Customer Brand Planning Manager

Job Description

Position Summary
Build and implement brand plans and strategies that deliver on growth objectives established for assigned brands and top 15 customers. These plans should optimize the return on brand activation and customer investment inclusive of consumer promotion, trade promotion, customer specific marketing, and special pack funding. Responsible for managing cross channel opportunities and conflict for assigned brands.

Position Responsibilities
• Key strategic link between brand building/development and field sales on planning, strategy & opportunity management
• Develop customer, channel (and geography) specific brand trade promotional strategies, budgets and targets
• Evaluate customer specific packs and programs requested by field sales and drive agreement/resolution through the Brand Team.
• Work with the Brand Team to develop a seamless, fully integrated marketing plan for top 15 customers
• Establish customer specific growth strategies with field sales directors
• Support the Brand Team in line management KPI (4P’s) development, tracking and reporting
• Provide top customer input/insight into brand innovation planning and lead the customer presentation development process
• Identify brand Category Management needs and priorities for assigned brands
• Develop, lead and/or support brand projects as necessary
• Develop revenue targets and trade investment budgets
• Serve as direct/primary lead brand/field sales communication

Challenges
• Must be a fully committed member of the Brand team and maintain close contact with field sales
• Must be able to multi-task and balance several projects and priorities concurrently
• Creative approaches to complex problem solving through fact finding and analysis are critical
• Must be able to strike a balance between brand aspirations and marketplace realities
• Understand the impact of decisions across geographies and channels and managing risk/conflict
• Utilize and integrate multiple data sources to understand issues/opportunities from all perspectives

Job Requirements

Skills & Competencies
Knowledge
Education Undergraduate degree required. Post graduate (MBA) preferred.

Experience 5-7 years experience including 2+ years in direct customer and category management