Sr. Director Customer Excellence - Advantage Solutions

Advantage Unified Commerce is built to be the world’s most effective commerce marketing agency. We
bring integration to a layered and siloed landscape, unifying strategy, analytics, creative, media,
ecommerce, and trade marketing to unlock commerce potential for some of the world’s best-known
brands. From Retail Media Networks and social commerce to last-mile delivery and in-store activation, we
are everywhere that people shop and buy.

Our Sr. Director, Customer Excellence – Grocery is responsible for developing in-depth knowledge and
relationships with these retailers. Working in lock step Sales, Media, and Marketing teams to deliver
retailer-based strategies that inspire, innovate ignite growth for both our Customers and Clients. A
seasoned Shopper Marketing expert, the ideal candidate is well versed in the Omni-channel landscape,
retailer nuances and important relationship between sales and marketing. S/he is responsible for leading
the agency's efforts in driving retail innovation and Shopper Centric Branding that delivers results for our
clients.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a book of business comprised of multiple commerce media clients.
• Lead the partnership management along with Annual Planning Process on behalf of the agency.
• Assist clients in their annual JBP discussions within this retail vertical.
• Deliver ongoing thought leadership to assist clients’ business strategies with key retailers.
• Act as a change agent/impact player from both an internal and external perspective – contributing to
  both client and agency performance.
• Lead collaboration across internal and external teams to drive innovation at retail spanning shopper
  marketers, sales teams, and insights teams.
• Develop annual business plan, setting short- and long-term strategic courses for growth of assigned
  business.
• Build strong relationships with both client and retailer while working closely with cross-functional
  teams including consumer marketing, trade development, operations, merchandising, and category
  managers, directors, and buyers.
• Identify opportunities within your assigned retailer and share this learning on an ongoing basis with
  your Retail and Client Leadership teams.
• Embrace the new ONE Advantage mission to unify agency resources and embrace a new model for
  Shopper Centric Branding

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business, or related field - MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of marketing or advertising experience with grocery retailers
• Dynamic personality able to effectively engage and influence a variety of audiences.
• A wealth of industry knowledge including current trends, consumer packaged goods and retailer
  information, and business philosophies
• Motivational leadership, inspiring team to deliver top performance every day against assigned
  business.
• Strategic thinking in the development of Shopper Marketing programs and management of day-
  to-day business
• Sound decision making skills.
• Passion about business and dissatisfaction with status quo – always thinking of ways to
  improve/grow assigned client/business.
• Strong listening skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Desire to dig in and do what is needed to get the job done right.
• Some travel is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide
  processes, tools and resources
• May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

TRAVEL AND/OR DRIVING REQUIREMENTS

• Travel is an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this
  job.
• Travel up to 20%

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING JOB DUTIES AND DESCRIPTIONS

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or another manager
related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and
level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all
responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. AUC reserves the right at any time with or
without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign, or transfer job position or assign
additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. AUC shall provide reasonable
accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for
employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of
employment as required by the law.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Job Duty

• Oversees department performance as measured against major KPIs and goals; monitors trends to proactively identify risks and opportunities
• Owns resource allocation and planning decisions for the Account Services team
• Manages Account Services employee relations, working in conjunction with People & Culture to facilitate teamwork and address questions and conflicts
• Responsible for Account Services financial management, including client forecasting/projections, budgets, and billing
• Fosters a high performance and high-quality environment to produce excellent results for our clients
• Coaches people managers in all aspects with in Account Services on leading teams effectively while also driving employee engagement
• Collaborates with the leadership team to develop, track, and achieve departmental goals

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

- Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports

- May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job 

Minimum Qualifications

The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level: (Required):    Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience                        

Field of Study/Area of Experience

10+ Years of experience in account or management experience in PPC advertising, preferably managing multi-million dollar budget SEM programs through Google AdWords and Bing Ads

Retail experience, including but not limited to: eCommerce; merchandising and promotions; multi-channel marketing; branding a plus

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Proven people manager skills developing employees and optimizing organizational effectiveness, including a minimum of two years building and leading teams
• Strong track record of delivering outstanding service to clients, both internal and external, as well as business results and ROI
• Demonstrated ability to improve existing systems and implement new structures to build an effective learning environment
• Ability to communicate complex data with clarity and simplicity
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Keen eye for excellent client service and account performance
• Creative self-start with strong relationship, organization, negotiation, and problem solving skills
• Able to work with third party properties, agencies, suppliers and media organizations

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds. 

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.