Website: www.nielsenmassey.com

Nielsen-Massey is a leader in the specialty foods world, specifically in the production and marketing of the world’s finest vanillas and flavors. The company operates a branded consumer goods business (CPG/B2C) as well as a business-to-business (B2B) ingredient and flavor business. The portfolio includes various forms of pure and natural vanilla ingredients, extracts, pastes, and powders plus other flavor extracts including: lemon, almond, chocolate, coffee, peppermint, and rosewater to wholesale, culinary, and industrial customers throughout the world. The global headquarters and state-of-the-art production facility are in Waukegan, Illinois, with an additional plant in the Netherlands. The brand is well established with culinary professionals and big branded players as the premiere vanilla brand in the marketplace while the next phase of growth will come from expanding the brand to a broader base of consumers via an aggressive retail and eCommerce strategy as well as diversifying and expanding the ingredient and flavor business.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas (NMV) was founded in 1907 and is still owned by three members of the Nielsen family, who work as senior executives at the company. The fiduciary Board is composed of a majority of independent directors as well as the three family shareholders. The four independent members all have CEO experience in a variety of industries, including CPG, eCommerce and Industrial/ Manufacturing.

The Company is committed to sustaining the plants, people and communities that supply their ingredients. Since 1907, NMV has demonstrated its commitment to civic and social responsibility. The company’s Community Relations initiatives encompass three main objectives: building relationships with the communities in which they live and work; showing their commitment through financial contributions to charities in support of education, youth, veterans and the environment, actively promoting volunteer service among their employees - and demonstrating as a team that they make a difference.

NMV supports approximately 18 organizations that represent their mission-driven values. They published their first annual “Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities Report” in 2018. Some past ESG programs include the funding of a new Malagasy school and the construction of a solar-powered water pump in the Madagascar Village that grows Nielsen-Massey’s fair-trade vanilla.

In 2009, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation was founded with a mission to assist disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts. The Foundation also considers requests for assistance in the development of sustainable environmental practices or for programs benefiting people in countries of need. The Foundation’s board of directors consists of Craig, Beth and Matt Nielsen—third-generation owners of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas—and their mother, Camilla.

Throughout its more than 110-year history as a family business, NMV is proudly and fully committed to the ethical manner in it conducts business, including how employees and customers are treated. As a company, NMV remains committed to honesty and integrity, as well as openness and respect for the rights and interests of its employees. Employees are “treated like family,” in particular, with generous health care benefits.

OPPORTUNITY

Position: Sales Operations Specialist, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas

Reports to: Director, Sales Operations, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas

Location: Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago’s Loop

Position Summary:

This is a unique opportunity to help a company already enjoying success, but in need of a Sales Operations Specialist that is technically proficient in sales technology and willing to “roll up the sleeves” to deliver against day-to-day operations. They must be able to make significant and lasting contributions to the company’s growth strategy and evolving culture of accountability and high performance.

This position is primarily responsible for the proactive optimization and management of sales programs and processes to improve the productivity of the sales organization. This role will primarily focus on the execution of day-to-day commercially driven tasks such as developing selling stories by utilizing data sources, sales/KPI performance tracking, and implementing opportunity and promotional tracking. The Sales Operations Specialist will assist in a variety of cross functional projects providing organizational and administrative support. This role will help drive better accountability and transparency towards sales objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Utilize a sales and project management mindset to research, plan and execute small, medium, and large cross-functional sales projects; plan budgets and maintain schedules, resource availability, and deliverables to ensure they are delivered on time, on-budget and accomplish the desired business objectives.
• Lead sales related analytic efforts, leveraging internal and external data sets like SPINs, IRI, Nielsen and customer portals. Build close collaborative relationships with key data partners to ensure requirements are clear to help maximize the partnership value.
• Support the build out of the appropriate analytic and reporting tools to meet the organizations insight related needs.
• Support the development of MAPS (Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing, and Shelving) actions for the retail and international and channels.
• Provide support in creating fact-based stories for line reviews and other sales collateral that meet the organizations insight and selling related needs.
• Proactively identify issues that impede business success and provide solutions, recommendations, or develop improvement projects.
• Create, manage, and distribute regular communications; manage meetings and other events and drive projects to completion.
• Understand and ensure compliance with all contracts, documents, and all internal and external procedures.
• Implement training that ensures the sales team understands technology and tools used in their sales efforts.
• Liaise with IT team to define and build automation requirements.
• Influence CRM and sales technology strategy to ensure accounting of the full lead to revenue life cycle.
• Establish strong working relationships with your team and other departments in the organization that support the accomplishment of team goals.
• Support the leadership team in any project related analysis, and in the creation of any critical related deliverables (e.g. annual operating plan, Board information).

Personal Characteristics:

• Results Orientation - High energy, results-driven, determined, and flexible, with a strong and disciplined work ethic. Sets a quick pace, and constantly raises the bar and presses the organization toward higher levels of achievement. Measures and tracks key business results and processes against best competitors or market. Assesses improvements and success in these terms. Promotes superior performance against stretch goals; Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Change Management – Develops a clear case for change to the organization and mobilizes the team accordingly. Creates a sense of urgency and enthusiasm about the future path and where they are going as a team. Communicates frequently with employees and ensures that his/her message to the organization is clear. Perseveres with the ability to lead a team through challenging times. Challenges the status quo and can quickly develop and execute improvement plans.
• Leadership Capability - Has the leadership acumen and credibility to work collaboratively across the entire organization and develop talent. Should be hands-on, but able to delegate appropriately with the ability to motivate, inspire and commit an organization to a course of action and achieve results. It is important that this individual has the capacity to assume greater responsibilities over time. S/he must have unquestioned integrity and strong values; non-political and non-bureaucratic.
• Communication Skills – High level of emotional intelligence (EQ). Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively deliver and reinforce consistent messages at all levels. Leverages these capabilities to interact with, and persuade, executives throughout the organization. Excellent listening skills.

Knowledge and Characteristics:

MUSTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Sales, Marketing or Business, with/or a minimum of 3 to 5 years related experience preferably in the Consumer Products Goods Industry.
• To perform this job successfully, the candidate should have knowledge of:
  • Syndicated Data platforms (IRI,Nielsen)
  • Retailer proprietary portals (Whole Foods, Walmart, etc.)
  • Manufacturing Software; Spreadsheet Software (Excel)
  • Word Processing Software (Word)
  • Electronic Mail Software (Outlook)
  • Presentation software (PowerPoint)
  • NMV Internal Tools: Qlik, E-Synergy, Concur, Forecast Pro
• Business Acumen - Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals; Analyzes market and completion and adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures.
• Business Necessity – The needs of the employer may be dependent on responding to and anticipating rapidly changing external and internal demands in all aspects of how business is conducted. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finances goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands. Therefore, it may become necessary to no advance notice to employees. Accordingly, the employees must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advantage notice, to changes in how business is conducted, and work is accomplished, with no diminishment in work performance.
• Safety and Security –All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills along with excellent oral and written communication ability.
• Must be a creative thinker to overcome customer rejections.
• Must be adaptable and be able to consistently deal with ever-changing conditions.
• Demonstrated problem solving and negotiation skills.
• Must be able to adapt to and follow differing procedures established by each customer.

WANTS:

• Experience in a family or privately held business.
• Experience with analyzing and drawing insights out of syndicated data in the Consumer Products Industry.