Associate Manager, Sales Strategy & Commercialization, Beverage
About The Position
Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Associate Manager, Sales Strategy & Commercialization, Beverage! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. The Sales Strategy & Commercialization Associate Manager will translate business unit objectives and channel specific strategies that drive sustainable and profitable growth. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Sales Strategy & Commercialization, this role ensures that merchandising, assortment, pricing and shelving guidance aligns to business unit objectives. The Associate Manager will lead communication between sales, brand marketing and other cross functional partners (category management, revenue growth management, production planning, product development, brand elevation, etc.) to ensure internal cooperative goals are attained in addition to external customer/channel objectives. You will provide business intelligence for product launches and key go-to-market programs to empower the Sales team to create and develop customer plans. A Day in the Life... Strategic Planning & Alignment Translate BU objectives into sales and channel-specific strategies that drive sustainable growth. Ensure channel-specific strategies and innovations are developed and aligned with BU priorities, specifically in key growth channels (Club, Value, Foodservice, Liquor, Natural, and C&G channels). Set clear executional objectives (merchandising, assortment, pricing, shelving). Support AOP/LRP sales strategy development and building blocks. Act as liaison between Sales, Brand Marketing, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment. Customer & Trade Planning Support the customer planning process and oversee development of customer-specific plans. Support customer promotion calendars following best practices for ROI and seasonality. Help evaluate trade promotion requests for financial viability and strategic fit. Support customer teams in adjusting trade calendars/spend to hit targets. Commercialization & Innovation Shape innovation pipeline by providing shopper insights and market trends. Build new product launch plans and maintain cross-channel view for launches. Represent sales on internal projects (e.g., FUEL) and ensure timelines and selling materials are met. Coordinate execution of sales samples for new SKUs. Contribute to Go-to-Market planning for all BU innovations. Performance Monitoring & Pricing Monitor execution of plans and standard metrics (volume, revenue, profitability, competitive landscape). Manage channel strategies, pricing strategies, and display forecasts. Prepare justification and execute price increase decks. Evaluate items for SKU rationalization process. Budget & Financial Stewardship Represent Sales needs in trade funding deployment for innovations. Work with BU and RGM to develop trade spending budgets and deliverables. Participate in demand planning meetings to understand forecast changes. Support Revenue Management on pack/price architecture. Sales Enablement & Communication Build sell-in decks for innovation launches and concepts for JBPs. Develop brand stories and ensure competitive context for sales teams. Deploy and update BU national playbook (including channel breakouts like Foodservice). Coordinate and maintain commercial calendar; lead 2–3 sales webinars annually and support National Sales Meeting.
Requirements
- Associates degree required, bachelor’s degree in business or related field preferred.
- 3+ years’ previous experience in sales or marketing within CPG industry preferred.
- Team oriented with the ability to engage and influence cross functional teams.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills, including superior communication skills (written and verbal).
Nice To Haves
- Experience in the Club, Value, Foodservice, Liquor, Natural, and C&G channels a plus.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning & Alignment Translate BU objectives into sales and channel-specific strategies that drive sustainable growth.
- Ensure channel-specific strategies and innovations are developed and aligned with BU priorities, specifically in key growth channels (Club, Value, Foodservice, Liquor, Natural, and C&G channels).
- Set clear executional objectives (merchandising, assortment, pricing, shelving).
- Support AOP/LRP sales strategy development and building blocks.
- Act as liaison between Sales, Brand Marketing, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
- Customer & Trade Planning Support the customer planning process and oversee development of customer-specific plans.
- Support customer promotion calendars following best practices for ROI and seasonality.
- Help evaluate trade promotion requests for financial viability and strategic fit.
- Support customer teams in adjusting trade calendars/spend to hit targets.
- Commercialization & Innovation Shape innovation pipeline by providing shopper insights and market trends.
- Build new product launch plans and maintain cross-channel view for launches.
- Represent sales on internal projects (e.g., FUEL) and ensure timelines and selling materials are met.
- Coordinate execution of sales samples for new SKUs.
- Contribute to Go-to-Market planning for all BU innovations.
- Performance Monitoring & Pricing Monitor execution of plans and standard metrics (volume, revenue, profitability, competitive landscape).
- Manage channel strategies, pricing strategies, and display forecasts.
- Prepare justification and execute price increase decks.
- Evaluate items for SKU rationalization process.
- Budget & Financial Stewardship Represent Sales needs in trade funding deployment for innovations.
- Work with BU and RGM to develop trade spending budgets and deliverables.
- Participate in demand planning meetings to understand forecast changes.
- Support Revenue Management on pack/price architecture.
- Sales Enablement & Communication Build sell-in decks for innovation launches and concepts for JBPs.
- Develop brand stories and ensure competitive context for sales teams.
- Deploy and update BU national playbook (including channel breakouts like Foodservice).
- Coordinate and maintain commercial calendar; lead 2–3 sales webinars annually and support National Sales Meeting.
Benefits
- Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs
- Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Health savings account
- Flexible spending account
- Life and accident insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Telehealth services
- 1:1 health coaching
- Supportive benefits for all the stages of your life
- 401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-end
- Short-Term Incentive/Performance bonuses
- Flexible scheduling options
- Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment)
- Holiday pay for 12 holidays
- Career development and growth opportunities
- Tuition/Education assistance programs
- Access to LinkedIn Learning
- Scholarship programs for children of employees
- Parental leave
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions – Back-up care, tutoring, etc.
- Adoption assistance
- Bereavement leave
- Up to $300 fitness reimbursement
- Up to $300 massage reimbursement
- Employee appreciation events
- Employee discounts
- Charitable giving
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
