Associate Director, Customer Performance Planning

Background & Purpose of the Job

The Associate Director, Customer Performance Planning is a pivotal role , responsible for driving the sales performance and strategic planning for US Nutrition categories . This involves leading the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, Net Revenue Management (NRM) initiatives, overseeing the development of accurate category forecasts , and laser focus on performance of category strategy and pivots needed to create a high performance team . The A ssociate D irector provides strategic direction to a team of forecasting , revenue management , and strategic professionals, while collaborating closely with cross-functional stakeholders to optimize net revenue realization and category growth.

Serving as a critical link between various functions, this role fosters seamless integration of strategies and plans across Customer Strategy & Planning, Marketing, Finance, Consumer Market Insights (CMI) and Field Sales teams . Key responsibilities include proactively monitoring promotional events, field-level opening plans, managing gap-closing initiatives, aligning biweekly volume calls, tracking category-level targets, and actively participating in the commercial Integrated Business Planning (IBP) strategy . The Associate Director maintains close connectivity with Field Sales, working hand-in-hand to ensure forecasts and plans align with market realities and go-to-market strategies.

The Associate Director, Category Performance Planning will provide strategic leadership by leveraging data-driven insights, identifying business drivers and trends, and recommending actionable strategies to support decision-making and drive category performance. Strong analytical, forecasting, and communication skills are essential, along with a collaborative and customer-centric mindset to build strong cross-functional relationships.

Who You Are & What You’ll Do :

• Oversee the S&OP process, ensuring collaboration across cross-functional teams to deliver unbiased category topline forecasts, balanced risk and opportunity assessments, and proactive identification of business drivers and trends.

• Lead the Net Revenue Management team in developing and implementing strategies to expedite net revenue realization, including trade rates management, channel strategies, promotional performance analytics, and market share projections.

• Serve as a strategic business partner to the Category Sales & Planning and Brand Teams, providing insights, analysis, and recommendations to support decision-making and drive category performance.

• Manage and develop a team of forecasting and revenue management professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer-centric thinking.

• Communicate complex data and insights effectively to cross-functional stakeholders, including executive-level presentations to showcase Nutrition commercial strategy.

• Continuously improve forecasting and revenue management processes, leveraging data analytics and industry best practices to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscape to proactively identify opportunities and mitigate risks.

  What You’ll Need to Succeed :

• Strong analytical and forecasting skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data from multiple sources to derive actionable insights.

• L eadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop, and inspire a high-performing team.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop and implement sustainable strategies that drive business growth and profitability.

• Collaborative and customer-centric mindset, with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships and align with customer needs.

• Knowledge of supply chain management, demand planning, and revenue management best practices.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing business needs.

• Bachelor's degree required, MBA preferred

• 10 + years CPG industry experience with strong background in Category Management

• Expertise in syndicated data sources (ACNielsen, IRI, etc.), merchandising software, and consumer/shopper insights

• Excellent oral/written communication and presentation abilities

• Ability to develop a strategic vision and drive execution in a complex, matrixed environment .

• Ability to prioritize and stay organized during peak planning seasons

Pay: The pay range for this position is $138,900 to $208,300. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

What We Can Offer You

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Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at   NA.Accommodations@unilever.com . Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.

Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

For more information about your Federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com . Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.

Job Category: Customer Development

Job Category: Développement de la clientèle

Job Category: Ventas

Job Type: CCD Manager_Cross Channel

Industry: UnileverExperiencedProfessionals