Senior Director, Business Activation

Description

JOB TITLE: Senior Director, Business Activation, Storck USA

SUPERVISOR'S TITLE: President, Storck USA

Summary

Storck North America is comprised of Storck Canada, Inc., Storck USA, L.P., and Central America for Storck Group. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany with all manufacturing in Germany – Storck Group is a Global Candy and Confectionary leader with some of the most loved brands in Candy like Werther’s Original Caramel and Mamba. The North American region continues to experience double digit growth while it builds on its half a billion-dollar business.

The Senior Director, Business Activation for Storck USA leads the newly formed Business Activation department and directs activities within Trade marketing and Category Management. By consolidating Trade Marketing and Category Management under one umbrella, Storck can streamline decision-making processes, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and foster a unified approach to brand activation. This synergy enables Storck to capitalize more effectively on market opportunities, enhance an insights-based selling approach and cultivate deeper relationships with retail partners.

This position is part of the Executive Leadership team for North America and as such is collectively responsible for the company’s long-range planning and implementation group processes for the US, Canadian, and Central American markets.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position directly supervises four (4) Direct Reports and nine (9) Indirect Reports. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the company’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; training and developing employees; focusing on retention and engagement; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Business Activation strategy aligned with Storck's overall business objectives, leveraging insights from Trade Marketing and Category Management to drive growth and profitability.
• Lead and mentor a cross-functional team encompassing Trade Marketing, Category Management, and other relevant stakeholders, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Oversee the development and implementation of trade marketing programs, promotional campaigns, and category management initiatives to enhance brand visibility, drive shopper engagement, and maximize sales effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, and Product Development teams to ensure alignment and integration of Business Activation efforts with broader commercial strategies.
• Oversee and inspire corporate presence at trade shows and key selling shows
• Analyze market trends, consumer insights, and competitive dynamics to identify emerging opportunities and inform strategic decision-making.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness of Business Activation initiatives, continuously optimizing strategies based on performance insights and market feedback.
• Cultivate strong relationships with retail partners, key customers, and industry stakeholders to drive collaborative business planning and foster mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Champion a customer-centric approach to business activation, ensuring that all initiatives are grounded in a deep understanding of consumer and shopper needs, preferences, behaviors.
  
  

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• Fulfill Storck Values: Passion, Performance, and Sense of Belonging
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and data analytics platforms.
• Proven track record of leadership in trade marketing, category management, or related commercial functions within the consumer goods or retail industry
• Deep expertise in retail and trade marketing strategies, category management principles, and consumer insights, with a demonstrated ability to translate market dynamics into actionable business plans.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data sets, identify trends, and develop innovative solutions to drive business growth.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on driving measurable business outcomes and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and data analytics platforms.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) + years progressive experience in Sales, Marketing, Category Management, Trade Marketing required, with at least five years in a Manager-level capacity
• FMCG/CPG Industry and retail experience required
  
  

Working Conditions: Normal working conditions for an office environment, downtown Chicago. Hybrid schedule.

Travel: Approximately 15-20%, which potentially includes international travel.

Other Qualification, Safety Procedures: Must be willing to follow and comply with communicated Company, Travel, and Retailer safety procedures, which may include COVID-19 testing or following other safety procedures in order to attend meetings, travel domestically or internationally, comply with Retail Partner safety procedures, and/or follow other workplace health and safety requirements to fulfil job duties.

What We Offer In Return

Storck USA offers an outstanding compensation and total rewards package, including competitive base + bonus plan, 401(k) with company contribution, medical insurance (including an HSA option and telemedicine), dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, fitness reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance, pet insurance, employee discounts (and candy!), employee referral bonus program, and, last but not least, flexible spending accounts for transportation, medical, and dependent care. And, we offer fantastic work/life balance with flexibility -- including "Summer Friday" hours year round!!

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.