Vice President of Marketing Greater Minneapolis, MN Area

POSITION PURPOSE

Taher is seeking an executive marketing leader to translate 45 years of success into a clear, compelling brand that shows the full breadth of who we are and where we are going. This leader will own enterprise brand strategy and marketing, bringing our family-owned heritage, chef-driven approach, nutrition initiatives and ongoing innovation to life for clients, customers and communities.

Our story spans K-12 schools, higher education, business and industry, senior living, and bakery and manufacturing operations. Across these settings, our work centers on putting high-quality, nutritious food in front of the people we serve. The Vice President will connect that shared purpose with the distinct needs of each market, showing how Taher delivers through its people, culinary expertise and operating capabilities.

The mandate is to make Taher's public presence reflect the quality and ambition of the business. The Vice President will establish a differentiated position, modernize our brand expression and digital presence, and build a marketing function that supports growth, client retention and reputation. This requires executive judgment and direct involvement in turning strategy into work that reaches our audiences.

ENTERPRISE BRAND LEADERSHIP

• Define Taher's positioning, brand architecture and value proposition across business lines. Build a coherent connection between the Taher name, Food4Life initiatives, individual offerings and the experiences customers have at our locations.
• Translate business strategy into an enterprise marketing roadmap, with market-specific priorities, investment recommendations and measurable outcomes. Advise the President and executive team on brand decisions, reputation and opportunities for growth.
• Protect the credibility and character of a family-owned company while evolving its message and visual identity. Earn the confidence of ownership and bring sound recommendations, clear decisions and disciplined execution to the process.
• Establish brand standards, messaging and creative direction that work across websites, proposals, client materials, social media, signage and events. Build a practical process for adoption across regions and operations.

STORYTELLING AND MARKET VISIBILITY

• Develop Taher's corporate narrative around the people we serve, the food we create and the problems we solve. Make our history relevant to our future through specific stories, visible proof and a consistent voice.
• Partner with Culinary, Nutrition, Operations and Manufacturing to showcase nutrition education, menu development, culinary craftsmanship and new food solutions. In K-12, connect the story to nourishing the minds of the future; tailor the message to workplace dining and other markets.
• Create a repeatable process for gathering stories from the field. Turn interviews, site visits, photography, video and customer insights into case studies, chef features, customer experiences and evidence of innovation.
• Ensure nutrition, product and performance claims are accurate and supported by the appropriate internal experts. Obtain needed client permissions and content releases before publication.

DIGITAL PRESENCE AND CREATIVE EXECUTION

• Own the website and digital marketing strategy, including audience journeys, search visibility, content, email and social channels. Make it easy for prospective clients and customers to understand our capabilities and connect with Taher.
• Build an active, distinctive social media presence with clear channel purposes, an editorial calendar and professional visual content. Show the food, people and initiatives behind our work through consistent publishing and engagement.
• Direct creative development across design, copy, photography and video. Establish quality standards, efficient workflows and a usable asset library so teams can represent Taher consistently.

GROWTH AND CLIENT EXPERIENCE

• Partner with Business Development and Operations to strengthen proposals, presentations, campaigns and client retention materials. Translate operational strengths into clear reasons to choose and remain with Taher.
• Use client research, customer feedback and competitor insights to sharpen positioning and identify opportunities. Adapt marketing to the decision makers and people served in each sector.
• Set the marketing strategy for trade shows, chef showcases, client gatherings and key company events. Coordinate execution with operating leaders so the experience supports the brand promise.

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Lead and develop a high-performing marketing team. Recommend the right mix of internal talent, regional support and outside partners, with staffing and spending tied to an approved plan.
• Own marketing planning, budget recommendations, vendor performance and reporting. Set priorities, allocate approved resources and hold the function accountable for quality, delivery and results.
• Partner with the Vice President of Human Resources on employer branding and recruitment initiatives that attract high-caliber talent aligned with Taher's culture, values and vision. Bring brand strategy, creative expertise and storytelling to recruitment campaigns, career content and outreach, with HR retaining ownership of employer branding and recruitment strategy.

WHY TAHER

Taher is a family-owned organization with decades of experience delivering customized foodservice and hospitality solutions. Our portfolio across Business & Industry, K-12 education, senior living, healthcare, restaurants and food manufacturing gives us the resources of a substantial organization while maintaining the responsiveness and relationships of a family-owned company.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Typically 12 or more years of progressive experience in marketing, brand strategy or communications, including at least five years leading a marketing function, significant brand portfolio or enterprise initiative. Equivalent depth and demonstrated results will be considered.
• Demonstrated success building, repositioning or modernizing a brand across multiple locations, audiences or business lines. A portfolio must show strategic thinking, strong creative judgment and measurable business results.
• Experience working effectively in a family-owned business is strongly preferred, particularly partnering with owners and senior leaders to preserve a company's heritage while advancing its brand. Candidates should be able to describe their role in those decisions.
• Foodservice, hospitality, K-12 or higher education experience is strongly preferred. Food manufacturing, consumer food brands and other service businesses with complex operations are also relevant.
• Experience building and developing teams, managing marketing budgets and agencies, and directing integrated campaigns, website development, social media, public relations and content production.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. An advanced degree is preferred but is not a substitute for demonstrated brand leadership.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The successful candidate is an exceptional storyteller who can identify what makes Taher distinctive and communicate it with warmth and precision. They combine commercial judgment with creative taste, listen closely to clients and operating teams, and are comfortable making decisions in an entrepreneurial environment. They can work directly with family ownership, challenge assumptions respectfully and follow through on commitments.

This leader must be willing to spend time where the work happens: school kitchens, dining operations, culinary events and manufacturing facilities. They should be equally comfortable presenting a strategy to executives and helping a small team produce the next important piece of work. Travel to operating locations and industry events will be part of the role.

EOE/AA