Search Strategist

About the role

Hormel Foods Corporation is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue. This role is located at the Corporate Office in Chicago, IL, Bedminster, NJ, or Austin, MN.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnership & Planning
• Lead digital marketing strategy, execution, optimization, and reporting for assigned brands, retailers, and ecommerce channels.
• Partner with Brand Marketing and Omnichannel Sales teams to understand business objectives and develop digital advertising programs that support Annual Operating Plans (AOPs).
• Translate business goals into actionable search, display, and retail media strategies that drive traffic, conversion, and sales growth.
• Recommend investment strategies and program enhancements based on performance data, market dynamics, and retailer opportunities.
• Participate in planning meetings and provide strategic guidance on digital advertising opportunities and risks.
• Campaign Management & Optimization
• Fully manage search marketing programs and selected display advertising programs through approved digital advertising platforms.
• Build, launch, optimize, and maintain campaigns across retailer and search platforms.
• Conduct ongoing keyword discovery, audience targeting refinement, bid management, and campaign optimization.
• Leverage automation, artificial intelligence, and platform capabilities to improve campaign efficiency and performance.
• Develop and execute strategic testing plans, including keyword, audience, bidding, and creative experiments to maximize ROI.
• Monitor campaign pacing and performance against established budgets and KPIs, making proactive adjustments as needed.
• Ensure compliance with retailer advertising requirements and platform best practices.
• Analytics & Reporting
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reporting for Brand Management, Omnichannel Sales, and eCommerce leadership.
• Analyze campaign performance and provide actionable insights, recommendations, and business implications.
• Develop performance narratives that connect advertising results to broader business objectives.
• Track and report key metrics including budget pacing, return on ad spend (ROAS), conversion performance, sales impact, and share-of-search trends.
• Identify opportunities for optimization and growth through data analysis and trend monitoring.
• Subject Matter Expertise & Collaboration
• Serve as a subject matter expert in digital advertising strategy, retail media, search marketing, and related technologies.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to Brand Marketing and Omnichannel Sales teams regarding advertising strategies, platform capabilities, and emerging trends.
• Collaborate with content, analytics, and ecommerce teams to improve search visibility and advertising effectiveness.
• Research competitive advertising activity, retailer media trends, and marketplace developments to inform strategic recommendations.
• Share best practices and help advance digital advertising capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

• Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, Analytics, or a related field.
• 2+ years of relevant digital marketing, search marketing, ecommerce, retail media, or advertising experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects, prioritize workload, and execute with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into business insights.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across multiple functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technologies, platforms, and business processes.
• PREFERRED:
• Experience with retail media management platforms such as Skai, Pacvue, or Stackline.
• Experience with retailer advertising platforms such as Walmart Connect, Amazon Ads, Kroger Precision Marketing, Roundel, Criteo, CitrusAd, or similar platforms.
• Experience managing multiple brands within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.
• Experience with paid search and display advertising platforms.
• Familiarity with automation, AI-powered bidding strategies, and advertising optimization tools.
• Experience creating and presenting performance reporting to business stakeholders.

Location

The Corporate Office is located in Chicago, IL, Bedminster, NJ, or Austin, MN. A comprehensive relocation package to the above areas will be offered, if required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Discretionary annual merit increases.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Stock purchase plan.
• Paid time off.
• Free two-year community/technical college tuition for children of employees.

Travel Requirements

10% of the time.