Customer Business Lead

Description:

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

The Customer Business Lead (CBL) is responsible for delivering volume, revenue, and gross profit results across total channel sales. The position represents Lactalis Heritage Dairy to the Customer’s Category Management and Buying Office personnel. In addition to managing the overall relationships, the CBL will serve as a conduit between each of the individual Customer Category Managers (CCMs) in the East and West Area Customer Business Teams (CBTs). The CBL will have dotted line management through geographic CCMs of direct and indirect customers. The CBL is responsible for understanding their assigned customers’ specific business needs and are ultimately accountable for pricing, shelving, merchandising, and distribution execution.

From your STORY to ours

• Lead sales team in the development and delivery of the sales plans, ensuring growth targets are met. Manage and support the assigned sales team, including time spent in the field meeting with customers
• Build and execute strategies and plans to grow the business
• Develop an in-depth understanding of customers’ needs and priorities (KPIs, business/category goals, etc.)
• Develop sales/account plans to meet customers’ objectives while operating within corporate initiatives and guidelines (i.e., customized SKUs, operational targets, etc.)
• Leverage internal LHD resources (category management, sales finance, shopper marketing, etc.) to drive success
• Build and maintain relationships with key customer representatives
• Oversee the development and delivery for all customer presentations
• Oversee the management of customer P&Ls; achieve financial targets with customers – growth rates, trade rates, etc.
• Oversee trade spending & promotional programs
• Provide key inputs for demand planning & the S&OP process
• Provide category thought leadership and insights from customer to drive both category and growth
• Develop high functioning team through recruitment, talent assessment, coaching/mentorship, constructive and timely feedback, and the establishment of actionable development plans for direct reports
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

From your EXPERTISE to ours

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 5+ years in CPG sales account management
• Experience managing sales personnel
• Strong personal selling skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and create action plan
• Self-motivated, ability to operate independently
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints
• Ability to succeed in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to adapt in a changing work environment
• Solid working knowledge of computers and related systems including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to travel (up to 25%

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.