Makita U.S.A., Inc. Career Opportunities
How will your professional references rate your ability to bring a creative approach to marketing, brand management, and/or promotions?
Marketing consumer products
(0 = none, 5 = expert)




















Developing/implementing strategies & tactics
(0 = none, 5 = expert)




















Please note that this position is no longer available.
If you would like to be considered for similar opportunities now or in the future, feel free to apply and/or set up a notifier for yourself.
Assistant Brand Manager
CA - La Mirada
or
Apply with

Opportunity Snapshot

This is a unique opportunity to join Makita U.S.A.'s marketing team -- a team that does 100% of their creative work in-house -- and drive some of their most innovative programs. It’s a prime platform on which to make a visible impact as you work with fun, high-energy projects targeting niches that respond to youthful, exhilarating promotions, including partnerships with high profile brands in action sports, soccer, energy drinks, and more. You’ll be responsible for managing our brand promotional program, including logistics, budgeting, creative input, and full coordination; our award-winning PRO Center merchandising program; and taking ownership of an array of other duties. This is a hands-on, roll-up-your sleeves, results-oriented position requiring an outgoing approach, strong creative ideas, and a "big picture" strategic vision. Quick question for you - click here  This is a role for a professional who has the tools to hit the ground running and the runway to continue to learn and grow. Prove yourself a star and not only will you gain even greater responsibilities within the role, you’ll be able to leverage your success to pursue advancement opportunities throughout Makita U.S.A. 

You'll join a great company whose commitment to quality and performance has earned us a strong reputation within the professional community. We've built that reputation over nearly 100 years by using the finest raw materials, the most advanced manufacturing equipment, and the most rigorous quality testing in the industry. Makita designs and manufactures innovative cordless assembly tools utilizing advanced technology that allow professionals the ability to use cordless tools on tasks previously thought to be impossible.

Pictured: the tools in this four-piece combo kit take advantage of an advanced LXT lithium-on battery; the 30-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger communicates with the battery's built-in chip throughout the charging process to optimize battery life.

The Requirements

The ideal candidate for this opportunity will have a track record of success in merchandising, branding, marketing communications, or product management, and a background working with consumer products, ideally power tools. They will be comfortable with progressive, cutting-edge technology, understand our target demographic and marketing strategy, and bring creative ideas to the table. Quick question for you - click here

To be a strong fit for the role of Assistant Brand Manager, you will need:
  • 3 to 5 years of experience in a merchandising, branding or a similar role.
  • Marketing experience in consumer durable goods is preferred.
  • A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
  • Ingenuity, creativity and robust attention to detail.
  • The capability of building and maintaining excellent rapport with Sales, Marketing and other internal teams.
  • Solid presentation skills and the confidence to present to small, mid-sized and larger groups.
  • Advanced proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite applications, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
  • The ability to work within a culturally diverse environment with little supervision.
  • Excellent written, verbal and spelling skills in English.
  • The skill to effectively communicate through all channels. 
  • The ability to participate and contribute in group environments. 
  • Strong analytical reasoning and problem solving skills.
  • Effective organizational and prioritization skills.
  • The ability to work and build with power tools, accessories and related materials.  
  • Knowledge of action sports and athletes is helpful.
  • The capability of lifting up to 75 lbs. as necessary for tradeshow setup.
In addition to these requirements, you should be willing to travel between 10% and 20% of the time to attend trade shows, sponsored events and other meetings.

The Role

As Assistant Brand Manager, you will primarily be responsible for the creative, strategic and tactical representation of the Makita U.S.A. brand, leveraging multiple programs to successfully drive overall market share growth and profitability. Working closely with and reporting into the Director, Marketing, you’ll also assist in the development and implementation of a strategic brand plan. Quick question for you - click here

You'll join a Marketing team that includes channel marketing, product management, in-house advertising, social media, mobile marketing, merchandising, web design and development, video, and communications. This is a key role within the department, and you'll be our only fully dedicated Brand Manager. 

