Senior Manager of Analytics and Automation - Jack Link's Protein Snacks

When it comes to being wild, we know a thing or two. We're not afraid of trying something new or the hard work it takes to make it happen. It's in our DNA. We've turned a family recipe into a new snacking category. And the wilderness into the world's largest meat snack business, that's still proudly family owned and operated.

We're a company built by innovators, and are driven to not only satisfy your hunger, but to also feed your journey – whether that journey is on the road, on the run, at the campground, at the playground, in the office or in the moment. It’s a journey we share with you. It’s the journey forward of our people, of our communities, of our category…with a reverence for quality and an irreverence for the status quo.

 At Jack Link's Protein Snacks, we see every moment of every day as an opportunity to move forward, to forge new ground. To realize our vision of becoming the World’s #1 Protein Snacking Company. We never give up. You never give up. Together, we keep going. Are you wild enough to join us?

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s Protein Snacks also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company is made up of over 4,000 passionate team members, across 11 countries, who share an uncompromising commitment to delivering awesome products and feeding the journey of those who move things forward. The Jack Link’s Protein Snacks portfolio of brands includes, Jack Link’s, Lorissa’s Kitchen, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi and Peperami.

The Senior Manager of Analytics & Automation will lead the analytics team to oversee the design & development of our enterprise data & analytics platform and solutions leveraging SAP, Nielsen, and customer POS data to drive strategic decision-making and business growth. This role requires a deep understanding of data analytics, consumer behavior, and the CPG industry. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of managing large datasets, developing insights, and leading cross-functional teams. The role will collaborate with business functions to develop analytic tools to improve decision making leveraging data.

The responsibilities of this position shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following:

Leadership:

• Planning, organizing and executing the analytics roadmap including technical design & development of our enterprise data & analytics platform. 
• Provide oversight on technical design and development decisions,
• Lead a team of technical analysts and off-shore contractors to deliver competitively advantaged analytics solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on business objectives and priorities.

Data Management and Integration:

• Oversee the integration and management of data from SAP, Nielsen, and customer POS systems.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and availability for analysis.
• Develop and maintain data governance policies and procedures.

Analytics and Insights:

• Lead the development of advanced analytics platforms for the business  to identify trends, opportunities, and risks.

Strategic Planning:

• Develop and implement analytics strategies to support functional business goals.
• Identify and evaluate new data sources and technologies to enhance analytics capabilities.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Performance Measurement:

• Design and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of analytics initiatives.
• Monitor and report on the impact of analytics on business performance.
• Continuously improve analytics processes and methodologies.

AI & Automation:

• Familiarity with AI technologies (like machine learning, Natural Language Processing) and process automation tools.
• Experience leveraging automation technologies to reduce manual work from processes and streamline operations.

Required Education:  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field or equivalent experience.

Required Experience: 

• 7+ years of experience in data analytics, with a focus on the CPG industry.
• 4+ years’ experience leading and mentoring teams
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions to evaluate alternatives and make tradeoffs.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences including various levels of management, vendors, business teams with varied levels of skill/experience. Ability to clearly communicate technical subject matter to a non-technical audience. Strong people skills in a diverse cultural environment.
• Proficiency in SAP, Nielsen, and customer POS data platforms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques and data visualization tools (e.g., Python, R, Tableau).
• Experience with machine learning and artificial intelligence applications in analytics.
• Familiarity with data warehousing and big data technologies.
• Possess a solid understanding of the software development life cycle and proven project management techniques.
• Ability to model and document business requirements and related data needs.
• Familiar with systems security best practices
• Knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws
• Familiar with data modeling techniques and best practices
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
• Provide data and reporting of KPI's and trends to IT Management and others.
• Review and maintain daily staff utilization.
• Strong customer service orientation.

Preferred:              

• Agile/Scrum methodology certifications or related experience.
• Exposure and understanding of SAP S/4 & ECC data structures and capabilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
We provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.