Senior Manager, Sales and Operations Planning

The Senior Manager, Sales and Operations Planning is a critical role within Advantage Solutions, responsible for driving the execution and optimization of operational sales and planning processes. This role focuses on building and managing effective S&OP models, leveraging data-driven insights, and applying technical planning expertise to support business growth and performance.

The Senior Manager will collaborate with cross-functional partners including sales, operations, talent acquisition, and analytics teams to translate strategic direction into actionable, measurable plans.

By ensuring disciplined planning, accurate forecasting, and seamless operational alignment, this role enables streamlined execution, brand growth, and productivity.

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.

Responsibilities

• Execute and optimize integrated sales and supply plans across experiential, retail, and branded segments; align to financial targets and people-first practices that create equitable opportunities

• Partner with cross-functional teams to gather and validate sales and workforce supply data, identify trends, and turn insights into short- and mid-term plan adjustments

• Maintain rolling forecasts that connect demand signals to staffing, capacity, and inventory or throughput constraints; ensure segment-level alignment

• Collaborate with technical teams to enhance forecasting tools, data pipelines, and dashboards that join demand signals with workforce supply visibility for key partners

• Execute the operational S&OP cadence including calendars, stage gates, and inputs and outputs; ensure handoffs, decisions, and KPIs are documented and auditable

• Analyze planning and execution processes enterprise-wide to identify bottlenecks, efficiency opportunities, and better go-to-market alignment

• When execution or fulfillment rates miss, lead structured root cause and corrective action analysis and drive corrective actions with segment leaders; verify impact through follow-up metrics

• Proactively assess plan performance versus targets; run what-if scenarios and recommend operational changes to improve fill rates and margin outcomes

• Build and maintain models that translate forecasted demand into staffing needs by role, skill, and geography; provide timely resourcing signals to talent acquisition

• Optimize trade spending assumptions and promotional lifts within forecasts; ensure accuracy and efficiency in planning systems and monitor budget impact

Qualifications

• Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Data Analytics, Supply Chain, or related field preferred)

• Experience Requirements: 8–10 years experience in relevant field (Sales and Operations Planning experience preferred)

• Travel requirement: No travel requirements

Supervisor Responsibility

Direct Reports: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports: Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Deep knowledge of sales and operations planning and sales and operations execution best practices with exposure to integrated business planning or mature S&OP processes

• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence diverse skillsets to increase stakeholder engagement and accelerate S&OP maturity

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and strategies

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Advanced experience using productivity tools for spreadsheets, documents, and presentations

• Intermediate to advanced experience using data visualization tools required

• Experience supporting S&OP functions in a structured planning environment required

• Intermediate to advanced experience using strategic planning tools to formally document activities a plus

• Intermediate experience with S&OP process design a plus

• Experience with enterprise resource planning systems a plus

• Experience with advanced analytics tools a plus

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 telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties
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 positions, 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 law.

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 law.