Sr. Associate Brand Manager

Job Details

Job Location: Pomona, CA 91768

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $ - $ Salary

Job Shift: Any

Who are we
Yamamotoyama U.S.A. stands as a testament to the art of traditional Japanese green tea and nori seaweed products, upholding a commitment to unparalleled quality since 1690. Our culture is enriched by diverse backgrounds, all striving to find their unique voice in a harmonious blend. This spirit of unity in diversity extends to our portfolio, which includes the globally recognized Stash Tea Company, offering an expansive array of premium teas.

In addition, we proudly present Ujido, a brand deeply rooted in the art and tradition of Japanese Matcha. Our dedication to excellence is not just in our products, but in the mosaic of voices that shape our legacy.

In this role, you’ll report to the Sr. Brand Manager of STASH Tea and work in lockstep with our VP of Marketing, R&D, Sales, and broader cross‑functional teams to shape the next generation of teas that align with our brand purpose and delight modern consumers. You’ll combine a passion for disruptive innovation with strong consumer empathy, business acumen, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

At Stash, we’re reimagining what tea can be. If you’re ready to build, test, lead, and launch breakthrough ideas in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment, let’s talk.

We Encourage You to Apply:

We understand that not everyone fits perfectly into a list of qualifications. If you are passionate about this role, our product, and our history, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the listed requirements. We value diverse experiences and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

• Lead Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Optimization
  - Define and evolve our innovation roadmap (including new products, line extensions, new pack types, packaging innovation), informed by deep consumer understanding, category trends, whitespace mapping, and business needs. Develop the 3‑Year New Product Strategy for the Brand keeping in mind portfolio optimization, lead white space exploration and ideation sessions, develop Year‑2 and Year‑3 plans for new product launches and line extensions.
• Uncover Growth Opportunities
  - Leverage syndicated data, custom insights, and cultural signals to identify unmet needs, inspire new product ideas, and build compelling business cases. Constantly monitor category trends and product performance.
• Drive End‑to‑End Development
  - Own the new product lifecycle—from concept through commercialization—partnering with Product Development, R&D, PM, QA, Sales, and Creative to bring bold ideas to life.
• Champion Cross‑Functional Execution
  - Be the connective tissue between functions to ensure on‑time, on‑budget, and on‑brand innovation delivery.
• Communicate with Clarity and Impact
  - Translate data and consumer insights into compelling stories that influence internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Monitor, Learn & Optimize
  - Monitor and analyze category data (trends, new news, shifts in competitive landscape), the performance of new products (ours and competitive), and make adjustments to the NPD strategy as necessary. Report on key metrics for at least 1 year post‑launch. Critically analyze data and present impact of key findings to executive leadership in a clear and intentional manner.

• Serve as Project Leader and occasional project manager, overseeing all innovation/NPD projects from conception to completion, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

• Innovative Mindset:
  Ability to foster and champion new product launches, encouraging new ideas and driving the development of innovative products.
• Project Management:
  Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. Commitment to strategic prioritization, involving strategically managing tasks and projects and making the most of available resources to achieve goals.
• Industry Knowledge:
  Solid understanding of the tea industry, including consumer trends and competitive landscape.
• Enterprise Mindset:
  Innate…