What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Customer Planning Manager position at Perfetti Van Melle?
Overview
Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos and Airheads!) is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide. We’re currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Senior Customer Planning Manager to join our growing team.
What You Will Do
The Senior Customer Planning Manager leads Category Sales Planning for assigned brand(s) across channels, translating PVM’s business objectives and brand strategies into channel-specific plans that deliver sustainable, profitable growth. This role serves as the key liaison between Sales and Brand Marketing, providing business intelligence and insights to inform customer planning and execution. The SCPM ensures alignment across go-to-market processes, incorporating the customer perspective into key activities such as business planning, forecasting, and new product launches. They also maintain a cross-channel view of new product launches/brand launches, support leadership in go/no-go decisions, and drive connectivity and alignment across Sales, Marketing, Category Insights, and Supply Chain to achieve business objectives. Additional responsibilities include:
At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a welcoming workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:
Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other applicable statutorily protected group status under local, state, or federal law.
Nearest Major Market: Cincinnati
Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos and Airheads!) is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide. We’re currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Senior Customer Planning Manager to join our growing team.
What You Will Do
The Senior Customer Planning Manager leads Category Sales Planning for assigned brand(s) across channels, translating PVM’s business objectives and brand strategies into channel-specific plans that deliver sustainable, profitable growth. This role serves as the key liaison between Sales and Brand Marketing, providing business intelligence and insights to inform customer planning and execution. The SCPM ensures alignment across go-to-market processes, incorporating the customer perspective into key activities such as business planning, forecasting, and new product launches. They also maintain a cross-channel view of new product launches/brand launches, support leadership in go/no-go decisions, and drive connectivity and alignment across Sales, Marketing, Category Insights, and Supply Chain to achieve business objectives. Additional responsibilities include:
- Own the customer planning process and oversee the development of plan creation (e.g., guidance provided by finance, input from marketing based on priorities, sales creating customer-specific plans, etc.).
- Set clear and specific executional objectives (assortment, merchandising, pricing and shelving) for each brand and communicate them to sales and customer planning teams.
- Ensure that channel-specific strategies and innovations are being developed by the Brands (e.g., club-specific SKUs, etc.) – work with marketing and sales to enhance this process.
- Develop display vehicles across channels which support key initiatives and base/new products.
- Work with marketing to develop brand stories, including what shoppers and customers care about.
- Understand the competitive landscape and provide the business with context on what is happening in the market.
- Provide business intelligence for specific brands/products and be well versed on what is happening in the business.
- Create standard brand collateral and share it with category management and customer teams in a customer-friendly manner, so that they can tweak the story for the category/customer (deployed 2X/year).
- Build new product launch plans to articulate where we are going first with new products, appropriate pricing, shipping dates, etc.
- Advise the category management team on key inputs to retailer selling story.
- Provide recommendations for SKU rationalization to ensure portfolio health.
- Provide sales input to the marketing/innovation team regarding product development (e.g., pricing, pack size, etc.) – maintain cross-channel view for new product and brand launches.
- Ensure a consistent approach across all customers managed by the field teams by maintaining cross-functional alignment of trade investment plan.
- Represent customer and field voice in internal, cross-functional meetings.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field required; MBA preferred.
- 10 years CPG experience in Trade, Customer Planning, or a Field Sales role with customer exposure.
- Strong understanding of channel and key retailer practices
- Involvement with customer annual planning process
- Ability to work effectively across departments — Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Category/Insights, Retail Growth Management
- Demonstrated ability to influence across the organization
- Matrix management and project management experience
- Financial acumen - P&L management exposure
- Thrives in fast-paced, multi-tasking environment while being highly organized and structured.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal / written with internal / external contacts.
- Senior level relationship building skills. Ability to direct decision making.
- Strong Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills.
At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a welcoming workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:
- PTO package including vacation, sick, personal, and pay it forward time off
- 13 paid holidays
- 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country
- Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases
- Comprehensive Health Insurance
- Annual Well-Being subsidy
- Maternity & Paternity leave options
- Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement
- Tuition-Free College Program
- Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)
Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other applicable statutorily protected group status under local, state, or federal law.
Nearest Major Market: Cincinnati
