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SalaryOVERVIEW
The Blue Buffalo Omni-Grocery team is seeking a Trade Planning Lead (TPL) to collaborate with our customer-facing Sales Teams on planning and execution of Blue Buffalo’s Trade & Sales strategies.
In this role, you will work directly with the Customer Sales Teams to provide analytic support and develop efficient and effective plans for some of the Pet Segment’s largest and most dynamic customers including Target and Meijer in order to achieve Segment growth & financial targets. This role will exist at the intersection of Sales, Shopper Marketing, Consumer Insights, Category Management and Data Analytics requiring strong cross-functional competency. Successful candidates will demonstrate their ability to be a self-starter and operate with high learning agility while maintaining a strong bias for results with a passion for process improvement. This individual should also be able to see the big picture while maintaining detailed planning & execution discipline.
“Love them like family, Feed them like Family”, isn’t just a slogan, it’s the purpose that shapes everything we do. We are by pet parents, for pet parents - we aim to raise the game in pet food and deliver high quality natural ingredients to more pets than ever. Buffs operate with a can-do attitude, strong work ethic, common sense, and belief in BLUE. If that sounds like you, join us!
This role is Remote Eligible and can be done from any location in the United States. Relocation assistance is also available for candidates interested in working from WHQ or our Sales business centers.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
EXECUTIONAL EXCELLENCE
- Support the Omni-Grocery Sales teams to achieve annual goals and targets through leadership of a continuous annual planning process and providing actionable insights that drive plan optimization
- Implement and utilize a suite of capabilities to maximize trade ROI and impact
- Integrate customer data and knowledge of BLUE Buffalo’s trade strategy to build post promotional & trade investment analysis that assesses past performance and drives future recommendations
- Leverage syndicated and customer-portal data as well as Tableau reporting to provide input as a partner with the field sales team to establish an accurate monthly demand estimate
- Lead prep for and cost changes including developing Trade Models, Cost/Price Slope and presentation materials for customers
- Take personal accountability and ownership for results, deeply understands customer and Pet Parent needs and has the ability to prioritize what’s most important
PROBLEM SOLVING & ANALYTICS
- Gather and analyze syndicated data from internal & external sources (e.g., Nielsen, Profitero, Tableau, BLUE Planner and customer-data portals) to identify insights, growth opportunities & plan optimizations.
- Leverage enterprise-wide problem-solving tools and stakeholders to address business problems
SEGMENT EXPERTISE & INFLUENTIAL LEADERSHIP
- Influence internal strategy as a customer expert, and share learning and results across the Segment
- Support development of joint business plans/key customer engagements by defining opportunities, providing key information & analytics, and preparing customer-specific presentation materials in collaboration with cross-functional partners to maximize impact
- Provide selling teams with support and guidance on Trade, SRM & Demand Planning tools & resources
ENGAGING LEADER
- Foster an inclusive environment, embrace a learning mindset and demonstrate personal accountability.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- Minimum 2 years of relevant industry experience in sales, account management, category management, analytical and/or Trade experience
- Successful demonstration of analytical skills using various data sources (e.g., Nielsen, IRI, Tableau, trade funding & sales data)
- Self-motivated and detail oriented with the ability to perform well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint) & syndicated data
- Key leadership characteristics: integrity, operate with a growth mindset, collaborative,
- Strong communicator & learning agility
- Valid drivers license
- Passion for Pets
- US work authorization. Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States and with General Mills (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN visa or any other non-immigrant status).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong Excel skills and ability to manipulate large amounts of data (i.e. pivot tables)
- Previous experience leading cross functional projects
- Ability to effectively influence and interface directly with all levels within the organization