While your duties will be diverse and no two days will be exactly the same, there are several programs that you will be responsible for managing on a continuous basis. You'll directly manage the Makita PRO Center program (pictured), including permanent displays and short term P.O.P. merchandisers; our corporate wearables and gear program and the 999# marketing materials inventory and ordering process. For the PRO Center program you’ll work with large industrial accounts and manage all of the permanent merchandising – 16 feet of display space. You’ll be tasked with keeping it fresh and vital. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to help manage our mobile marketing tour – a 53 foot big rig that makes a significant number of stops each year. You’ll manage the tour and schedule the stops. In the area of promotional products, you’ll manage the budget, work with a third party website for Makita gear, select products, negotiate, and incorporate Makita with other brands. Cross-promotions will be particularly relevant when working with our action sports and other sponsorships.

Specific responsibilities will include:
  • Proactively coordinating numerous projects, ensuring follow-up and follow-through.
  • Developing and executing brand communication strategies and tactics from start to finish.
  • Helping manage all social media assets; making recommendations, increasing ROIs, etc.
  • Working within budgets and timelines to achieve specific goals.
  • Continually making suggestions, contributions, plans, solutions and effectively communicating them to the team.
  • Protecting the brand while actively promoting the brand in the market, to professional users, dealers, and within the company.
  • Consistently adhering to guidelines on how our logo is to be used in the market while protecting and upholding brand image and brand heritage.
  • Obtaining and reporting to management any relevant information concerning market trends and developments.
  • Constantly implementing creative, consistent vehicles that fully support the company’s prime objectives with regard to professional users, products and focus.
  • Proactively and strategically planning, developing and implementing branding strategies and vehicles that support all company objectives.
  • Measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of all related brand marketing efforts.
  • Helping manage sponsorship, Miss Makita, Senorita Makita, and other contracts/agreements.
  • Writing promotions supporting our 450+ tools and 2500 accessories.
Pictured: Makita’s award-winning PRO Center display system is a dynamic presence at the point of sale.

Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Why Makita

Join a marketing team in high gear -- Makita's brand energy is youthful,exciting, and driven by aggressive, innovative, and highly targeted strategies. We're lean, efficient, and refined, yet we deliver powerful results . . . just like Makita power tools. 

Exciting, fun promotions -- we're targeting professional tool users in the 18 to 35 age range and the Hispanic market (among others) not only where they work, but also where they play. A sample:
  • We have sponsorship and marketing partnerships with companies like Rockstar Energy Drink (pictured), Kicker Car Stereo, Metal Mulisha and more.
  • We sponsor some of the top teams in many different moto sports.
  • We're the official power tool provider for the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) and Major League Soccer (MLS).
  • We have philanthropic sponsorships, such as Makita Team Up for Nets, a campaign to raise money to provide anti-malarial bed nets to children at risk in Africa.
To get the full flavor of how we roll, check out www.makitatools.com. Clicking on this link will open a new browser window, but be sure to come back to submit your resume! 

Solid programs, high impact -- you'll take over solid programs, but also have the opportunity to put your personal stamp on them moving forward. We'll hold you to high expectations, not only to deliver fresh ideas, but also to challenge the status quo and look for ways to deliver effectively and efficiently. Ours is a team that's ripe with perfectionists. If you're the same, you'll fit right in!

Career development -- we're committed to promoting from within whenever possible and it's not unusual for strong performers to move up and take on additional responsibilities in our marketing department. Depending on your performance, aptitude and goals, you might pursue opportunities in marketing, sales or follow another of many paths. 

Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in our industry, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; 401(k) and profit sharing plans; vacation time; tuition reimbursement, and more.

Keys to Success

To excel in this role you will bring an upbeat, personable demeanor and the ability to see the "big picture" strategy while still focusing on the details. We've already said it, but it's important enough that it's worth repeating here: attention to detail will be central to your success. You'll also need to be flexible and effective whether you're leading a program or assisting with a project, because sometimes you'll be given a task while at other times we'll look to you for cradle to grave management.

In addition to the required experience and technical skills, which you’ll leverage daily, you should have outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills. Every part of this position is dependent upon working effectively with members of the Marketing team and in a cross-functional team environment. You should be comfortable working with multiple levels and titles, from vendors’ customer service representatives, to internal leadership, to the athletes we sponsor. Whether you’re in a meeting with Sales, working on a trade show, or attending a sponsorship event to ensure the brand is showing well, you’ll be competent, confident and professional. Participation, suggestions, and probing questions will be expected, and while all of our ideas won’t be implemented (sometimes you’ll need a thick skin) at times you’ll bring in the winning idea. In other words, to be successful you should always bring your “A” game and be prepared to play.

