US Demand and Trading Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

US Demand & Trading Manager

Chicago, IL

Hybrid (on-site 3 days a week)

Acting as the conduit for all US sales channels, the US Demand & Trading Manager will ensure commercial optimization and financial transparency within the business, with particular focus on the handoff to Supply. As the territory owner of price, margin, assortment, and trade activity across US channels, they will provide a view on forward demand activity and sales, as well as own and drive seasonal and core trading activities as needed to optimize performance considering market factors, inventory levels, and consumer behavior.

What are we looking for?

• 4+ years of experience driving a D2C sales channel with accountabilities for trading activity and ranging decisions

• Bachelors degree preferred, High school degree required with equivalent work experience

• Experience and self-drive to trade a start-up business and have a growth mindset. Keen eye for balancing customer, margin and inventory taking the necessary decisions to land healthy growth

• Previous experience of commercial acumen

• Ability to analysis and draw insight from large amounts of sales and customer data

• Strong presentation and communication skills

• Stakeholder management

What would be your key responsibilities?

• S&OP

Working closely with a) the Channel teams to confirm trade activity, growth drivers and sales “building blocks” and b) Commercial finance to understand financial implications of this. Ensure the business always has a view of US performance by channel and a forward projection with underpinning assumptions, via a consolidated Demand signal into the monthly S&OP process, and into the annual budgeting/AEP process.

Act as the US representative in all Portfolio discussions, and owner of the US relationship into Category Strategy, ensuring the requirements and consideration of the US market are accounted for at the right point in the portfolio process. Owner of the US range in-market- NPD decisions, delists, etc., and maintenance of the US range plans ongoing.

Work closing with the Global supply manager and fulfilment teams to understand supply opportunities or constraints which may impact demand drivers/supply performance over this horizon and look to jointly optimize/mitigate as required.

Supported by the channel and marketing teams, own and maintain a 12-month rolling trade calendar of activity and ensure all required stakeholders have full visibility and understanding of the activity within in, in order that they can execute against it (This will include items such as café activity, promotions, sampling, VM, PR, events, store openings, reseller launches etc.)

• S&OE

Work closely with the channel teams plus marketing to ensure they are driving the products and categories the business needs them to maximize opportunities and mitigate risks, in light on stock levels, supply performance, sales trends, customer insight and market opportunities. This in turn will maximize sales, margin and profit performance, through driving revenue, maximizing seasonal sell-though, minimizing stock write-off/waste, and optimizing price.

Update seasonal performance trackers, feeding insight back to sales channels and supply teams to allow reactive activity to be actioned as may be required (e.g. trade activity, marketing focus, expedited supply, additional allocations etc.)

Based on inventory insight provided by the Global supply manager, plan and execute mark-down activity as may be required per channel, to minimize aged-stock write-off, via proactive trade planning on an appropriate horizon, whilst protecting the brand. Champion the execution of this into the channel teams.

Own and drive the inputs and outputs of the weekly S&OE trade meetings, providing an overview of last week’s performance and recent trends, to facilitate the right discussions around upcoming activity and reactive requirements from both a demand-driving and supply-implication perspective across all US stakeholders.

Perform ad-hoc trading analysis and provide recommendations for activity as may be required, across channels and categories in the US market

• Range and price

Own the range plans, by channel and location, in the US market (e.g. which products are ranged where) including required data on pricing. Ensure meticulous housekeeping of the data within this and communication of this to relevant stakeholders.

Perform range and seasonal reviews to share insight from historic performance to drive future optimization of both trade activity and portfolio.

Frequently review pricing including promotions/multibuys on all categories to identify opportunities to maximize margin delivery with a view on market dynamics, cost inflation and competitors as well as customer insight and behavior, to optimize PPA in the territory.

Continuously review processes and identify opportunities for improvements and efficiencies across the US team and stakeholders

What can you expect from Hotel Chocolat?

• We offer a range extending from luxury giftable chocolates to alcohol and our pioneering drinking chocolate system; the Velvetiser™. Our mission is to make people and nature happy through chocolate. Customers, colleagues, cacao farmers and suppliers can all benefit from the success we make together.

• A competitive salary and Incentives based on performance

• 50% unlimited staff discount to treat yourself and your friends and family

• 70% discount off a stay in our Hotel in St Lucia

• We recognize that our employees may wish to balance their work and family/home life and therefore we are open to discussions around flexible working

• A chance to work in an exciting, innovative and expanding company

Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.

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The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all locations listed within the job posting:USD 117,808.00 - USD 161,984.00