Trade Marketing Director, Premium Chocolate

About the Role:

As the Premium Chocolate Trade Marketing Director, you will lead the in-store activity strategy that brings our brands to life at retail. You’ll work with iconic names like Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero Collection, and Fannie May, ensuring they shine in every shopper experience.

In this role, you will:

• Own the Go-to-Market plan and define execution standards for Distribution, Shelving, Merchandising, and Pricing (DSMP), so you can set the stage for success at retail.
• Manage the in-store activity calendar for your brands and take responsibility for achieving DSMP and financial KPIs across assigned segments.
• Collaborate and influence cross-functional teams—including Category Management, Marketing, Sales Operations, Demand Planning, and Sales Account Teams—where your thought leadership will drive alignment and impact.

This is your opportunity to shape how premium chocolate connects with consumers in-store and make a measurable impact on brand performance. 

The position will be hybrid, based in our US Headquarters in Parsippany, NJ and reports to the VP of Trade Marketing.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop the in-store activity strategy to execute the brands strategy at retail
• Develop the Go to Market plan including execution standards for Distribution, Shelving, Merchandising, and Pricing (DSMP). 
• Create the KPI objectives aligned by Class of Trade trends and strategy
• Work with Trade Business Intelligence to recommend the Promo/Pricing strategy & phasing for the brands aligned to customer and brands strategy
• Develop the in-store activity calendar by month / channel
• Responsible for defining the in-store execution objectives to be tracked for execution
• Responsible for the development, implementation and management of Display tools and formats
• Responsible (with Marketing and POS Manager) for the development and execution of in-store activations and POS
• Partner with customer teams and Marketing to develop actionable plans to drive accelerated growth and/or improve profitability
• Develop trade and consumer unit Pack/Price Architecture framework to deliver strategic channel and customer opportunities
• Ensure proper lead time and content for best-in-class innovation launches, meeting customer lead times
• Monitor competitive activity to ensure external factors are incorporated into business plans
• With Marketing, propose the Budget (volume and revenue) of the assigned brands
• Supports the planning and execution of both the Seasonal and Everyday portfolio
• Develop sales supporting tools (e.g., Seasonal, Everyday display catalogues, Selling stories,…)
• Provide input to the S&OP process on changes in distribution, promotion, and customer/channel strategy
• Align with shopper Marketing on the shopper marketing plans and eCommerce investment
• Ensure clear lines of communication between Trade Marketing, Brand Marketing and Customer Teams
• Responsible to lead, develop and maintain a high performing Team culture via effective people management / leadership
• Coach and develop direct reports, ensuring delivery of performance feedback and align on development plan
• Monitor customer team performance and engage with teams as necessary to ensure KPI attainment

About You:

• 8-10 years relevant experience required in a CPG setting, with extensive sales experience
• Multi-channel CPG experience including: C-store, Mass, Grocery, Dollar, Club, e-Comm & EU Discounters
• Significant experience of Brand / Trade / Customer Marketing, supporting delivery of effective JBP’s
• Bachelor’s degree in a business/marketing discipline required; MBA preferred
• Food/Sweet Packaged Food category experience (preferred)
• Inspirational leadership and man-management style that promotes teamwork and nurtures top talent
• Strong communication skills with an ability to outline and reinforce the Group & Regional vision / strategy
• Strong decision making and interpersonal skills with an ability to influence at the most Senior levels
• Commercially astute with strong business sense and excellent problem solving / analytical skills
• Proficient in IRI Circana/Nielsen and Microsoft Office, including the knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point
• Management presentation competencies to effectively present key category insights in front of internal and external stakeholders
• Candidates should possess strong collaborative capabilities, high integrity & ethics, and operate daily with the company's values in mind
• Experience managing a team to deliver results
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