This Support Specialist, Sales Operations plays a critical role in ensuring accurate and timely execution of trade promotions and new item launches. This role balances hands-on execution of retailer portal submissions and new item paperwork with ownership of TPM system administration and reporting. The ideal candidate is extremely detail-oriented, diligent in tracking submission deadlines, and skilled at managing contracts, forms, and data accuracy. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Retailer Promotion & Item Setup 

• Enter and maintain promotions in retailer portals, ensuring accuracy and compliance with retailer requirements.
• Complete and submit new item paperwork, contracts, and forms on time, diligently tracking deadlines to prevent delays in launches or promotions.
• Coordinate with Sales Managers, Brokers, and other cross-functional teams to gather required information and documentation for submissions.
• Organize and maintain promotional event records, agreements, and other retailer documents.  
• Monitor submission status and resolve discrepancies proactively to ensure seamless execution at retail. 

TPM Systems & Trade Support 

• Partner with Sales, Brokers, and Trade Finance teams to ensure trade promotion data is entered, approved, and reconciled accurately and on time. 
• Distribute reporting on trade promotion activity to support accrual management, financial reconciliation, and post-promotion reviews. 

Process Support 

• Facilitate clear communication between Sales Managers, retailers, and cross-functional teams to verify promotional details, ensure accurate retailer execution, and proactively resolve data discrepancies. 
• Troubleshoot issues in TPM and retailer portals, partnering with cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Act as a detail-driven steward of deadlines and compliance, ensuring contracts, forms, and submissions are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Assist in identifying process gaps and suggest ways to streamline workflows.
• Maintain organized and accurate account records for financial audit purposes. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• 2–3 years of experience in trade promotion management, sales operations support, or related fields.
• Experience with data entry in TPM and retailer portal systems, or similar platforms.
• Proven ability to coordinate activities and serve as a liaison between cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail with demonstrated success in managing deadlines, high volumes of administrative tasks, and maintaining data integrity.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in reporting tools (e.g., Power BI) for data extraction and report preparation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, with the ability to analyze, manage, and report on trade promotion data effectively. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS : 

• BS/BA degree in Business, Finance, or a related field
• Experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, particularly with trade promotion management in fast-moving retail environments.
• Experience with SAP or other ERP system is a plus 

THINGS ABOUT THE WAY WE WORK:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow
• We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL:

The position will be based out of our 20,000 sq. foot office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. We have 1 flex day per week with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

The expected starting salary range for this role is $90,000 - $110,000 per year + Annual Bonus + Equity. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs. Benefits include Medical / Rx, Dental, Vision, 401K + Match, Commuter Benefit, EAP, etc.

Kinder’s is seeking a talented Sales Strategy Manager who is passionate about being part of a team of hard-working people focused on bringing the future of flavor to consumers everywhere.

Overview 

The Sales Strategy Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving execution of Kinder’s sales strategy, including development of merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving (MAPS) strategies and tactics, aligning with business and brand objectives. Reporting to the Director of Sales Strategy, this individual will operate as a highly collaborative individual contributor, partnering closely with Field Sales, Trade Finance, and Marketing teams to ensure sales plans are aligned, customer-ready, and grounded in data.

Key Responsibilities of this Role 

Sales Strategy and Planning 

• Contribute to the development and execution of customer and channel level sales strategies aligned to brand and business priorities.
• Provide customer/sales perspective to the Brand and Innovation teams in support of the development and implementation of product pipeline.
• Support development and execution of go-to-market strategies for new products, ensuring successful product launch and market penetration.
• Support account planning to identify opportunities, incorporate category and competitive insights, and integrate brand strategies at the customer level.
• Advocate internally for customer and channel specific items and programs.

Pricing & Promotional Trade Strategy 

• Lead the development of pricing, promotional, and trade strategies, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and market dynamics
• Assist in developing Grocery account level trade targets by product group, in collaboration with Sales Planning and the Director of Sales Strategy
• Drive the execution of GTM trade strategy to ensure promotional plans and spending are in line with budget and account level trade targets

Category Launch Specialist 

• Develop compelling selling stories leveraging brand/shopper plans and syndicated data to support the Sales team in driving distribution and optimizing in store presence.
• Clearly communicate our strategic business objectives, SKU priorities, merchandising guidance, and off shelf merch vehicles to our Sales and Broker teams, while holding them accountable via quarterly reviews and KPI tracking.
• Support execution tracking, reporting, and quarterly business reviews.

Cross Functional Partnership 

• Partner with Field Sales and Sales Ops to drive execution of key Go-To-Market strategies at the channel and account level.
• Collaborate with Trade Finance and Field Sales to optimize promotional activity and trade spend at the channel and customer level.
• Report progress through clear communication and KPI dashboards.

Qualifications and Experience 

Position-Specific Skills Required 

• Ability to excel in a highly cross-functional and collaborative environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate insights into action.
• Deep understanding of internal selling within a CPG environment, including MAPS, revenue growth management, category insights, shopper marketing and promotional plans.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously; can adapt to a quickly changing market environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to tell a clear story through data
• Experience with syndicated data (IRI/Nielsen/Spins) or retailer-specific data tools.

Education / Experience 

• Bachelor's Degree required
• 4–6 years of experience in Sales Strategy, Trade Marketing, or Sales Planning, preferably within CPG.
• Frozen category experience a plus
• Track record in agile, creative thinking and ability to work with internal cross-functional partners and external customers to translate into business results.
• Experience working in and/or supporting Grocery and Natural channel(s) is a plus.
• Proven strategic thinker excited by a dynamic and high-growth organization.
• Data-driven decision maker with experience developing / communicating business cases and customer-facing selling materials.
• Experience developing sales plans / forecasts including projected trade spend impacts.

Personal Characteristics 

• Business builder who owns and drives results.
• Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach).
• Thrive in a dynamic, lean, and agile environment.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and speaks their mind.
• Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower.
• Enjoy making decisions and finding ways to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to impactful and important priorities.

Things About the Way We Work 

• No two days here are the same. 

• We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here. 

• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow. 

• We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk. 

• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart. 
• We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them. 

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $113,000- $133,000 per year. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.