About Barilla

At Barilla, we believe that every great journey begins with passion and a bold vision. From our humble beginnings in 1877 in a small shop in Parma, Italy, we’ve blossomed into a global leader in the food industry, guided by our commitment to progress and excellence.

Today, Barilla is an international group present in more than 100 countries and we are proud to be recognized as the world’s top food company by reputation. With 22 beloved brands in our portfolio, we are world leader for pasta, the number one choice for ready-made sauces in Europe, leader for bakery products in Italy, and for crispbread across Scandinavia with Wasa.

Our success story is written by a passionate team of almost 9,000 dedicated employees across 30 plants and offices worldwide, all united by a shared mission to nourish the future with purpose and passion.

Are you ready to add your unique flavor to our journey?

Barilla wants to recruit a Category Marketing Associate Manager – Bakery Norway. The position is based in Hamar, Norway and is part of the Bakery Category team for Central & Northern Europe reporting solid to the Associate Director Category Bakery C&NE and dotted to the Country Manager Norway.

Job Purpose

The individual will be responsible for driving category growth, brand performance, and market activation of the brand Wasa in Norway.

In this central commercial role, the candidate will translate data into strategy, insights into action, and plans into strong commercial execution.

Furthermore, the individual will work closely with local and regional stakeholders, including sales, trade marketing, key account management, the country manager, as well as the regional team in Central & Northern Europe and the global bakery category. The role ensures that the Norwegian market is effectively represented and that local priorities are embedded in key business processes and decision-making.

Key Accountabilities

• Own the Bakery Category in the Norway, togheter with one direct report, representing the local market in regional forums and global interaction to ensure local priorities are embedded in strategic direction, innovation and communication


• Define and execute integrated marketing plans in line with the positioning and communication strategies of our brands including communication campaigns, sponsorships, seasonal activations, retail media and in-store initiatives


• Manage the local marketing and activation budget, ensuring cost control, accurate forecasting and clear reporting


• Contribute to the innovation process by identifying consumer gaps and generating relevant insights and ideas for the Norwegian market.


• Lead the full launch process from business case support to customer sell-in, development of communication materials and close monitoring to steer corrective measures when needed.


• Execute brand strategy locally, ensuring full alignment with CoE guidelines and regional alignment while strengthening brand value and equity in Norway


• Implement and deliver local promotional programs, managing agencies and ensuring high-quality execution from briefing to final approval


• Continuously monitor market dynamics, analysing trends, consumer needs, and competitive developments to identify growth opportunities


• Track and report performance KPIs, campaign effectiveness, and category evolution to generate actionable insights


• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Nordic and regional teams


• Contribute to forecasting and planning processes, providing market input to support budgeting and commercial decision-making


• Support and advise the local Sales team with compelling customer presentations, selling stories, and category insights to ensure execution of priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Marketing, business or similar


• Great record of accomplishment, with a minimum of 3 years of work experience in marketing in the FMCG setting. Any additional experience in Sales will be considered an advantage


• Excellent communication skills in Norwegian and English


• Strong team player with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions, fostering a positive team spirit and driving collective success


• Demonstration of leadership and ownership, showing curiosity and creativity, while building strong and trustful relationships


• Strategic vision, ability to manage complex and multiple tasks and to strengthen and develop the business, while acting autonomously in execution


• Project management and analytical skills with a strong “can do” attitude that allows sound decisions making within established guidelines

Important Information

• The expected starting date is September 2026


• Type of contract: local contract

Our Offer

We offer a central role in a dynamic and motivated team with a positive, inclusive culture and the opportunity to work with one of Norway's most recognized bakery brands. The role provides significant responsibility, room to influence key decisions, and excellent opportunities to grow within category management, marketing, and commercial strategy through continuous learning, feedback, and development programs. You'll also benefit from a flexible hybrid working model with up to 40% home office and the opportunity to contribute to national and international Diversity & Inclusion initiatives.

Application

Please register your Resume and Cover Letter in English. Don’t wait with your application since we are meeting candidates ongoing.

We look forward to having your application! 

At Barilla, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity in all its forms is valued and embraced. Our employment policies and practices are designed to ensure equal employment opportunities for all, regardless of age, race, color, citizenship, faith, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or characteristics of expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our commitment to equal employment stems from our unwavering belief that it is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a fundamental driver of innovation and business success.