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The Customer Development Manager, Retail Strategy & Insights, plays a pivotal role in driving growth across the CPG channel by leading category and consumer insights that power business strategies and execution in close partnership with the Sales Team. This individual is the go-to expert for category and shopper analytics, transforming data into compelling stories and actionable recommendations that advance Ajinomoto-branded and customer businesses. You will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, address performance challenges, and deliver strategic guidance that drives incremental category growth, brand performance, and retailer engagement.
Job Responsibility:
Drive Growth: Achieve sales and profit objectives within the CPG channel through strategic insights, category leadership, and collaboration with sales partners
Strategic Collaboration: Partner with sales leaders to uncover and pursue new business opportunities, including innovation launches and growth initiatives
Insight Development: Lead the development and presentation of category reviews and business analyses to internal and external stakeholders, identifying opportunities and recommending clear actions to grow both the category and Ajinomoto brands
Data Integration: Leverage all available data sources — syndicated, shopper, and POS — to support fact-based recommendations and business decisions based on brand and company share, distribution, and velocity
Customer & Broker Partnership: Build and maintain strong, consultative relationships with key customer stakeholders to influence category strategies and execution in partnership with Brokers
Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with internal teams across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment and execution of growth plans
Business Problem-Solving: Proactively identify performance issues and recommend data-driven solutions that address root causes and unlock opportunities
Thought Leadership: Serve as a trusted business insights consultant to both Ajinomoto leadership and retail partners, providing innovative, actionable ideas to drive mutual growth
Knowledge Sharing: Communicate learnings and best practices across the sales organization to enhance team capabilities and elevate execution excellence via consistent performance summaries and category trends
Mentorship: Educate, coach, and influence cross-functional peers by sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and driving the adoption of data-led strategies
Pricing & Promotion Strategy: Analyze market promotional tactics, strategies, and effectiveness to support trade spend optimization and retail media spend optimization
Planogram Management: Manage and support store planograms by working with sales and merchandising teams to optimize shelf layouts, ensure compliance with retailer guidelines, and drive category growth through effective product placement strategies
Retailer Specific Support: Providing sales teams with retailer-specific trends on category growth opportunities, assortment, and product offerings to support incremental distribution or planogram placements
Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree required
advanced degree preferred
5–10 years of relevant CPG industry experience (supplier, retailer, or broker)
Proven track record in Category Management, Sales, or Business Analytics
Advanced proficiency with syndicated and POS data tools (Nielsen, Circana, Retail Link, 84.51, etc.)
Experience using shopper card data systems (e.g., EYC, Stratum, Circana, Luminate)
Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills
proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Familiarity with space management software preferred
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Skilled in data visualization and storytelling
Exceptional written and verbal communication
Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills
Creative thinker with the ability to influence and inspire action
Positive, team-oriented attitude and a passion for driving results