Unilever Looking for Customer Manager – Alternative Channels at Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Full Time

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s and Streets.

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team!

At Unilever NZ, we have also embarked on something special: we are proud to be undertaking a 4 Day work week. The 4DWW will see our staff retain 100 percent of their salaries, while working 80 percent of the time and delivering 100 percent of business outcomes. The Customer Manager – Alternative Channels is designed to be fully functional in the 4-Day work week.

Job Summary

The Customer Manager – Alternative Channels will be externally focused & be responsible for managing the day-to-day relationship with Alternative/Emerging Channel Retailers (Chemist Warehouse, Costco, The Warehouse, Kmart etc.) in collaboration with the Assistant Customer Manager ALTs.

The Customer Manager will be responsible for developing strong working relationships with customer buyers, as their day-to-day contact. The Customer Manager is responsible for the turnover, profitability, trade spend and Market share delivery across the Unilever portfolio with an array of emerging channel customers. They will do so whilst building, negotiating and executing the commercial joint business plan with their Customer Buyer/s in conjunction with Customer Director and their ACM.

Role Responsibilities

• Delivery of Turnover, Customer Profitability and TTS budgets for allocated categories within Customer Channel
• Develop strong relationships with both internal (e.g. Category Manager, Shopper Insights Managers) & external customers (e.g. Category Managers, Trading Managers, Category Directors Buyers)
• With Customer Marketing Manager, deliver in store activation events as defined by company In & Out Plan and E2E planning
• Develop & deliver Joint Business Plans and Trade Plans with the Customer/s
• Develop, negotiate, and deliver promotional plan within Customer/s
• Design, load, and review the on-going volume and sales forecast across all customer/s to deliver on business and customer targets
• Day to day administration and evaluation of product portfolio e.g., Promotional Evaluation, inputs to wider business Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) etc.
• Identify, discuss, and agree Gap Filling initiatives with Category Team
• Lead range and merchandising reviews, working in collaboration with the internal Category team and Customer Buyers
• Work with Customer Director and Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM) to develop and deliver Local Customer Strategy Plan for customer
• Deliver key Category Team initiatives at Customer e.g., Price Changes, Brand Activations, NPD launches etc.
• Work with Customer and Unilever Supply Chain to ensure customer service issues are resolved efficiently
• Own the short-medium-term volume and spend forecast aligned to S&OP process for their allocated super categories
• Manage the end-to-end orders, invoice and claims process for all customer/s and overall channel
• Manage the main channel of business stock clearance via key customer/s, supply chain and internal category teams
• Line management of ACM

Accountabilities

• Relationship Management of Trading Contacts (defined by category/customer)
• Produce and execute Joint Customer Business Plan/s and / or Trade Plans
• Input Customer requirements to internal planning processes and systems

Does this sound like You

Essential

• 3+ years of business experience, preferably cross-functional and customer facing
• FMCG experience
• Strong customer facing experience and proven track record
• Proven stakeholder management/development capabilities

Desirable

• Two to three roles in Customer Marketing/Trade Category Management and Account Management/ Field Sales
• One to two roles in Brand Building, Customer Marketing/Trade Category Management/Field Sales

What Awaits You At Unilever

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.

This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world’s most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don’t waste any time – apply now!

If you require reasonable adjustments for the application and recruitment process, please advise us on [email protected].

Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.