Senior Manager Customer Planning

Key Skills

Business Analytics, Data Analysis, Data science techniques, Effective communication skills, Finance, Leadership Skill, Microsoft-Excel, Optimization, Planning and organization, Powerpoint, Sales, SAP

Job Description

The Senior Manager, Customer Planning leads the evolution and optimization of our Customer Planning business processes. This role will lead a team responsible for providing complete transparency to customer volume, promotional plans and trade investments within Hershey’s Planning System - PlanEx. As the leader of the customer planning business process, this role will be required to have a deep understanding of assigned customers - responsible for ensuring the development of quality customers plans and acting as the business connection between cross functional roles within Hershey (i.e Sales Strategy & Enablement, Commercial Planning, Customer Finance, Demand Planning and other related groups).

You will act as a thought leader, playing an active role in continuously improving forecasting efforts through the use of advanced sales planning tools & capabilities.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:   

• Assembles proactive analysis and insights to support development of quality customer plans - addressing sales, trade spending, trade spend planning, financial accrual, deduction and trade resolution opportunities and issues 
• Analyzes performance vs plan to guide insights for cross functional collaboration 
• Drive continuous improvement to the forecast planning process with an emphasis on infusing insights and tools developed by the broader Trade Promotion Management (TPM) team (i.e. Trade Promotion Optimization) 
• Effectively communicate with both peers and leadership in a highly dynamic environment with the goal of building understanding that can drive informed decision making. 
• Translate sales forecasting data and analysis into identifiable opportunities and co-develops actionable insights and key action planning in alignment with Sales Strategy & Enablement objectives 

QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience, etc.):

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred 

Experience: 8+ years of experience in Business Administration, Business Analytics, Finance or other relevant CPG/Planning fields 

Prior managerial experience of a team in the business, planning, analytics, data science or finance space 

Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint with proven ability to deliver clear and effective presentations; Ability to tell clear, concise story and articulate tradeoffs

Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines while continuously communicating with leadership, peers, and team members 

Advanced computer skills: Microsoft Office applications (intermediate to advanced Excel skills required) as well as data base management with proven ability to integrate multiple data streams, perform in-depth data analysis, and demonstrated ability to translate data into action and develop insights and strategy recommendations.

Strong collaboration and communication skills

Experience in TPM/SAP systems is desired.