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The National Sales Assortment Specialist will support the National Sales Assortment Lead (NSAL) by managing Customer Promotion requests for all National Account Limited Time Offers (LTOs), menu changes and new item introductions. This role is the gate keeper to all new item requests for National Accounts by providing recommendations for alternative aligned product options, ensuring the Division compliance and execution is timely and customer MDA guidelines are adhered to.
The National Sales Assortment Specialist will manage the execution of LTO’s, menu changes and new item introductions cross functionally. The National Sales Assortment Specialist will need to be able to communicate effectively across hierarchical levels within the organization, ranging from Division and Corporate leadership to Division Replenishment and Category Management.
The National Sales Assortment Specialist will work with internal Sales Management and Division Replenishment to improve product forecast accuracy, consolidate Customer requests, coordinate shipment expediting and communicate promotion information to appropriate stakeholders. The role will also manage the post-promotion process, determining the drivers that led to items not meeting their sales forecast, and recommend strategies to external partners that mitigate slow and dead inventory.
The National Sales Assortment Specialist will be responsible for turning data into actionable information, leading to cost-saving process improvements. The role will also provide compliance reporting and updates to external Customers and vendors to ensure appropriate promotion product stocking.
Flexible Work Policy: The National Sales Assortment Specialist position has been segmented as Hybrid, meaning the work is a combination of onsite (3 days per week Tuesday - Thursday) and virtual (2 days per week). This position is based out of our corporate headquarters in Rosemont, IL.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Compliance/Execution
- Frequent interaction with Regional Presidents, Division Presidents, Area Management and Division Vice Presidents including, but not limited to, Merchandising, Pricing, Sales and Category Management
- Provide a ‘check-point’ gating function between Sales and Replenishment, challenging errors and proactively correcting mistakes
- Work collaboratively with Sales to build item forecast projections for National Sales Customer promotions; LTO’s, Menu Changes and On-boarding
- Track and facilitate Division compliance on purchasing from aligned supplier base for LTO’s, Menu Changes and On-boarding
- Track and report New Item Request compliance status
- Troubleshoot stock-out situations and initiate mitigation strategies with stakeholders
- Item Assortment
- Work with NSRs, Sales Directors and Field leadership to determine the financial impact of promotion stocking decisions
- Authorize product purchase at Divisions
- Recommend EB or aligned MB items
- Generate new item requests and new vendor requests as needed
- Link items to appropriate servicing divisions
- Track and report item and vendor exceptions
- Troubleshoot vendor outages
- Recommend and implement contingency plans
- Analytics
- Develop measurements and metrics that will proactively identify process breakdowns and bottlenecks
- Research forecast variances and drive corrective action and process change to address shortfalls and overages
- Turn data into useful, actionable, and proactive steps to ensure successful customer promotions
- Provide compliance reporting and updates to customers and vendors to ensure appropriate product stocking
- Supply Chain Processes
- Identify and challenge outlying product forecast accuracy based on customer and process knowledge
- Work with internal and external Logistics partners to address product issues such as expediting inter-Division shipments
- On-boarding
- Track and report item loading and accuracy for new customer on-boarding
- Assist with execution for roll-out plan on new items
- Process Development
- Drive process improvements and efficiencies utilizing cost/benefit analysis
- Provide end-to-end management of projects and enhancements that strategically drive the process forward
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Training: Four year degree or equivalent experience required.
Related Experience: Must possess 3-5 years of inventory management experience in a distribution environment, including category management, project management, logistics, replenishment and inventory management.
Candidates must have metrics analysis and reporting experience. Experience in implementing national sales programs is preferred. Additionally, experience in a customer service management business preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Ability to work with, and demonstrate discretion with, confidential information
- Ability to multi-task multiple projects and department interfaces
- Organized, detail oriented, ability to consolidate multiple points of data into relevant information and escalate as needed
- Ability to manage through obstacles in order to achieve the project timeline
- Advanced Excel and Access skills, MS Project a plus
- Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written
- Ability to create and validate usage forecasts
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***EOE Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***