The Customer Planning Manager is responsible for tracking and reporting all revenue drivers by key channel and retail, actual revenues vs quota and forecast and prior year, and all drivers that negatively impact revenues of the P&L (MDF, Damages, Markdowns, Unsaleables, Returns, Deductions). This person is the direct intermediary between the Sales Department and many different functions due to the planning and reporting nature of this role. Exceptional communication, persuasion, and negotiation skills, both internally and externally, are essential. High-level Financial acumen with previous responsibility in setting 4P strategies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Leads our Customer Planning Function.
2. Manages and executes against a formal planning calendar, with delivery of budget, innovation, samples, selling materials, 4P’s, monthly business reviews in accordance with planning goals and in partnership with stakeholder functions including Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance.
3. Develops and executes a Channel Strategy based on dynamic customer segmentation and identifies opportunities to strategically invest and drive business for growth and profit.
4. Drive progress on long-term initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
5. Continuously evaluate and adapt strategies to meet evolving market trends and customer demands. Establish and foster Joint Business Planning (JBP) strategy. Develop Pricing and Assortment Strategies
6. Develop High ROI Trade Investment Strategy to increase profitability and enhance shopper takeaway.
7. Identify and capitalize on opportunities for strategic investments that align with business objectives.
8. Manage P&L to Net Revenue Management goals.
9. Successfully operate within a highly complex and competitive Over-the-Counter/Health and Beauty Aids (OTC/HBA) category structure.
10. Strategically position our brands and products to win a greater share of customer requirements.
11. Leverage advanced data analysis from data/retailer partners and category strategy to gain a competitive advantage over industry rivals.
12. Stay abreast of industry trends and consumer behavior to inform decision-making processes.
13. Lead the Customer Planning team by managing one direct report and deliver premier merchandising tools and vehicles, SKU rationalization, Circana data development strategy.
14. Demonstrate the ability to align organizational strategies with the overarching goals of top-level decision-makers.
15. Performs and assumes other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Vice- President, Sales.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITES

1. Oversee, manage, and track the performance of direct reports. Function as a strong team-builder, coach, and mentor for staff working in a very collaborative environment. 
2. Create, nurture, and support a positive work environment that underscores the company’s core values and goals. Develop constructive solutions to employee relations issues.
3. Include staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; make self-available to staff; provide regular performance feedback; and develop subordinates’ skills and encourage growth.
4. Define and implement a comprehensive program of staff development and career growth.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

1. A 4-year Bachelors Degree in business or related discipline or equivalent in training and experience.
2. Field Sales experience at the Zone/Region or National Account Manager level (5 years or more is preferred). Experience in Sales Planning is preferred.
3. Excellent Sales and Marketing insights and perspective – detailed understanding of Brand positioning within respective categories and marketing strategy to provide useful information to achieve optimum Trade execution of Brand objectives.
4. Expert level understanding of all Brand strategies and desired retail merchandising through collaboration/interaction with Marketing and Sales Management.
5. Excellent computer skills in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Cognos.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills. “Fact Based” selling skills, enthusiastic, creative, analytical, and team player.
7. Ability to create, analyze, and understand promotional efficiency model useful in support of the Sales Planning function.
8. Proven skill set that delivers correct (accurate), clear, and concise information (written and verbal).
9. Positive problem solver who manages time effectively in a constantly changing daily work environment where Ad Hoc requests routinely need to be managed along with disciplined process controls.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & ENVIRONMENT

1. This position requires the individual to stand or walk up to 33% of the time. This position requires the individual to sit, talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel 66% to 100% of the time. This position requires the individual to reach with hands and arms 33% to 66% of the time.
2. This position will require the individual to lift up to 10 pounds 33% to 66% of the time.
3. The vision requirements for this position includes close vision of 20 inches or less; distance vision of 20 feet or more, color vision (ability to distinguish between colors), peripheral vision (ability to see up, down, left, right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (3-dimensional vision), and ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).
4. This position has no exposer to measurable environmental hazards or conditions. 
5. The noise level for this position will be moderate noise (ex: Business office equipment and/or computer printers, light foot traffic).
6. Travel and overtime requirements are dependent upon business and department demands.