In addition, in order to be an outstanding Assistant Brand Manager, you will:
  • Be highly creative.
  • Continue to be challenged and motivated to always be the best in the industry.
  • Have a keen eye for creativity and consistency and always protect the brand.
  • Dedicate yourself to ongoing knowledge-gain by:
    • Learning our current processes and procedures so you can provide educated improvement suggestions.
    • Learning and understanding our power tools and product applications. 
    • Getting to know and understand the competition.
    • Learning our "professional user" market strategy, and the types of dealers that support those users.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
     

About Makita

Makita cordless tools are steadily emerging as the fastening system of choice within the assembly and manufacturing industries. While manufacturing processes were once dominated by air tools, manufacturers are recognizing the many advantages of using Makita cordless tools, such as reduced energy costs, more freedom and increased safety at the workplace. To meet the needs of today's manufacturers, Makita has developed a full range of assembly and manufacturing cordless power tools that are designed for precise torque accuracy. Makita cordless tools are your cost saving solutions.

Makita owes its reputation for manufacturing and distributing outstanding quality power tools to the drive and determination for excellence that began over 85 years ago as a manufacturer of electric motors. In 1958 we introduced our first electric tool, and today we are one of the world's largest power tool manufacturers, with seven manufacturing facilities globally and a selection of more than 350 superior and innovative tools.

Believing that the motor is the heart of any power tool, we take great pride in our motor expertise. We spare no expense in producing the most powerful, efficient and best performing motors available for each tool, carefully selecting only the best quality raw materials, employing the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, and using the most stringent manufacturing processes and quality control in the industry. To make certain that our quality standards are upheld, constant testing is performed during machining and assembly processes, including a final run-test under power before leaving the factory to ensure optimum performance.

Our success comes not only from producing top quality tools, but also from our unparalleled customer service. From our customer service representatives to our extensive sales team to our R&D group, we are dedicated to delivering complete customer satisfaction. Makita USA is headquartered in La Mirada, California.

Pictured: Makita's product line is quite diverse; this 64 cc gas-powered chainsaw, for example, features a rugged cast cylinder and low-noise operation.

Opportunity Snapshot

This is a unique opportunity to join Makita U.S.A.'s marketing team -- a team that does 100% of their creative work in-house -- and drive some of their most innovative programs. It’s a prime platform on which to make a visible impact as you work with fun, high-energy projects targeting niches that respond to youthful, exhilarating promotions, including partnerships with high profile brands in action sports, soccer, energy drinks, and more. You’ll be responsible for managing our brand promotional program, including logistics, budgeting, creative input, and full coordination; our award-winning PRO Center merchandising program; and taking ownership of an array of other duties. This is a hands-on, roll-up-your sleeves, results-oriented position requiring an outgoing approach, strong creative ideas, and a "big picture" strategic vision. Quick question for you - click here  This is a role for a professional who has the tools to hit the ground running and the runway to continue to learn and grow. Prove yourself a star and not only will you gain even greater responsibilities within the role, you’ll be able to leverage your success to pursue advancement opportunities throughout Makita U.S.A. 

You'll join a great company whose commitment to quality and performance has earned us a strong reputation within the professional community. We've built that reputation over nearly 100 years by using the finest raw materials, the most advanced manufacturing equipment, and the most rigorous quality testing in the industry. Makita designs and manufactures innovative cordless assembly tools utilizing advanced technology that allow professionals the ability to use cordless tools on tasks previously thought to be impossible.

Pictured: the tools in this four-piece combo kit take advantage of an advanced LXT lithium-on battery; the 30-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger communicates with the battery's built-in chip throughout the charging process to optimize battery life.

