The Opportunity:

The Manager, Retail Sales Strategy and Customer Engagement will play an important role in elevating customer engagement across our retail customers through category stewardship and thought leadership, reinforcing Maple Leaf Foods as the #1 choice partner to help develop category strategies to capitalize on retail opportunities across the Protein department.

This position will lead the development and deployment of a customer engagement process focused on identifying relevant opportunities for strategic partnership and creating value for our customers.  The Manager will develop and deliver compelling externally focused category selling stories and strategies that support Maple Leaf Foods growth platforms and key initiatives.  They will integrate consumer, shopper, and category insights from multiple sources to create best in class materials to facilitate meaningful collaboration.  

The Manager will work closely with Customer Business Teams to develop a Customer Account Plan (CAP) and align on engagement processes tailored to each customer.  They will also collaborate with our Customer Insights Team to translate data into actionable strategies and recommendations that reflect the in-store realities of each customer.  In addition, the incumbent will work closely with Category Platform Teams to help inform and support product innovation and key initiatives, ensuring they are supported by consumer and shopper insights frameworks and incorporated into our externally focused category stories. 

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by August 29. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Create and lead the deployment of best in class externally focused category selling strategies and stories to support key priorities and growth platforms in a way that makes sense for the shopper and the retailer. 
• Collaborate with our Category Platform Teams, Consumer Research and Customer Insights partners to develop an external or retailer point of view of future category visions of our categories; Integrate consumer, shopper, and category insights from multiple sources into holistic and actionable category strategies for our customers.
• Collaborate with our Category Platform Teams to appropriately position our growth platforms and innovation to the trade via our category reviews and customer-centric selling stories
• Facilitate the preparation and presentation of market insights reviews and discovery sessions which translate demographic and market trends into actionable category strategies for our customers
• Collaborate with our Customer Insights Team in the development of best-in-class category review frameworks for each category, including the deployment of appropriate category segmentation across multiple customers and data platforms (Nielsen, POS)
• Become an expert on Prepared Meat, Fresh Meat and Plant Protein shoppers to identify opportunities at key customers and sell Maple Leaf Foods expertise leveraging a variety of analytical tools. 

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience creating and presenting selling stories across categories / retailers.
• Trade Marketing / Category Sales Development experience to align customer strategy to future company growth plans and innovation.
• Category thought leadership and visionary work; strong shelving and assortment understanding via Vendor Advisor or Category Management experience.
• Analytical skills developed through experience selling with POS, Shipment, Markettrack, Panel and Qualitative data.
• Shopper research methodology understanding.
• Project management with internal and external resources at multiple levels.

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best. 
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer:  Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board.  Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.

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