Associate Manager, Portfolio Strategy & Planning

Associate Manager, Portfolio Strategy & Planning

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Break stone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk.

Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go‑Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

• Contribute to the development of the Stonyfield Sales Strategy, utilizing point‑of‑sale data, shopper insights and trends. Partner with the Field Sales team to tailor strategy across customers – prioritizing innovation based on assortment gaps, regional trends, and internal capabilities.
• Manage Innovation Plan, working collaboratively with Marketing to ensure the right innovation is developed and shepherded through the commercialization process. Ensure critical sales deadlines are met without sacrificing the quality of the proposition.
• Utilize category management skills to develop fact‑based sales presentations employing brand research to include customer and consumer syndicated data such as AC Nielson, IRI, Spins. Incorporate this information into ongoing planning and decision making for focus brand(s).
• Collaborate with internal functions and customer teams to create innovative brand solutions to accelerate brand growth that address critical plan risks. Represent the voice of sales to the headquarter teams – ensure clear communication to the field sales team of changes in the plans and implications.
• Provide data‑driven insights of brand(s) business trends, marketing strategies, competitive landscape, and regional/channel risks and opportunities; help develop the strategy that ties brand, category and customer plans together.

• Partner with Demand Planning and Brand Marketing to contribute to the forecasting process for Stonyfield. Coordinate the brand Risks & Opportunities, develop communication and action plan. Partner with the customer strategy team to ensure that accepted item volumes, reset timings, and promotions are all accurately reflected in monthly demand plan.
• Enable connectivity between field sales team and brand team, ensuring appropriate focus on priorities, adherence to brand guidelines and Topline partnership from concept to launch.
• Partner with Finance and Brand Marketing to develop project P&Ls; lead development and communication of recommendations based on financial analysis, project rationale and operational feasibility.

• Travel may be required occasionally.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the business needs.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy. The current policy requires 3 days per week in‑office, and 2 days per week work from home.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (8 years) is required; an MBA is preferred.
• 5+ years of CPG Sales or Brand Marketing required.
• Category Strategy, Sales Strategy & Planning and/or Trade Marketing experience a plus.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills required.
• Proven experience…