The Requirements

The ideal candidate for this opportunity will have a track record of success in merchandising, branding, marketing communications, or product management, and a background working with consumer products, ideally power tools. They will be comfortable with progressive, cutting-edge technology, understand our target demographic and marketing strategy, and bring creative ideas to the table. Quick question for you - click here

To be a strong fit for the role of Assistant Brand Manager, you will need:
  • 3 to 5 years of experience in a merchandising, branding or a similar role.
  • Marketing experience in consumer durable goods is preferred.
  • A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
  • Ingenuity, creativity and robust attention to detail.
  • The capability of building and maintaining excellent rapport with Sales, Marketing and other internal teams.
  • Solid presentation skills and the confidence to present to small, mid-sized and larger groups.
  • Advanced proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite applications, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
  • The ability to work within a culturally diverse environment with little supervision.
  • Excellent written, verbal and spelling skills in English.
  • The skill to effectively communicate through all channels. 
  • The ability to participate and contribute in group environments. 
  • Strong analytical reasoning and problem solving skills.
  • Effective organizational and prioritization skills.
  • The ability to work and build with power tools, accessories and related materials.  
  • Knowledge of action sports and athletes is helpful.
  • The capability of lifting up to 75 lbs. as necessary for tradeshow setup.
In addition to these requirements, you should be willing to travel between 10% and 20% of the time to attend trade shows, sponsored events and other meetings.

The Role

As Assistant Brand Manager, you will primarily be responsible for the creative, strategic and tactical representation of the Makita U.S.A. brand, leveraging multiple programs to successfully drive overall market share growth and profitability. Working closely with and reporting into the Director, Marketing, you’ll also assist in the development and implementation of a strategic brand plan. Quick question for you - click here

You'll join a Marketing team that includes channel marketing, product management, in-house advertising, social media, mobile marketing, merchandising, web design and development, video, and communications. This is a key role within the department, and you'll be our only fully dedicated Brand Manager. 

While your duties will be diverse and no two days will be exactly the same, there are several programs that you will be responsible for managing on a continuous basis. You'll directly manage the Makita PRO Center program (pictured), including permanent displays and short term P.O.P. merchandisers; our corporate wearables and gear program and the 999# marketing materials inventory and ordering process. For the PRO Center program you’ll work with large industrial accounts and manage all of the permanent merchandising – 16 feet of display space. You’ll be tasked with keeping it fresh and vital. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to help manage our mobile marketing tour – a 53 foot big rig that makes a significant number of stops each year. You’ll manage the tour and schedule the stops. In the area of promotional products, you’ll manage the budget, work with a third party website for Makita gear, select products, negotiate, and incorporate Makita with other brands. Cross-promotions will be particularly relevant when working with our action sports and other sponsorships.

Specific responsibilities will include:
  • Proactively coordinating numerous projects, ensuring follow-up and follow-through.
  • Developing and executing brand communication strategies and tactics from start to finish.
  • Helping manage all social media assets; making recommendations, increasing ROIs, etc.
  • Working within budgets and timelines to achieve specific goals.
  • Continually making suggestions, contributions, plans, solutions and effectively communicating them to the team.
  • Protecting the brand while actively promoting the brand in the market, to professional users, dealers, and within the company.
  • Consistently adhering to guidelines on how our logo is to be used in the market while protecting and upholding brand image and brand heritage.
  • Obtaining and reporting to management any relevant information concerning market trends and developments.
  • Constantly implementing creative, consistent vehicles that fully support the company’s prime objectives with regard to professional users, products and focus.
  • Proactively and strategically planning, developing and implementing branding strategies and vehicles that support all company objectives.
  • Measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of all related brand marketing efforts.
  • Helping manage sponsorship, Miss Makita, Senorita Makita, and other contracts/agreements.
  • Writing promotions supporting our 450+ tools and 2500 accessories.
Pictured: Makita’s award-winning PRO Center display system is a dynamic presence at the point of sale.

Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Why Makita

Join a marketing team in high gear -- Makita's brand energy is youthful,exciting, and driven by aggressive, innovative, and highly targeted strategies. We're lean, efficient, and refined, yet we deliver powerful results . . . just like Makita power tools. 

Exciting, fun promotions -- we're targeting professional tool users in the 18 to 35 age range and the Hispanic market (among others) not only where they work, but also where they play. A sample:
  • We have sponsorship and marketing partnerships with companies like Rockstar Energy Drink (pictured), Kicker Car Stereo, Metal Mulisha and more.
  • We sponsor some of the top teams in many different moto sports.
  • We're the official power tool provider for the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) and Major League Soccer (MLS).
  • We have philanthropic sponsorships, such as Makita Team Up for Nets, a campaign to raise money to provide anti-malarial bed nets to children at risk in Africa.
To get the full flavor of how we roll, check out www.makitatools.com. Clicking on this link will open a new browser window, but be sure to come back to submit your resume! 

