Job Description Summary

The Senior Manager Sales Strategy & Planning is responsible for supporting the Director, Sales Strategy and Planning in the definition and execution of commercial strategy and guidelines through customer marketing and sales planning activities, as well as serving as the primary sales liaison between brand marketing, finance, supply chain, RGM, and field sales. The position requires up to 10% business travel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Translates brand marketing and business plans into clear commercial objectives, guidelines, and strategy to support the development of the commercial plan on a portfolio of items.
• Leads the implementation of assortment, merchandising/shelving, pricing, and promotion strategy for each portfolio.
• Provides customer/field sales perspective to the brand marketing teams to support the development and implementation of marketing plans.
• Works collaboratively with trade finance, sales leadership, and brand marketing to establish commercial processes and guidelines for category trade spending.
• Tracks net sales/pound and develops strategies to improve promotional efficiency for each portfolio.
• Partners with the RGM team to optimize brand promotional activity and trade spend at the channel and customer level.
• Supports development and communication of reports and tracking of key category sales KPIs for total US and top customers.
• Supports development and implementation of strategic projects to support category objectives for retail visibility, channel development, assortment/sizing, merchandising, customer marketing, pricing, and promotion.
• Leads the development of national, customer-facing selling materials in support of marketing, commercial and category objectives.
• Provides a sales perspective on category volume pacing and forecasts to support the S&OP process.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience; MBA preferred
• Minimum 8 years of experience in food or CPG industry in a category sales planning, field sales or marketing role

Specific competencies required

• Strong management skills with the ability to clearly communicate expectations and motivate peers and subordinates to action
• Demonstrates advanced expertise in sales planning, including the ability to develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive sales strategies that drive growth and achieve targets
• Excellent communication skills; understands audience and adjusts communication to drive desired results
• Advanced computer skills; knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Demonstrated Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience with syndicated data is preferred (Nielsen, IRI, etc.)
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or French is a plus

Performance Expectations: Quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed; ability to gain the trust and respect of management, coworkers and brokers; maintain the integrity of confidential business and product information; ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with other employees is essential to accomplish goals and objectives of the department.  

Working Conditions:  Work is performed largely in a HYBRID office environment (2-3 days per week in-office, Chicago based).  Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week.  At times there will be some variation in work hours due to special projects, deadlines and other concerns.  Position requires up to 10% business travel. 

Total Rewards

• Base Salary: $155,000 – $170,000
• Bonus Opportunity: 30%
• PTO and Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits from Day 1
• 401k Match
• Hybrid work schedule in Chicago