Program Manager - CPG

MarketSource Inc.; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

MarketSource is a sales acceleration company focused on delivering better outcomes for many of the world’s most iconic brands. We design, operationalize, and execute managed sales and customer experience solutions for companies in B2B and B2C environments.

The Program Manager focuses on building and leading a highly motivated program supporting our client(s). This role is responsible for collaborating to create a process that will drive expectations within a specified account base.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, brokers, and other channel partners.
• Strong understanding of CPG sales fundamentals, including distribution, pricing, shelving, merchandising, promotional planning, innovation, assortment, category management, and customer development.
• Proven experience developing, implementing, and managing high performance Programs with aggressive goals and delivering successful results.
• High tolerance for ambiguity demonstrated in the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities, responsibilities, and business needs.
• Strong business acumen.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with internal employees as well as external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to analyze and improve work processes for efficiency.
• Demonstrated ability to be a team player/coach.
• Demonstrated leadership, motivational and influencing skills.
• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor; demonstrate integrity and confidentiality.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Oversee the execution of CPG sales and account-management strategies across retail, wholesale, grocery, drug, club, mass, specialty, distributor, and e-commerce channels, as applicable.
• Ensure programs effectively execute against core CPG growth drivers, including distribution, pricing, shelving, merchandising, promotional activity, innovation, assortment, and product availability.
• Plan and direct the program’s activities to achieve financial and performance targets mutually established by MarketSource and the client
• Direct functions and performance within the program, including oversight and monitoring of employee activity
• Manage client commitments and expectations
• Monitor Program objectives and provide critical performance feedback to the client and leadership
• Coach and develop team members to drive performance and exceed program goals and objectives
• Develop and implement processes to measures and drive performance
• Provide analysis for ad-hoc executive management reporting
• Coordinate contingency plans supporting business continuity when employees are unavailable for extended periods of time
• Perform regular financial and program reviews with client’s management staff and MarketSource
• Manage and direct staff including recruitment, selection, and development to achieve Company goals and objectives
• Define, plan, communicate, and measure employees on team objectives associated with effective territory management within, and in conjunction with, program initiatives
• Instill a strong operating rhythm within the team that fully leverages the CRM tool for account management, forecasting, and reporting
• Manage established processes associated with performing employee performance reviews, hiring, promoting, terminating, and disciplining employees
• Ensure effective control of results, and takes corrective actions to guarantee that achievement of objectives fall within designated expectations
• Assist team with maintaining relationships, negotiating, and closing opportunities
• Train team on necessary skills, tools utilization, product information, and business intelligence

Skills

CPG industry

CPG sales basics

Program management

Ambiguity tolerance

Business acumen

Partnership building

Process improvement

Team leadership

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM tools

MS Office

Job description

Program Manager - Consumer Packaged Goods

MarketSource is a sales acceleration company focused on delivering better outcomes for many of the world’s most iconic brands. We design, operationalize, and execute managed sales and customer experience solutions for companies in B2B and B2C environments.

Our solutions are purpose-built and tech-enabled to deliver measurable improvements in business outcomes. We live by a set of people-focused values that guide our relationships with each other and with our clients. By putting people first, working together to make others successful, and establishing a rich and empowered work culture, we create opportunities for our people and the businesses we serve to be successful.

Summary

The Program Manager focuses on building and leading a highly motivated program supporting our client(s). This role is responsible for collaborating to create a process that will drive expectations within a specified account base. The Program Manager hires, coaches, trains, develops, and mentors their team, executes market and account plans, collects real-time account information, partners with the client to drive innovation and value, and ultimately drives business results.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee the execution of CPG sales and account-management strategies across retail, wholesale, grocery, drug, club, mass, specialty, distributor, and e-commerce channels, as applicable.
• Ensure programs effectively execute against core CPG growth drivers, including distribution, pricing, shelving, merchandising, promotional activity, innovation, assortment, and product availability.
• Plan and direct the program’s activities to achieve financial and performance targets mutually established by MarketSource and the client
• Direct functions and performance within the program, including oversight and monitoring of employee activity
• Manage client commitments and expectations
• Monitor Program objectives and provide critical performance feedback to the client and leadership
• Coach and develop team members to drive performance and exceed program goals and objectives
• Develop and implement processes to measures and drive performance
• Provide analysis for ad-hoc executive management reporting
• Coordinate contingency plans supporting business continuity when employees are unavailable for extended periods of time
• Perform regular financial and program reviews with client’s management staff and MarketSource
• Manage and direct staff including recruitment, selection, and development to achieve Company goals and objectives
• Define, plan, communicate, and measure employees on team objectives associated with effective territory management within, and in conjunction with, program initiatives
• Instill a strong operating rhythm within the team that fully leverages the CRM tool for account management, forecasting, and reporting
• Manage established processes associated with performing employee performance reviews, hiring, promoting, terminating, and disciplining employees
• Ensure effective control of results, and takes corrective actions to guarantee that achievement of objectives fall within designated expectations
• Assist team with maintaining relationships, negotiating, and closing opportunities
• Train team on necessary skills, tools utilization, product information, and business intelligence

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, brokers, and other channel partners.
• Strong understanding of CPG sales fundamentals, including distribution, pricing, shelving, merchandising, promotional planning, innovation, assortment, category management, and customer development.
• Proven experience developing, implementing, and managing high performance Programs with aggressive goals and delivering successful results
• High tolerance for ambiguity demonstrated in the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities, responsibilities, and business needs
• Strong business acumen
• Ability to build strong partnerships with internal employees as well as external stakeholders
• Proven ability to analyze and improve work processes for efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to be a team player/coach
• Demonstrated leadership, motivational and influencing skills
• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor; demonstrate integrity and confidentiality
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field, or equivalent experience in lieu of degree
• 3+ years' experience in sales environment
• ~25% travel within the market with occasional out of state and overnight travel