Manager, Sales Strategy And Customer Marketing

Job Location: Chicago

Want to make an impact?

The Sales Strategy & Customer Marketing Manager (“SSCM”) will drive collaboration across functions and develop brand strategy & execution plans for each Channel. The manager will be a functional extension of the Sales & Brand teams that effectively strategies, communications and executes key business initiatives with the goal of enabling the sales force to continually drive profitable and sustainable sales growth. This role is also integral in facilitating Integrated Commercial Planning (ICP), a process that ensures the development of strategic, actionable, and aligned business plans. This position is a highly complex position that requires ability to prioritize, manage key stakeholders, and deliver growth expectations.

Partnership with brand teams will include but not be limited to key member of innovation teams, drive commercialization of channel specific items, align to shopper big bets by channel/customer, price pack architecture on base & innovation items, brand/customer health tracking at the channel level, managing shopper budget.

Ways you will make a difference

• Lead major business change activities with a focus on commercializing customer specific products into the marketplace
• Develop a deep understanding of brands, and assigned channel (via SWOT analysis, customer strategies, consumer target, competition) and apply that understanding to develop channel plans and strategies
• Perform special projects as required
• Collaborate with and lead multiple internal cross-functional groups (e.g., Marketing, Finance, Revenue Management, Category Management, Sales Planning, Commercialization team) to drive brand and customer initiatives
• Engage with Customer teams to develop an understanding of what is needed on-gong to drive success of sell-in and performance with the customer
• Develop a deep understanding of local markets and consumers and apply that understanding to developing plans and strategies
• Evaluate and recommend go/no-go action based on the viability of a strategic initiative
• Translate national shopper marketing campaigns to customer specific programs; drive the development, management and implementation of campaigns, promotions, and innovation to support business growth within each channel of distribution
• Manage customer marketing budgets by planning and aligning with strategic accounts to deliver effective and profitable programs.
• Engage with Marketing to provide the voice of sales in strategic initiatives.
• Engage with Marketing to provide the voice of sales in strategic initiatives
• Handle multiple initiatives simultaneously and work under pressure to meet deadlines

Skills that will make you successful

• Building strong cross functional relationships
• Soft skill of influence
• Self-sufficient as well as a strong team player with a developed sense of ownership
• Comfortable pushing others with diplomacy
• Resilient / Adaptable
• Organized and able to prioritize work effectively
• Positive attitude with intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn
• Commercial understanding of marketing, sales, and operational strategy, planning and budgetary issues
• Strategic thought leader
• Personal courage to raise respectful tension
• Business acumen with strong analytical skills and demonstrated technical competence
• Willingness to travel as needed
• Analytical problem solver
• Strong interpersonal relationships
• Ability to excel in fast paced high pressure environment
• Effective communicator

Experiences that will support your success

• Minimum Bachelor's degree, preferably in Business, or Marketing related field
• Experience and skill presenting concepts to multiple audiences, including senior leadership
• Relevant project management or consulting work is preferred
• Syndicated data experience (IRI, Nielsen, loyalty databases, customer specific, etc.) High competency in examining data, managing complex data sets, an analytical problem-solving
• Minimum 10 years of marketing, sales, or business experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in the CPG industry required