VP Category Sales - Mars Wrigley North America

Job Description:

This role is responsible for leading development of the Mars Wrigley's Category Leadership strategy, capability development, execution, and talent development.

Based from our Newark HQ, the role will lead a sales organisation of over 100 associates, charting the future of what we sell, where we sell, how we sell and who we sell to.

With a background in omnichannel sales & transformation, you'll understand and embrace the role of data & analytics in decision making, have worked with market-leading retail / wholesale partners and lead teams with purpose & vision.

Role objectives:

• Identify long term mutual growth opportunities for our customers and Mars Wrigley
• Create competitive advantage for Mars Wrigley by leading strategy development and the execution capability to exploit key growth opportunities in the Transaction Zone, Center Store, Seasons and On-line environments
• Lead development of the Annual Shopper Insights Learning Plan to ensure that foundational knowledge and insight are readily available to simultaneously drive multiple growth priorities
• Ensure that Mars Wrigley Category teams have the tools required to win; hardware, software, data, and syndicated insight, and the training to use these tools effectively
• Ensure execution at customers, in coordination with Customer Business team partners, of core business processes including Category reviews, Seasons reviews, planogram/distribution & shelving execution, etc. Support customers in developing their category growth plans
• Ensure execution of the Category teams' roles in critical internal business processes including multiyear and annual planning, Integrated Business Planning forecasts, etc.
• Bring a strong analytical perspective to the One Demand (Marketing, Sales) team, serving as an active voice of consumers and shoppers by bringing clear and compelling business analysis to decision making

Developing a strong, high-performance leadership team by:

• Planning talent needs, recruiting, hiring, and selecting talent
• Assessing potential and co-creating development plans with individual reports; providing coaching, championing to realize individual potential and fulfill development plan
• Developing talent and retaining talent, have talent ready for Category Development organization, Sales organization, and Company
• Setting expectations and overseeing the achievement of individual objectives, monitoring performance, and providing on-going feedback
• Coaching and directing for optimal performance and achievement of Company, Category Leadership organization and individual objectives
• Directing priorities and providing solutions to achieve/exceed Company, Sales organization, Category Leadership organization and individual objectives
• Sponsoring and mentoring talent throughout sales organization and company

Responsible for building a strong, cohesive total Category Leadership team:

• Setting tone, motivation, common purpose and specific expectations for direct reports and their reports to ensure success in the achievement of company and business goals
• Being a critical communication link between direct reports/their reports and company management by disseminating company information and direction to the team in a timely, actionable manner
• Being a critical communication link between direct report/their reports and company to provide team feedback on such areas as customer performance, issues, learning/observations/analysis, problems and deliver recommended solutions
• Deploying resources wisely, timely and creatively

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.