Unilever

Customer Business Manager PC

Minneapolis - Nicollet Mall Full time

JOB PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the Customer Business Manager position is to drive profitable growth with Target ahead of category growth and to develop sustained business relationships.  This CBM is responsible for End-to-End total business responsibilities across multiple smaller categories at Target that ultimately roll up to and drive the total Skin Cleansing business.  The CBM is responsible for building a joint business plan and a Long-Range Business plan with Target that will grow the respective categories by achieving volume goals while delivering investment on plan. 

Additionally, this role will manage the Skin Cleansing business serving as the internal-facing forecasting lead for Customer Supply & Planning (CS&P), responsible for end-to-end financial and operational planning across evergreen items, Target’s JBP planning systems, promotional events, and collaborative brand launches. This role ensures alignment between planning, forecasting, and execution to drive business performance and supply accuracy.​
 

You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet.

Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Leverage data and insights to build, sell, negotiate, and execute the category JBP to meet Unilever’s & Target’s volume, profit, and share goals.
  • Build relationship with the Target buyers and others to develop a deep understanding of Target’s strategy and needs and deliver a plan against those needs.
  • Execute the category plan including innovation acceptance, assortment expansion, improved trade investment ROI, on strategy pricing & promotion execution, integration of shopper marketing plans and store level selling efforts.
  • Responsible for operational delivery of the annual plan including forecasting, balancing trade investment and deduction clearing and optimizing the return on our holistic customer investments. 
  • Enhance our collaborative partnership with the customer by driving retailer category growth, supporting their category strategies, and leveraging our capabilities with the customer.
  • Participate in the regular operational review process to exceed the sales and share targets, while continuously improving forecast accuracy and return on investment.                                                               
  • Develop financially accurate business proposals for internal audiences to drive profitable category and share growth at Target.
  • Be the voice of Target and help to represent the growth channel to internal stakeholders to ensure that our strategies will grow our Target business.

Customer Relationships:

  • Full P&L Accountability for designation categories inclusive of bi-monthly customer meetings, internal meetings, negotiations and achieving growth targets specific to these classes.
  • Prepare and Present monthly and quarterly SBP Financial updates to total PC Team and then to Target (Quarterly JBP Meetings and buyer status meetings when needed).
  • Build and maintain business relationships with Target Merchandising Team and other related Target stakeholders.​
     

Planning & Forecasting

  • Own and maintain all forecasts for:​ Evergreen business, Strategic Business Plans (SBPs), Innovation for Tomorrow (IFT) pipeline, Endcaps and promotional activations, Collaborative launches and new brand integrations and markdowns​
  • Provide consistent, data-driven inputs to drive cross-functional alignment and business readiness.​
     

Financial Management:

  • Plan volume in business planning tool and deliver monthly forecasts.
  • Lead all CS&P financial management activities including P&L inputs, budget tracking, and reconciliation.​
  • Own deduction management process, partnering cross-functionally to resolve issues and maintain financial accuracy.​
     

Operational Leadership:

  • Drive the CS&P meeting cadence including setting agendas, managing slides, and collecting inputs across internal partners.​
  • Ensure key operational milestones are met and communicated clearly across teams.​
     

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

  • Act as a central point of contact for internal CS&P planning, supporting seamless communication between forecasting, supply, finance, and brand teams.​
  • Act as the primary liaison on category business opportunities and challenges both internally and externally.
  • Champion and drive strategic selling initiatives for Unilever with Target.
  • Contribute positively to a winning team culture.
     

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Undergraduate degree is required.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications.
  • Must be able to effectively relate with multiple levels of management, internally and externally.
  • Previous experience in a CBM or Associate CBM capacity.
  • Must be a strategic thinker that can work effectively, and in a highly collaborative environment.
  • Must have strong relationship building and management skills.
  • Experience in mining insights and leveraging them to drive growth.
  • Must have strong experience and a proven track record in negotiations with the customer.
  • Strong Project Management skills on incubating and co-creation from end-to-end (procuring raw materials to setting in store)

Pay: The pay range for this position is $99,760 to $149,640. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance

(including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

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If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.