Senior Director, Commercial Strategy & Operations

Senior Director, Commercial Strategy & Operations

The Senior Director, Commercial Strategy & Operations is responsible for defining and leading the enterprise commercial strategy to deliver sustainable, profitable growth. This role provides strategic direction across brands, channels, and customers while ensuring best-in-class go-to-market execution.

This leader operates with a general manager mindset, connecting insights across consumer, category, customer, and channel to shape long-term growth strategies. The role serves as a key partner to Brand, Sales, Franchise, RGM, Insights, Finance and Supply Chain, driving alignment and execution across the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Define and lead the enterprise commercial strategy across brands, channels, and customers to deliver sustainable, profitable growth
• Develop and align long-range plans and annual operating plans, ensuring clear prioritization of growth opportunities
• Lead channel and customer strategy, including prioritization, joint business planning, and route-to-market optimization
• Oversee commercialization of innovation and portfolio initiatives, ensuring strong go-to-market execution across all channels
• Establish and drive a commercial performance management framework, using data and insights to identify risks and unlock opportunities
• Serve as a strategic integrator across Brand, Sales, Franchise, RGM, Insights, Finance and Supply Chain, to align business priorities and execution
• Lead key operating rhythms and governance forums to drive accountability, decision-making, and organizational alignment
• Build and lead a high-performing Commercial Strategy & Operations organization, including talent development and succession planning
• Drive capability development in commercial planning, analytics, revenue growth management, and execution excellence
• Lead organizational evolution, ensuring the right structure, talent, and processes are in place to support long-term growth

Skills/Qualifications Required:

• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in commercial strategy, sales strategy or general management roles
• Proven track records of building, leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong experience in consumer goods, beverage or retail-driven environments
• Deep expertise in channel strategy, category management and go-to-market execution
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data and insights to drive business decisions
• Collaborative leader with ability to influence and partner with cross-functional teams and senior internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional communication and executive presence skills
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

Chicago, IL