CAREERS

VP of Marketing & Communications

The Vice President of Marketing & Communications is responsible for leading, developing, and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies that build the Country Natural Beef brand, deepen member and customer engagement, and support our business and mission goals. This is a thought-leadership role that works cross-functionally with the executive team, retail and foodservice sales partners, members, and operations leads. The role also leads a talented internal team and manage relationships with external agencies and vendors.

The VP of Marketing & Communications will serve three primary functions: 1) Define, plan and implement meat product branding, marketing, and advertising; 2) Develop and manage internal and external communications and public relations efforts and 3) Strategically influence the company’s vision, company culture, and success.

Reporting Relationship

The VP of Marketing & Communications will report directly to the CEO.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a unified marketing and communications strategy that supports business growth, product development, and brand positioning.
Serve as a thought partner to the executive team on customer trends, competitive landscape, and co-op storytelling opportunities.
Provide clear, inspiring leadership to a team of 4+ professionals and coordinate effectively with agency partners.
Act as a steward of the co-op’s mission, voice, and values, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints.
Lead go-to-market strategy and execution for new product lines, with a priority on two major launches in the next 12 months.
Manage positioning, packaging, messaging, and pricing alignment with sales, operations, and product development teams.
Drive brand awareness and customer acquisition across retail, foodservice, and distribution channels.
Oversee the development of internal communication tools and campaigns that build trust, transparency, and alignment across our member base.
Partner closely with the Membership Director to ensure rancher voices are visible and central to storytelling efforts.
Support in-store and online activation programs that drive trial, repeat, and velocity in key retail accounts.
Lead the creation of marketing materials and tools for sales and customer support teams.
Build programs that connect end consumers to the producers, places, and practices behind our food.
Oversee all external communications including media relations, PR campaigns, and crisis communications.
Provide strategic oversight to web, email, and social media efforts.
Serve as a spokesperson and public-facing ambassador for the brand when appropriate.
Manage department budgets, vendor contracts, marketing analytics, and reporting.
Ensure team workflows are efficient, collaborative, and outcomes-driven.

Location and Travel

The VP of Marketing & Communications will be remote. Travel would be required: attendance at all CNB meetings and as necessary to support any M&B initiatives, approximately 1 trip/month.

Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field required.
Minimum of 10 years within a marketing leadership capacity at a food & beverage business, ideally meat.
Deep understanding of brand building, product launches, team leadership, and agency management.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute actionable strategies to support business and financial objectives.
Demonstrated ability to quickly analyze complex business situations and challenges.
Must possess strong business and financial skills including the ability to analyze complex data sets.
Experience with e-commerce, digital, and social media marketing
Experience working with Sales and Finance in developing effective customer trade promotion spending programs and strategies.
Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels and within a cross-functional environment.
Have strong business acumen and can connect marketing results to co-op success
Keen eye for design and content detail.
Strong leadership skills including the ability to set clear direction, create an environment of positive recognition and accountability, and build team morale.

Competencies

Problem Solver – A thinker who is able to synthesize complex systems and multifactorial priorities and propose practical solutions.
Highly intelligent communicator – Extremely adroit in understanding very complex systems, audience priorities and concerns, and the ability to simply communicate the primary principles in a manner that allows a lay individual understand the value of attributes, programs, concepts, and decisions, both consumers & members.
Creative – Serve as a creative thinker in a industry full of left-brainers.

Country Natural Beef Overview

Country Natural Beef got its start in 1986 when some forward-thinking ranchers, Doc and Connie Hatfield, had an idea to pool together a network of local ranchers to raise natural beef for customers. This idea would allow ranchers to remain economically viable while providing natural, sustainably raised beef to consumers. Over thirty years later, the Co-Op is still deeply rooted in the philosophy of sustainability for the ranchers, the cattle, and the environment.

Country Natural Beef has expanded its footprint from the Pacific Northwest to providing quality meat to customers all over the Western United States and to retailers like Whole Foods, New Seasons Market, PCC, Town & Country, Chipotle, ShakeShack and more. The Co-Op’s growth hasn’t taken away from its primary focus of having high animal welfare standards, being stewards of the land, and giving back to its rural communities. Country Natural Beef embraces animal welfare, quality, and environmental stewardship with 3rd party verified attributes like GAP, Non-GMO, and Grazewell™.

Operations

Country Natural Beef (CNB) started with 13 original ranchers. Today, there are 90+/- ranches that comprise CNB processing 60-70,000 head of cattle annually and represent approximately 200,000 cows across roughly 6.5 million acres. The cooperative has a 6-member Board of Directors and is managed by a CEO and support staff; including finance & admin, production, marketing, sales & inventory, and membership.

Vision of CNB

To create premium marketing opportunities for a trusted group of ethical ranch families who are focused on preserving our natural resources and open spaces for the next generation of producer and consumer alike.

Mission of CNB

To provide a premium quality and process verified product to customers who value producers who do the right things for the right reasons for people, land, and livestock.

Core Values of CNB

Stewardship – We believe it is our responsibility and calling to care for the natural resources, animals, and people around us in a way the leaves those people and resources better than we found them.
Family-based agriculture – We believe that family-based agriculture is the foundation of strong rural communities, and we celebrate the critical role they play in providing a high quality, abundant and affordable food supply for customers around the globe and preserving the open spaces in which they operate.
Innovation – We are committed to progress and continuous improvement and proactively seek creative new methods to manage our ranches, serve our members & customers and achieve our shared goals.
Integrity – We do the right thing, for the right reasons.

Interested?

Tell us why you’re a good fit.