Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Associate Manager, Sales Strategy & Commercialization, Beverage! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since.
The Sales Strategy & Commercialization Associate Manager will translate business unit objectives and channel specific strategies that drive sustainable and profitable growth. Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Sales Strategy & Commercialization, this role ensures that merchandising, assortment, pricing and shelving guidance aligns to business unit objectives. The Associate Manager will lead communication between sales, brand marketing and other cross functional partners (category management, revenue growth management, production planning, product development, brand elevation, etc.) to ensure internal cooperative goals are attained in addition to external customer/channel objectives. You will provide business intelligence for product launches and key go-to-market programs to empower the Sales team to create and develop customer plans.
A Day in the Life...
Strategic Planning & Alignment
- Translate BU objectives into sales and channel-specific strategies that drive sustainable growth.
- Ensure channel-specific strategies and innovations are developed and aligned with BU priorities, specifically in key growth channels (Club, Value, Foodservice, Liquor, Natural, and C&G channels).
- Set clear executional objectives (merchandising, assortment, pricing, shelving).
- Support AOP/LRP sales strategy development and building blocks.
- Act as liaison between Sales, Brand Marketing, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.
Customer & Trade Planning
- Support the customer planning process and oversee development of customer-specific plans.
- Support customer promotion calendars following best practices for ROI and seasonality.
- Help evaluate trade promotion requests for financial viability and strategic fit.
- Support customer teams in adjusting trade calendars/spend to hit targets.
Commercialization & Innovation
- Shape innovation pipeline by providing shopper insights and market trends.
- Build new product launch plans and maintain cross-channel view for launches.
- Represent sales on internal projects (e.g., FUEL) and ensure timelines and selling materials are met.
- Coordinate execution of sales samples for new SKUs.
- Contribute to Go-to-Market planning for all BU innovations.
Performance Monitoring & Pricing
- Monitor execution of plans and standard metrics (volume, revenue, profitability, competitive landscape).
- Manage channel strategies, pricing strategies, and display forecasts.
- Prepare justification and execute price increase decks.
- Evaluate items for SKU rationalization process.
Budget & Financial Stewardship
- Represent Sales needs in trade funding deployment for innovations.
- Work with BU and RGM to develop trade spending budgets and deliverables.
- Participate in demand planning meetings to understand forecast changes.
- Support Revenue Management on pack/price architecture.
Sales Enablement & Communication
- Build sell-in decks for innovation launches and concepts for JBPs.
- Develop brand stories and ensure competitive context for sales teams.
- Deploy and update BU national playbook (including channel breakouts like Foodservice).
- Coordinate and maintain commercial calendar; lead 2–3 sales webinars annually and support National Sales Meeting.
What We Are Looking For:
- Associates degree required, bachelor’s degree in business or related field preferred.
- 3+ years’ previous experience in sales or marketing within CPG industry preferred.
- Experience in the Club, Value, Foodservice, Liquor, Natural, and C&G channels a plus.
- Team oriented with the ability to engage and influence cross functional teams.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills, including superior communication skills (written and verbal).
Education:
Associates Degree
(Required)
Bachelor's or University Degree (Preferred)
Work Experience:
At least 3 Years of Experience
Annual Salary:
$87,400 - $120,230
The base salary range information above serves as a guideline of the position’s typical hiring range. We value and appreciate what makes you unique and will consider a variety of factors when determining an offer. These factors include, but are not limited to, your skills and experience, external and internal benchmarks, as well as overall company considerations. Certain positions may be eligible for short-term and long-term incentive rewards. We also offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits program that supports all aspects of your health and well-being.
Benefits:
Complete insurance package on Day-1 that includes a plethora of health and wellness programs
Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
Health savings account
Flexible spending account
Life and accident insurance
Employee assistance program
Telehealth services
1:1 health coaching
Supportive benefits for all the stages of your life
401(k) with up to 6% Company matching; additional potential discretionary match at year-end
Short-Term Incentive/Performance bonuses
Flexible scheduling options
Vacation pay, up to three weeks of time (pro-rated for your first year of employment)
Holiday pay for 12 holidays
Career development and growth opportunities
Tuition/Education assistance programs
Access to LinkedIn Learning
Scholarship programs for children of employees
Parental leave
Bright Horizons Family Solutions – Back-up care, tutoring, etc.
Adoption assistance
Bereavement leave
Up to $300 fitness reimbursement
Up to $300 massage reimbursement
Employee appreciation events
Employee discounts
Charitable giving
Who We Are:
You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what’s better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.
Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:
- Grower Mindset – We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.
- Sustainable Results – Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.
- Integrity Above All – We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other
- Inclusive Teamwork – We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
For MA Applicants – It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Any employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
