Hire the best Brand Managers

Building a compelling brand can help your business stand out, and can make a lasting impression on prospective customers and other stakeholders. Hiring a qualified brand manager is essential to developing and maintaining a consistent, memorable brand identity that differentiates your business from competitors and resonates with your target audience.

Before hiring a brand manager, learning some key details—such as what the role entails, how to write an effective job post, the current market demand, and average hiring costs—can help you make an informed decision.

Freelance brand managers can bring to your organization all the skills you need plus the fresh insights an outsider can bring, and can also be engaged for the number of hours you need each week. Independent brand managers with a wide range of skills and experience are available on Upwork. 

Writing an engaging brand manager job post 

Creating a brief, compelling brand manager job post can help you reach qualified brand managers and excite them about supporting your business needs. We’ve highlighted key details to include in a successful brand manager job post. 

Job post title

Select a clear, simple title that describes what you’re looking for in a brand manager. Job post title examples include:

• Brand manager. E-commerce company in need of a branding expert to develop consistent branding assets and for a new product line. 
• Associate brand manager. Fast-growing tech startup looking for brand strategy and product marketing support to differentiate our business-to-business (B2B) software solutions. 
• Global brand manager. Leading manufacturer seeking an experienced brand manager to lead worldwide brand strategy and ensure consistent brand identity across markets. 

Project description 

Highlight essential information in your brand manager job post to engage qualified candidates. Here are some important details to consider:

• Scope of work. Include a high-level description of the scope of work deliverables you’ll need from the ideal brand manager candidate, such as a brand style guide or brand voice and tone guidelines.
• Project length. Clearly convey whether your company is in need of a brand manager for a short-term project or long-term engagement. 
• Background. If you’re looking for a brand manager with experience in a certain industry or with specific digital marketing or analytics tools, list your background or experience preferences in this section. 
• Budget. Include your budget for the job or project, including whether you’re offering a fixed-price or hourly contract. 

Brand manager responsibilities

While brand manager responsibilities may vary depending on how the role is structured and your specific business needs, here’s a list of typical responsibilities to consider including in your job post:

• Conducting market research to understand trends and preferences among the company’s target market
• Completing competitive analysis to understand how similar companies are portraying their brands
• Implementing and maintaining brand guidelines for both internal and external use
• Creating engaging brand messaging and visual assets for different target audiences
• Developing and implementing cohesive brand strategies aligned with business objectives
• Measuring brand performance, sentiment, and awareness using defined metrics and digital analytics tools
• Identifying ways to improve brand performance and return on investment (ROI) 
• Staying updated on the latest industry trends to enhance brand strategy over time

Brand manager requirements and qualifications

Include key requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in prospective brand managers.  Emphasizing preferences or must-haves in your job post can help you engage the right candidates while weeding out others who may not have the right background or skills for your needs.

Here’s a list of common brand manager requirements and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration or a related field (a specific degree may not always be required if a candidate has extensive professional experience)
• In-depth knowledge of a specific industry 
• Experience in brand management, marketing, advertising, or a related role
• A diverse portfolio of completed brand management deliverables
• Case studies, reviews, or references from past clients highlighting brand management expertise
• Understanding of market research and data analytics 
• Proficiency in data analysis, brand sentiment, social media, content management, and other technology tools relevant to brand management 
• Soft skills such as creativity, project management, communication, problem-solving, and time management 

What to know when hiring a brand manager

Once you write an engaging job post, understanding other important information about the brand manager role can help you target and attract qualified candidates. We’ve highlighted important details, including an overview of the role, expected market demand for brand managers in the coming years, and average hiring costs.

The role of a brand manager

A brand manager defines a company or product line’s brand identity, messaging, and positioning, while focusing on ensuring long-term consistency across all touchpoints.

While some individuals may use the terms brand manager and brand marketer interchangeably, the two roles have distinct differences. Based on the guidelines from the brand manager, a brand marketer develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote the brand.

Brand manager responsibilities may include:

• Brand strategy. Brand managers will help define a brand’s unique value proposition, differentiators, target audience, and messaging to guide all brand-related activities and align with broader business goals. 
• Brand guideline development. Creating and maintaining a set of guidelines and standards for written and visual identity will help ensure a consistent brand identity across all internal and external channels. 
• Market research and analysis. Brand managers will often complete market research to identify target audiences, understand which messages or visuals resonate with prospective customers, and track industry trends. 
• Performance measurement. Leveraging analytics tools to track brand performance metrics such as sentiment, awareness, and share of voice will help campaigns hit their goals. 
• Cross-team collaboration. Championing the brand strategy and communicating brand guidelines across teams—such as sales, marketing, and design—will help drive brand alignment across all functions. 

Brand manager hiring demand in 2024

Companies are always looking for new ways to differentiate their brands in an increasingly competitive business market. Hiring an experienced brand manager can help your business access specialized expertise to build and maintain a brand that stands out.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers, including brand managers, is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. Related roles are expected to see an average of 34,000 job openings each year. 

Common brand manager projects

Brand managers can complete a variety of projects, jobs, or tasks depending on their experience and your business needs. Below, we’ve identified examples of brand manager projects:

• Brand identity refresh. Updating the brand’s written and visual identity, including key messaging points, as well as the logo, color palette, and typography, to support evolving trends, business positioning, or customer preferences. 
• Global brand expansion. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the brand identity and developing a strategy to launch the brand successfully in new markets around the world. 
• Product launch branding. Creating a sub-brand for a new product or service offering that differentiates the new offering while aligning with the company’s overall brand identity. 
• Brand performance analysis. Conducting a comprehensive review of brand metrics to identify strengths, as well as areas for improvement or optimization. 
• Brand training. Leading a training session for employees and other stakeholders to learn about the company’s brand identity, as well as best practices to access and use relevant brand assets in their day-to-day work.  

Industries hiring brand managers

Because a cohesive, engaging brand is important to differentiating any business from competitors, brand managers play a key role at many organizations across industries.

Top industries hiring brand managers include:

• Marketing. Brand managers are often engaged by marketing agencies to partner closely with clients and develop or refresh branding assets and messaging. 
• Technology. Growing tech companies hire brand managers to help shape how the brand is perceived and build awareness in a crowded market of competing products and services.
• Media and entertainers. Brand managers help build and maintain the image and perception of public figures such as actors and musicians to drive fan engagement and support.   
• Financial services. Banks, insurance companies, and other financial services organizations may hire brand managers to develop a trusted, credible brand identity and highlight their expertise to customers. 

Average cost of hiring a brand manager in 2024

A brand manager’s salary, hourly rate, or fixed-price project rate may vary depending on their expertise, educational background, location, market conditions, project scope, and other factors.

• A brand manager with several years of experience may charge a higher rate that reflects their expertise and advanced knowledge of marketing strategies, tools, and solutions.  
• An individual early on in their brand management career and looking to expand their portfolio may offer more competitive pricing for a job or project.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median annual salary for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers, which includes brand managers, was $131,870 as of 2023, while the median hourly wage was $75.28.

Hire an expert brand management for your needs

Whether you’re looking to define your brand identity, refresh your existing brand, or develop consistent branding for a new offering, finding the right brand manager can have a significant impact on how your target market perceives your business. 

Consider engaging an independent brand manager on Upwork. Experienced brand managers are available with diverse backgrounds, offering you the flexibility to quickly access talent with the skills you need for a short-term project or long-term engagement. Search for a brand manager and start elevating your brand identity today.