Sales Planning & Strategy Director

Franklin, TN

The Sales Strategy Director champions overall growth and profitability of the Mars Petcare portfolio within the Petcare Category and Key Customers. They are the voice of sales & advocate of the customer, utilizing his/her deep expertise in the category across various customers and channels, representing the sales function as the key stakeholder in category decision meetings with internal cross functional sponsors to deliver long term 3 year strategy and innovation for the customers  they represent.  This role is responsible for the translation of key customer business strategies / priorities / objectives into Marketing Insights, RGM, and data/analytics as necessary to ensure execution. This plan ultimately enables the Field Sales team to deliver industry leading category growth and thought leading insights in the Retailer environment. This person is in-charge of managing the entire sales planning process, collaborating with the enterprise Sales and Operations team, Field Account, Marketing Directors, and Insights/Data/Analytics when necessary. 

What are we looking for?

• People Management experience - high engagement and talent development

• Business, Financial and Digital Acumen (in a Sales environment / customer)

• Drive for results and resilience

• Political savvy and org agility

• Petcare experience

• Minimum of a BA/BS in a business related field

• Minimum 10+ years of business experience in CPG industries, working with customers in Sales, Category Management, Customer Service, Logistics, Marketing Services, Brand Marketing or other similar function. 

• The candidate will also have strong computer and systems literacy, solid understanding of industry and trade channel and the ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Development and leadership of HPT

• Link between customer and brand, with responsibilities / required knowledge to include:

• Work with brand teams to align brand strategy, positioning and key initiatives with category growth drivers, shopper based design and perfect store/perfect digital store.

• Create selling stories that integrate consumer, category and shopper insights and aligns with Category Growth Drivers and portfolio opportunities

• Customer business planning and development

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-BC1

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.