VP, Business Planning & Category Development (Poultry) (Finance)

Purpose of the Position

Provides leadership in growing the Simmons Marketing Department which manages Sales Mix, Demand Planning, and New and Existing Customer Growth through Innovation and Insights.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

Builds strong Marketing Manager, Demand Planning & Consumer Insights teams. Provides leadership and support to staff and assists in employees' competency development. Guides and develops cooperative relationships between Marketing Managers, Demand Planners and the Market Insights team with all key functional areas they support. Hires, assigns and coaches the key technical and managerial personnel of the Division to ensure effective performance. Develops teamwork among team members to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in all Sales and Marketing operations.

Implements Simmons Corporate Objectives and Initiatives. Refines and enhances Simmons strategic objectives and initiatives , then oversees the tactical implementation of those objectives and initiatives. Accomplishes tactical implementation by either collaborating with Simmons team members directly or through the Market Insights, Demand Planning and Marketing Manager team members.

Provides enhanced support to Account Teams. Provides support to the Account Teams by creating standardized job functions for all Marketing Managers. Through coaching, team building and training, builds a Marketing Manager group that is highly effective at providing support to the Account Teams they serve. In addition to Marketing Manager development, is responsible for creating a plan to bring more collaboration between the Market Insights group and the Account Teams.

Provides enhanced support to the leadership team. Enhanced support includes preparation of the annual budget, monthly MBR preparation, supply visibility for Account Teams, oversight of the Demand Team's responsibilities and implementation of Simmons Strategic Objectives and Initiatives.

Manages employees. Directs and supervises employees' work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment in order to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement.

Participates as a member of the Team . Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Move about in a manufacturing environment as needed. Move about in an office environment and surrounding property daily.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As required by visiting facility.

Travel: Travels domestically & internationally to and from multiple customers or work-related sites, requiring overnight stays.

Technical Experience: 10 years experience in Sales and Marketing, with at least 2 years in a senior management role responsible for both strategic and tactical aspects of Sales and Marketing. Previous people management experience is preferred.

Industry Experience: Preference for experience in a food processing organization.

Minimum Education : Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business Administration or equivalent experience.

Preferred Education : Related Master's Degree.

We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.