zuru

Shopper and Brand Activation Manager

Auckland | New Zealand
Full-time
Posted Nov 2, 2026

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Skills

Communication
Compliance
Instagram
Point of Sale
Project Management
Sales
Teamwork

Job description

Own End-to-End Shopper Marketing for Fast-Growing CPG Brands, Globally

Lead how DAISE Beauty, MONDAY Haircare, Bonkers, Millie Moon, Rascals and more show up in-store in major retailers worldwide!

About ZURU

ZURU is a reimagination company. We look for categories that have stood still, then we build next-generation products and brands that set the new standard. ZURU Toys is reimagining play. ZURU Edge is reinventing everyday consumer brands. Rhodes Pet Science is reimagining pet science. ZURU Tech is leading the next building revolution.

ZURU started in 2003 with two brothers from New Zealand, and we’re still founder-owned and operated today. Since then we’ve become the world’s second-biggest privately held toy company, and nearly half of all Gen Y and Gen Z households with kids in the US own a ZURU product. Today we’re 5,000 people in 34 offices, selling into more than 150 markets, backed by over 100 acres of fully automated manufacturing. And we’re only getting started.

Position Overview

We’re looking for a high-ownership Shopper Marketing (Brand Activation) Manager or Senior Manager with exceptional project management capability and strong creative judgement. You’ll lead the planning and execution of in-store activation across our largest global retail partners, including Walmart, Target and key Grocery/Drug customers. You’ll turn brand strategy into retail-ready execution, owning displays and point-of-sale programs end-to-end so our brands show up with speed, consistency and impact at shelf in every market.

This role spans multiple ZURU Edge brands, from highly design-forward consumer brands such as DAISE Beauty, MONDAY Haircare and Millie Moon, to other fast-growing categories across our portfolio. It’s a rare opportunity to bring beautifully built brands to life in-store, at scale, and with real visibility.

Position Impact

You’ll play a pivotal role in raising the bar on how ZURU shows up at retail globally. You’ll turn brand vision into powerful in-store moments of connection that influence shopper behaviour and drive conversion. You’ll champion the consumer at the point of purchase, making sure every activation is consumer-led and creatively excellent, while driving timelines, stakeholders and details through to flawless execution. Your work will strengthen retailer partnerships and accelerate growth across ZURU Edge’s consumer goods brands in key markets.

Roles & Responsibilities

•Lead in-store shopper activation across key global retail partners (including Walmart, Target and key Grocery/Drug customers), translating brand strategy into high-converting retail experiences.

•Own end-to-end project management for secondary displays, shippers, floorstands and in-store POS, from briefing and concepts through vendor quoting, retailer approvals, production, deployment and post-activation reviews.

•Drive activation planning across the path to purchase, including in-store POS, sampling, promotions, endcaps, seasonal programs and other moments of connection.

•Be the day-to-day activation partner to account teams across markets, building customer-specific activation plans that align to brand objectives and delivering against timing, budget and quality expectations.

•Own trade show and experiential activation execution, including project plans, budgets, timelines, vendor coordination and on-site delivery for priority events (e.g. trade shows, pop-ups and brand activations).

•Act as the key activation contact for retailers and external partners on shopper programs, supporting sell-ins and presentations, leading display development and delivering clear post-program learnings.

•Partner with internal Design to brief, review and deliver best-in-class creative assets with clear communication hierarchy and strong shelf impact. This role includes creative approval authority within brand guidelines and the ability to use design tools to make required changes (e.g. resizing, layout adjustments, hierarchy tweaks) to keep projects moving at pace.

•Manage external agencies and vendors (e.g. display houses, printers, merchandisers) to ensure quality, compliance and speed, pushing for better solutions and continuous improvement.

•Own activation budgets for your programs, with disciplined spend management and flawless delivery against deadlines.

•Track performance and extract learnings from activations (e.g. compliance, execution quality and commercial impact where measurable), recommend improvements and codify global playbooks for future programs.

•Maintain working knowledge of retailer marketing ecosystems (e.g. Roundel, Walmart Connect, Kroger Precision Marketing) so activations integrate effectively with retailer requirements and opportunities.

Skills & Experience

•4-5+ years’ experience in shopper marketing, retail activation, trade activation or customer marketing, ideally within CPG or similarly fast-paced consumer brands.

•Proven experience delivering programs with major retailers such as Walmart, Target and/or leading Grocery/Drug customers.

•Exceptional project management capability. You can run complex, multi-stakeholder programs end-to-end, hit deadlines and drive issues to closure.

•Strong creative judgement and design sensibility, with the ability to approve shopper-facing assets within brand guidelines.

•Ideally hands-on design capability. You’re comfortable using design tools to make quick updates (e.g. resizing, layout and hierarchy tweaks, light production adjustments) to keep projects moving at pace.

•Clear, confident communicator with strong cross-functional collaboration skills across Sales, Design, Supply, vendors and retail partners, across multiple markets and time zones.

•Comfortable using data and in-market observations to improve activations over time.

•Comfortable managing external partners such as display houses, printers and agencies. Vendor or agency management experience is a plus.

•Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Who thrives at ZURU

This isn’t a 9-to-5. We move fast, think big and set goals most companies would call impossible, then go after them. The people who thrive here are entrepreneurs at heart. They own their work, chase bold ideas and never stop raising the bar.

At ZURU, you drive your career, and we give you the platform to take it as far as you can. There are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else, and you’ll be surrounded by talented people who make things happen. We’re a true meritocracy: we reward impact, not tenure.

How we work

Big ideas happen when great people work side by side, so we’re office-first by design. This role is based in our Auckland office. Being together means faster collaboration, sharper decisions and stronger teams, and it’s where the real learning happens. Some flexibility may be available depending on the role and business needs, but most roles are office-based.

Want to see what life at ZURU really looks like? Follow LIFE@ZURU on Instagram or visit

www.zuru.com http://www.zuru.com | ZURU – Reimagining tomorrow 🚀 | #LI-JK3

ZURU may use AI tools to help screen, assess or select applicants.