Short Intro and About the Job

A great opportunity to join our Beverage Creations Category Commercial team as Senior Manager on Creamers, one of our largest businesses. This role will help translate business unit (BU) objectives and strategies into sales and channel strategies to drive sustainable, profitable growth.

Facilitate communication between sales team and functional organization areas, including brand marketing, shopper marketing, finance, and more. Steward go-to-market processes ensuring that sales/customer voice is considered.

This role will focus specifically on our Dunkin, Land O' Lakes, PC Creamer, AFH and E-Comm business. You will work on a team with another Sr. Manager responsible for our International Delight brand. This role will report to Jim Messina, Senior Director, Category Commercial, Beverages (Creamers, Whiteners, and RTD Coffee).

About the Role

Key responsibilities include:

Engage and enable sales to drive commercial excellence

• Act as liaison between commercial, CBU and cross-functional partners (Marketing, Operations, Supply Planning, Demand Planning, Finance, Category Management, Shopper & Omni, Retail, etc.), ensuring sales is equipped to build best-in-class, vertically integrated, commercialized plans
• Own delivery of selling materials to the field including all sales meetings, monthly business reviews, product information, and other sales communication
  • Work with BU to develop selling story, including consumer and category insights
• Ensure consistency in representation of brand strategy and priorities across customers, partnering for strategic planning, and executional excellence
• Set clear and specific executional (assortment, merchandising, pricing and shelving) objectives and communicate objectives to sales team using insights from RGM, Marketing, and other functional areas of expertise

Collaborate and coordinate with CBU

• Serve as champion for sales back to CBU, ensuring that sales/customer voice and priorities are top of mind and accurately represented in decisions
• Provide outlook on sales execution and opportunities, and anticipate customer meeting and selling needs
• Understand competitive landscape, provide business with context and knowledge of what is happening in the market and with our customers
• Be well versed on what is happening in the business and communicate effectively with HQ partners

Partner cross-functionally and lead commercialization of new product launches

• Play a key role as commercial representative in project teams, including innovation, renovations and other product launches
• Build new product launch plans as needed, defining right products/pack, right pricing, right time with sales and cross-functional teams
• Maintain cross-channel view for new product and brand launches and support Danone leadership in making go/no-go launch decisions
  • Ensure engagement with sales throughout commercialization process to maximize sell in
  • Define needs for any unique channel or customer adaptations

Help shape innovation pipeline by providing relevant insights into the R&D process (e.g., shopper insights, shelving, etc.) - especially for product design and packaging design

The salary range for this position is $125,000 - $160,000 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

This role is considered a "hybrid" position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.

About You

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field

• 5-10+ years of progressive experience in CPG, preferably in commercial, category, broker management, Category Management or customer-facing roles.

• Strong collaborator and communicator, effectively working across the organization - ability to navigate a dynamic and demanding environment
• Strong team leadership and management skills - demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and maintain high performer
• Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize and manage to multiple deadlines

• Ability to understand shopper/consumer insights and performance analytics, translate into customer friendly language
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives, influencing without authority, and delivering measurable business results.
• Strong command of syndicated data (e.g., Circana/IRI, Nielsen), financial analysis, and delivering insight-driven communication.
• Proven ability to build strategic relationships with internal teams and customer partners.