Manager, Ecommerce & Retal Media

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As a Manager, Ecommerce & Retail Media, you will be responsible for leading Retail Media and Digital Shelf strategy and execution for Russell Stover’s Wholesale division across key omni‑channel retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, and Target. You will develop and activate strategic paid search and display campaigns that drive sales performance and elevate brand visibility across retail media platforms.

You will also own Digital Shelf execution and measurement, managing one direct report focused on digital content creation and syndication to ensure best‑in‑class online merchandising. Working cross‑functionally and in close partnership with agency partners, you will plan and optimize retail media activation, analyze digital shelf and sales performance, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.

Your focus will be on improving advertising effectiveness, strengthening digital shelf presence, and guiding budget alignment to maximize sales impact and return on investment. 

You will have strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of the retail media ecosystem and omnichannel sales, and the ability to work independently, be resourceful, and collaborate effectively across teams. In this role, you will report to the Director of Digital Commerce.

This a hybrid role, onsite 3 days a week in Kansas City, MO.  Relocation within the United States will be considered for qualified candidates.

What you will be doing…

• Lead the end-to-end digital-channel strategy across retailer partners (Walmart, Kroger, Target, etc.), ensuring alignment of retail media (paid search & display ads), digital shelf, and omni sales opportunities. 
• Drive cross-functional integration between Sales and Marketing teams to ensure retail media planning and digital content reflects consumer-first thinking and business growth priorities.
• Guide budget stewardship and investment strategy across retail media (paid search & display) to maximize ROI and business impact.
• Lead and manage agency partners and internal cross-functional stakeholders to drive efficiency, best-in-class execution, and continuous innovation in search and retail media, and digital shelf content and activation.
• Develop data and insights to drive digital in customer line reviews, digital shelf performance, and retail media. Utilize retailer data platforms, agency reporting tools, and digital shelf analytics to inform strategy and media optimization.
• Lead partnership with Digital Shelf Measurement Provider. Ensure testing of digital content in tools such as Vizit to ensure best in class execution. Manage retail media creative execution.
• Serve as the key liaison with Pacvue agency and retail media networks such as Walmart Connect, KPM, Roundel, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and partnership optimization.
• Evolve measurement frameworks and demonstrate media’s contribution to incremental sales and brand growth.
• Help manager champion a culture of continuous learning and education around retail media and digital best practices, bringing forward thought leadership on platform innovation, audience data, and creative optimization.
• Manage and coach one team member in execution of digital content creation and Digital Shelf product setup, syndication, and governance (Salsify).

 Do you have what it takes?

(Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, digital, retail, business administration, or a related field
• 5 years of experience in digital commerce, with hands‑on execution of retail media, paid search, and display activation
• 2 years experience developing and managing retail media recommendations, investment, and activation across tactics (e.g., Search, Display)
• People management or leadership experience (direct or indirect), with a passion for mentoring, coaching, and process organization
• Proven ability to translate strategy into execution with measurable business impact in a fast‑paced environment
• Familiarity with retail media and digital shelf tools such as Pacvue, Skai, Flywheel, Profitero, Data Impact, e.fundamentals, or similar platforms
• Knowledge of digital shelf measurement, content creation, and syndication processes
• Experience working cross‑functionally across sales, marketing, agencies, and external partners, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; comfortable navigating ambiguity and change
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience in Consumer Goods
• Hands-on experience with Walmart Connect, KPM (Kroger Precision Marketing), Roundel, and Criteo
• Hands-on experience with Salsify or Syndigo
• Analyzing digital sales & share with strong storytelling & presentation skills
• Circana or Nielsen digital data experience
• Experience managing creative briefs and design of retail media creative – Photoshop experience a plus
• Familiarity with running digital content through Legal and Regulatory approvals
• Amazon Ads experience
• Keeps up with the latest trends in retail media and digital shelf
• Understands incrementality measurement

If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to:

• Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines during plant visits to support product quality and uphold food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the company’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report any observed or suspected issues that may impact food safety, quality, or compliance to the designated plant personnel, to support timely corrective actions and maintain compliance.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.