ACTIVATION & MERCHANDISING MANAGER

About the role

As a key member of our regional team, you'll collaborate closely with our Image + Style team to develop and execute standout customer experiences that drive satisfaction, participation, and revenue. From activating brand initiatives and refreshing café environments to guiding on-site teams and supporting client reviews, you'll be the hands-on champion of the Bon Appétit brand in the field.

Responsibilities

• Activate the Bon Appétit brand through guest-facing experience initiatives (WOWS) and internal people programs, utilizing our activation toolkit and collaborating with our professional design team on account-specific projects
• Travel to accounts 3–4 days per week, providing front-of-house and culinary support including café layout design, smallwares setup, and team training
• Partner with on-site culinary and front-of-house teams to establish and uphold Bon Appétit brand standards, merchandising vision, and Great Expectations 4 (GE4) tactics
• Develop proactive recommendations to refresh guest experiences and support account retention; guide accounts in building and executing impactful business plans
• Review all account-facing content for design quality, grammar, and brand voice; assist in preparing activation materials for client quarterly reviews
• Surface scalable solutions and lead with the mindset of "automating the predictable, so we can humanize the exceptional"
• Support account openings and brand activation events, including travel outside of region as needed

Requirements

4+ years of experience in marketing, communications, or public relations — agency or foodservice/restaurant experience strongly preferred

A genuine passion for great food, guest experience, and sustainability

Strong writing skills with a sharp eye for grammar, design, and brand consistency

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Canva, Adobe Acrobat, WordPress, and Jira

A proactive, creative, and solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills; comfortable presenting to clients and leading field teams

Qualifications

BA/BS in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism preferred

Skills

Brand storytelling

Customer experience development

Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Content review and preparation

Account management and retention strategies

Event planning and execution

Benefits

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/AD

Disability Insurance

Retail Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave