Manager, Merchandising Strategy

ABOUT US
tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world's leading brands. With 1,200+ employees across 26 countries, we offer an impressive range of solutions - from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.
Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald's, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas.
Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.
WHAT MATTERS THE MOST
Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.
tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com.
WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE
The Manager, Merchandising Strategy will sit within our US Local Market Activity (LMA) team and be responsible for driving creativity and innovation into the regional portfolio including packaging innovation, and digital marketing. This key role involves spearheading research, anticipating packaging and digital trends, and working with our commercialization team to develop new concepts that create excitement with our customers.

1. Actively seek to stay up to date with changing market dynamics, technology, trends, competitors and customer needs and provide regular updates to the Commercialization Team. Request samples, work through feasibility and pricing models to identify how these opportunities can work for our customers.
2. Explore capabilities with existing and new suppliers to match practical solutions with opportunities and needs within the market
3. Manage the new product pipeline to assess the current value, address gaps and track against financial goals. Identify opportunities to support the regional and national promotions teams with new and existing products. For new products, work with these teams to understand their needs and translated the marketing requirements into technical requirements to brief suppliers effectively.
4. Translate technical packaging concepts into actionable sell sheets
5. Identify opportunities to enable and elevate packaging with digital enhancements
6. Provide project management leadership for regional and promotional packaging including: project planning/tracking, and approvals, ensuring alignment with additional internal stakeholders.
7. Work efficiently within cross-functional business process. The position will interface with Client Services, Supply Planning, Product Development, Financial Transaction Services, Analytics, Global LMA leads and our clients.

Performs other related duties as assigned.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION

• Ability to develop creative solutions within budgetary and operations requirements
• Ability to translate concepts into actionable sales plans leveraging data insights to communicate the value proposition
• Financial and business acumen
• Collaborative approach to problem solving
• Relationship management experience
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE

• A degree in Business, Engineering or a related field
• 7-10 years in Packaging, Innovation or Marketing related roles
• Experience translating requirements between Marketing and Technical teams
• Experience using data to understand trends and financial performance

And we'd love you to...

• Use PowerPoint and Excel with ease
• Have an understanding of manufacturing processes and capabilities
• Have an understanding of supply chain

Nearest Major Market: Chicago