Planning Manager - Costco

Here at Kraft Heinz, our US Sales team aspires to be an Indispensable Partner with a Growth and Winning Mindset, acutely focused on Superior Execution every day. This is our guiding compass to grow something great and make life delicious! 

This Customer Planning Manager (CPM) position perfectly embodies that ambition, as a vital member of the Customer teams for our Costco business. The CPM is a key player to help drive profitable growth through improved planning, forecasting (within our Compass system & long-range), pricing accuracy, trade efficiency, item maintenance and SOP development & maintenance delivery across our national footprint. The CPM will also develop business strategies to drive growth while ensuring coordinated cross-functional value is delivered internally & externally with our customer. The CPM will lead implementation of new and existing Sales team routines. Additionally, this role supports Perfect Store Execution, Annual Business Planning Processes, and Quarterly Customer meetings. 

Essential Functions & Responsibilities 

· Effectively partner with the Field sales, Finance, and RMX to measurably improve our planning and forecasting performance. 

· Lead monthly & long-term forecasting routine to delivery consistent results (Internal/External) 

· Lead implementation of forecast bias routine with monthly share outs with Customer leadership teams 

· Create & own Standard Operating Procedures, AOP Management, & Perfect Path to Purchase initiatives across respective team 

· Partner closely with Customer Excellence & Supply Chain team for tool implementation 

· Achieve trade plan objectives on both working and non-working trade spends to maximize ROI 

· Manage customer joint business plan liability with reconciliation to support attainment 

· Create & manage key team presentations across Quarterly customer meetings, internal business reviews, and any other content creation needs 

· Own item maintenance and deductions management within Costco systems 

Expected Experience & Required Skills 

· Strong financial acumen, intellectual curiosity, and clear examples of advanced analytical skills 

· Has ability & tested experience within CPG, and ideally a Club team/Customer 

· Tested & proven experience using syndicated and other data to build data insights, recommendations and business plans to influence customer decisions to achieve team objectives 

· Strong attention to detail, proven ability to operate under tight deadlines & own delivery autonomously 

· Ability to work autonomously within a Sales team framework to plan, organize, and achieve priorities 

· Exhibits polished interpersonal skills (written, verbal, and presentation) with potential to negotiate and influence effectively 

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office, advanced Excel skills, knowledge of and ability to learn new systems such as IRI and Spark 

Work Environment & Schedule 

This position is considered a normal office environment with limited travel or visits to external locations; offices are open workspaces Additionally, this role requires working a salaried, exempt schedule to best execute against customer and internal expectations 

Physical Requirements 

Physical demands include but not limited to 

· Willingness to drive and/or travel as needed 

· Operate a computer and view screens for ~100% of work schedule 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain all duties or responsibilities that are required of the role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.