Solid programs, high impact -- you'll take over solid programs, but also have the opportunity to put your personal stamp on them moving forward. We'll hold you to high expectations, not only to deliver fresh ideas, but also to challenge the status quo and look for ways to deliver effectively and efficiently. Ours is a team that's ripe with perfectionists. If you're the same, you'll fit right in!

Career development -- we're committed to promoting from within whenever possible and it's not unusual for strong performers to move up and take on additional responsibilities in our marketing department. Depending on your performance, aptitude and goals, you might pursue opportunities in marketing, sales or follow another of many paths. 

Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in our industry, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; 401(k) and profit sharing plans; vacation time; tuition reimbursement, and more.

Keys to Success

To excel in this role you will bring an upbeat, personable demeanor and the ability to see the "big picture" strategy while still focusing on the details. We've already said it, but it's important enough that it's worth repeating here: attention to detail will be central to your success. You'll also need to be flexible and effective whether you're leading a program or assisting with a project, because sometimes you'll be given a task while at other times we'll look to you for cradle to grave management.

In addition to the required experience and technical skills, which you’ll leverage daily, you should have outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills. Every part of this position is dependent upon working effectively with members of the Marketing team and in a cross-functional team environment. You should be comfortable working with multiple levels and titles, from vendors’ customer service representatives, to internal leadership, to the athletes we sponsor. Whether you’re in a meeting with Sales, working on a trade show, or attending a sponsorship event to ensure the brand is showing well, you’ll be competent, confident and professional. Participation, suggestions, and probing questions will be expected, and while all of our ideas won’t be implemented (sometimes you’ll need a thick skin) at times you’ll bring in the winning idea. In other words, to be successful you should always bring your “A” game and be prepared to play.

In addition, in order to be an outstanding Assistant Brand Manager, you will:
  • Be highly creative.
  • Continue to be challenged and motivated to always be the best in the industry.
  • Have a keen eye for creativity and consistency and always protect the brand.
  • Dedicate yourself to ongoing knowledge-gain by:
    • Learning our current processes and procedures so you can provide educated improvement suggestions.
    • Learning and understanding our power tools and product applications. 
    • Getting to know and understand the competition.
    • Learning our "professional user" market strategy, and the types of dealers that support those users.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
     

About Makita

Makita cordless tools are steadily emerging as the fastening system of choice within the assembly and manufacturing industries. While manufacturing processes were once dominated by air tools, manufacturers are recognizing the many advantages of using Makita cordless tools, such as reduced energy costs, more freedom and increased safety at the workplace. To meet the needs of today's manufacturers, Makita has developed a full range of assembly and manufacturing cordless power tools that are designed for precise torque accuracy. Makita cordless tools are your cost saving solutions.

Makita owes its reputation for manufacturing and distributing outstanding quality power tools to the drive and determination for excellence that began over 85 years ago as a manufacturer of electric motors. In 1958 we introduced our first electric tool, and today we are one of the world's largest power tool manufacturers, with seven manufacturing facilities globally and a selection of more than 350 superior and innovative tools.

Believing that the motor is the heart of any power tool, we take great pride in our motor expertise. We spare no expense in producing the most powerful, efficient and best performing motors available for each tool, carefully selecting only the best quality raw materials, employing the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, and using the most stringent manufacturing processes and quality control in the industry. To make certain that our quality standards are upheld, constant testing is performed during machining and assembly processes, including a final run-test under power before leaving the factory to ensure optimum performance.

Our success comes not only from producing top quality tools, but also from our unparalleled customer service. From our customer service representatives to our extensive sales team to our R&D group, we are dedicated to delivering complete customer satisfaction. Makita USA is headquartered in La Mirada, California.

Pictured: Makita's product line is quite diverse; this 64 cc gas-powered chainsaw, for example, features a rugged cast cylinder and low-noise operation.
Makita U.S.A., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Human Resources Department at krivers@engage2excel.com.
or
Apply with