Channel Marketing Manager – Costco

Description

JOB TITLE: Channel Marketing Manager – Costco

DEPARTMENT: Sales

REPORTS TO: Executive Vice President of Sales

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

Bay Cities, an Employee-Owned Company, is the leading creative packaging and display partner to brand marketers, retailers and e-commerce. Our passion, experience, technology and consumer insights move product and drive sales.

Our Mission

Our Passion Powers Your Product

Our Values

Creativity: Our ideas create Client success.

Passion: We have heart with a Customer Service attitude.

Integrity: We honor our business & planet with sustainable practices.

Responsible: We own it!

Safe: Our safe work habits protect us all.

Fun: We take our work seriously- not ourselves

Summary

Bay Cities is seeking a dynamic and deeply connected Channel Marketing Manager – Costco to lead our go-to-market strategy and relationship development efforts with Costco. This individual will serve as our Costco subject matter expert (SME) and play a pivotal role in establishing Bay Cities as a trusted, strategic supplier for retail packaging and point-of-purchase (POP) displays.

The role focuses on opening doors and building strategic alliances—not closing deals. You will collaborate closely with the Sales and Marketing teams to convert relationships into scalable business opportunities and lay the groundwork for a physical expansion near Costco HQ.

JOB FUNCTION/PURPOSE

• Strategic Account Leadership
• Serve as Bay Cities' internal expert on all things Costco—culture, operations, business cycles, key players, and approval processes.
• Drive a clear roadmap to position Bay Cities as a recommended supplier for packaging and POP displays with Costco and its vendor ecosystem.
• Generate and qualify $10M+ in new business opportunities within the first 12 months via strategic relationships, referrals, and account insight.
• Relationship Development
• Establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders at Costco across category management, operations, packaging approval, and vendor management levels.
• Unlock access to “upstairs” decision-makers within Costco who influence major procurement and strategic initiatives.
• Be the “face of Bay Cities” at Costco for relationship-building, innovation discussions, and collaboration.
• Opportunity Generation & Enablement
• Identify gaps and opportunities within the Costco vendor ecosystem (brands selling into Costco) where Bay Cities can support packaging, pack-out, and fulfillment needs.
• Coordinate seamlessly with the Sales Executives (SE) team—your role is to bring in qualified leads and strategic connections, while the SE team owns the sales process.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop targeted messaging, presentation tools, and campaigns aligned with Costco’s ecosystem.
• Infrastructure Strategy & Expansion
• Provide input on the support infrastructure needed to serve Costco effectively, including fulfillment logistics, manufacturing needs, and location strategy.
• Play a strategic role in evaluating and enabling a potential regional office near Costco’s HQ to support long-term growth and relationship development. Phase III
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Partner with:
• Marketing: for channel-specific messaging, campaigns, and collateral.
• Sales Executive: to hand off qualified leads and ensure timely follow-up.
• Operations/Production: to align capabilities with Costco’s compliance and expectations.

Education, Experience & Competencies

• Required Qualifications
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in channel marketing, strategic accounts, or business development with direct exposure to Costco.
• Demonstrated success in developing high-level relationships at Costco—must already have deep contacts and credibility within the organization.
• Strong understanding of Costco's operational model, category buying processes, and vendor dynamics.
• Proven ability to generate and influence business opportunities, even if not responsible for closing the deal.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skill
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working at or with Costco HQ (Issaquah) or having led vendor marketing initiatives targeting Costco buyers.
• Familiarity with pack-out, fulfillment, or co-packing operations.
• Willingness to travel regularly and potentially relocate/assist with a future Bay Cities office expansion in Washington state.
• Experience with retail packaging, POP displays, or consumer goods.

Core Competencies

• High ethical standards. Models and supports organization’s goals and values; adapts to changing conditions; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles. Consistently conducts themselves in an honest and trustworthy manner. Does not pursue their own individual objectives to the detriment of company goals. Sets an example for others to follow. Does the right thing.
• Demonstrates energy and passion about what they do and knows how to balance work and fun. Is generally optimistic and upbeat; fun to be around. Has a strong belief and zeal for the industry, the job, and the company. Conveys energy and intensity at work with a capacity for keeping others enthusiastic and involved.
• Operates with a customer service orientation internally and externally. Works to positively build the Bay Cities brand in everything he/she does. Builds strong, positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• Acts as an owner of the business and instills that same attitude and level of action in others. Is proactive in taking responsibility for all outcomes/results and avoids ‘pointing fingers’. Helps to create and maintain a strong feeling of belonging in the immediate and overall team.
• Regularly involves others in decisions that affect their job or work environment. Demonstrates co-operation and trust with colleagues and teams across organizational boundaries. Participates as a team player and establishes strong working relationships to deliver positive results.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize, balance, and manage multiple efforts with strong results/goal orientation. Uses time effectively, prioritizes and organizes work flow; can orchestrate multiple activities at once. Agility and personal adaptability with the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities with a high sense of urgency in a rapidly changing environment.
• Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work. Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; strives for continuous improvement of self and processes.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to convey information and ideas in a variety of media, tactful, confident, at all levels, internal and external. Must have strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a rapidly changing environment.

Other

• US Persons Only (US citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugee or asylee – all require proper identification and documentation).
• Approximately 35% travel required.
• Flexible, with travel to Costco HQ (Issaquah, WA) as needed
• Physical and Environmental Requirements: While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.
• Work environment includes front-office and manufacturing. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Pre-Employment Verifications: Must pass background and reference checks, drug screen, and physical examination prior to employment.