiring, and extraordinarily fun team 
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage for employee only, dental + ortho, and vision insurance 
• 4 weeks PTO + paid holidays + 12 Mental Health Days per year
• 100% Paid parental leave, Fertility + Adoption Benefits 
• Annual Bonus  
• 401(k) plan with Employer Match 
• Hybrid Work + Wellness + Cell Phone Stipends 
• Free product 
• And much more!