Sr. Manager, Sales Planning & Insights

Job Description
Based in Mount Prospect, IL, Mizkan America is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor to Life™ for almost 220 years. As one of the leading makers of vinegars, condiments and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. We are committed to continuously challenging the status quo and delivering only the finest products for our customers. Our leadership seeks out, embraces and implements ideas for improvement from all of its employees. Transparency and accountability are two key factors that drive our company’s overall management approach.
We are looking for people who are seeking to deliver their best so that we can deliver ours. Above all, we’re dedicated to maximizing the potential of our greatest assets—our team members. That’s reflected in our ongoing commitment to recruit, develop, reward and retain our talented, multicultural workforce. We hope to see you as part of our team’s future success!
SUMMARY:
The Sr. Manager of Sales Planning Insights role is responsible for attainment of Commercial Excellence for the Mizkan America portfolio of Branded Flavor Enhancers. This is a highly visible and collaborative role that will lead the planning and execution of key brand and category management initiatives supporting and enabling the sales team via: annual planning process, innovation launches, KPI development/ oversight, insights generating business growth opportunities, and implementing key sales initiatives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
SALES PLANNING

• Engage with cross functional teams as thought leader and voice of the customer for innovation launches, product updates and program creation.
• Lead creation of customer centric sales materials for innovation, LTOs, and programming launches in retail and digital channels.
• Play a key role in the Mizkan Branded Flavor Enhancers annual planning process including establishing distribution, shelving, merchandising, and pricing (DSMP) guidelines to optimize category / brand growth and performance.
• Ensure attainment of key performance indicators by building rigor around tools, process, and oversight
• Support of Sales Finance discipline to understand, monitor and uncover opportunities in marketplace pricing dynamics.
• Lead and collaborate on strategy for trade spending, omni, pricing action and customer segmentation.

INSIGHTS

• Develop consistent formats/presentation and analysis of syndicated data, KPI scorecards, category/ shopper research and competitive activity to formulate strategies and plans for sales growth.
• Partner with brand and consumer insight teams and develop compelling stories utilizing category, shopper, and consumer insights.
• Provide strategic and tactical recommendations to Mizkan America Brands and Field Sales organization for the Mizkan, Nakano, Holland House, Angostura and Four Monks
• Lead monthly executive summaries on in-market performance providing key insights, opportunities, and recommendations on way forward for each of the brands.
• Establish Mizkan Brands as the category leader and primary advisor for category strategy decisions.
• Participate in customer joint business planning development and customer planning cycle based on knowledge of category and shopper trends, and competitive issues.
• Develop strong category knowledge to strategically identify and address current and future opportunities across key customers and channels.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.
• 8-10+ years of relevant sales and category management experience in Fast Moving Consumer-Packaged Goods industry
• 3+ of working with internal teams: strategy, planning, marketing, finance, or insights.
• Advanced experience working with panel, shopper insights, customer data) and scan-based syndicated tools (Nielsen or IRI)
• Demonstrated knowledge of category management systems and processes and ability to sell using fact-based selling tools.
• Proven experience building strong cross functional relationships with category management, brand, insights, and field sales teams.
• Flexibility to travel for customer meetings, market visits, company meetings, etc. (20-25% of work schedule)
• Demonstrated organization and prioritization skills need for a fast-paced, agile business environment.
• Strong problem solving and presentation skills required.