Senior Sales Strategy Manager - Nivea

Your Tasks

We are seeking a bold and strategic commercial leader to join our Nivea business unit as a Senior Sales Strategy Manager for Nivea. This role is pivotal in translating brand, category, and channel strategies into a clear, executable trade strategy — with a sharp focus on the unique dynamics of seasonal businesses with high dependency on flawless execution timing.
As the strategic architect behind in-market execution, you will own the development and deployment of the trade strategy, lead 4

Ps steering, serve as the internal voice of Sales, and manage commercial reporting and insights to deliver on budgeted sales, profit, and share goals.

You will lead efforts that align cross-functional partners, ensure excellence in execution during peak seasonal windows, and drive performance in a highly competitive category.
This position reports to the Director, Sales Strategy/Commercial Excellence and does not have direct reports.

The three strategic pillars of the Sales Strategy function are:

Responsibilities:

Annual Planning:
Lead Trade Strategy Development & Execution on where to play and how to win

• Develop and align the Channel Strategy across Aquaphor in partnership with the Head of Commercial Strategy and Head of Marketing
• Own the Trade Strategy, including customer/channel-level Net Sales growth targets and investment guidance aligned to brand priorities
• Coordinate the Commercial Playbook (MAPPS), ensuring strategies translate effectively into execution at retail
• Act as a key stakeholder in the Go-to-Market process for all innovation, launches, and customer-specific programs — from volume planning to sell-in storytelling

Sales Execution Monitoring and Action Planning:
Monitor execution and drive course correcting action plans as needed

• Track execution of the MAPPS strategy and drive timely course correction in partnership with Sales
• Identify and close gaps to plan using rigorous sales analysis and collaborative action‑planning
• Minimize retailer‑level activity clashes and ensure full alignment with Aquaphor’s major brand activations — particularly during peak season
• Champion excellence in execution, ensuring retail activation is timely, targeted, and aligned with brand strategy

Internal Lead Voice of Sales:
Serve as voice of sales/customers, champion of customer requirements

• Serve as the primary liaison between Sales and cross‑functional teams, synthesizing and representing Sales/customer requirements
• Be the first point of call for trade/channel thinking: provide internal teams (Brand, Category Management, Finance, Supply Chain) with channel and retailer expertise to strengthen retail programs and investment decisions
• Represent Sales in key forums, including S&OP/Optima meetings and during issue escalation/crisis response
• Ensure consistent communication into and out of Sales to drive alignment and speed of execution

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
• 5+ years of experience in Sales Strategy, Business Development, or related commercial functions
• 3+ years in Field Sales with exposure to at least two channels within Mass, Drug, Grocery, Club, Value, and eCommerce
• Experience in seasonal businesses with high dependency on execution timing is a must, with a proven track record of excellence in execution
• Experience in Revenue Growth Management and/or Category Management is a plus
• Sharp analytical skills are a must—including the ability to independently extract, analyze, and present complex data and trends from multiple sources such as Circana/Nielsen/Scintilla, shipment data, and internal performance trackers
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI (or similar platforms) for reporting and decision support
• Proven collaborator with the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and senior leaders
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with demonstrated ability to influence across levels
• Adept at managing complex projects under tight timelines to meet both customer and internal needs

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