Senior Manager Strategic Projects

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Job Location: Open to remote

Summary:

The Sr. Manager of Strategic Projects will work with the team to lead critical initiatives, set priorities, measure progress, and communicate to senior internal stakeholders at Hershey. This position reports into the Chief Customer Officer, U.S. Confection and will partner closely with SLT (direct) and cross-functional, especially Growth Office, Supply Chain, and Finance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Problem Solving

Supports planning & execution of 3Y strategic plan for US Sales annually.

Maintains an external mindset that brings together consumer, customer, competitive and macroeconomic trends.

Leads problem solving and addresses strategic issues/decisions through scenario modeling, business case building and agile methodologies.

Brings stakeholders together to assess business issues, identify root causes, and action planning for the best outcome

Leads special projects from the CCO's desk, including co-developing and leading white paper development and initiation of the work

Commercialization Leadership

Connector, who partners closely with the CCO, collaborates with the SLT, and seamlessly works across teams to make decisions, drive progress and deliver outcomes

Within agreed scope/authority, acts on behalf of the CCO, coalescing the team on key decisions and actions in line with the CCO's direction. The key leader moving the team and business forward when the President is not in the discussion/room.

Business Model Innovation

Develops process, framework and assessments to evaluate business model innovation initiatives.

Steers, guides, and ensures execution of strategic projects, including scoping, work plan, stakeholder management, and progress tracking.

Thought partner, consultant, strategic coach for the CCO and other SLT members.

Operational Effectiveness

Sets agenda and runs the U.S. commercial operating model to deliver U.S. AOP commitments, influencing, preparing materials, and connecting into the companywide processes and leading the U.S. specific components for Sales.

Integrates business inputs into quarterly, annual & strategic plans.

Gatekeeper of U.S. business agenda and priorities, ensuring workstreams, functions and teams work in alignment to goals & OKRs/priorities in an optimized way

Develops EC-level level presentations

Continually refines value for OKRs and sets resources, measurement and governance with op system, then drives all cross functional delivery of Sales priorities, partnering with all functions/leaders to create alignment and efficient execution.

Partner with executive assistant to organize and prepare the CCO for the day, week, month, and quarter, ensuring optimal use of the CCO's time and talents. Takes on activities, meetings, forums, from the CCO as needed.

Prepares and approves CCO's executive communications for SLT and US organization, and can lead town hall forums with all stakeholder's (e.g., Comms, SLT, etc.) on CCO's behalf

Owns coordination and preparedness for all outside / external interviews, engagements, speaking events, etc., involving the CCO

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong commercial acumen and experiences

Success at a top management consulting firm, delivering critical commercial projects across a variety of organizations

Customer Sales Executive experience with consistent delivery/sales in CPG company/companies

Advanced math and analytical capabilities to identify needs, solve problems, and measure impact. Comfortable with analytical tools, visualization of data

Consistent delivery/activation of enterprise/commercial strategy in CPG company/companies

Understanding of product portfolios, category and brand strategies, and market positioning, with a demonstrated ability to quickly learn company-specific topics

Deep insight and expertise across CPG/food and strong experience connecting consumer needs and occasions to data, analytics, customer and competitive landscape to create value and unlock new opportunities

Success (quality, quantity, fast pace) creating executive/board level content and materials for C-level executives

Proven portfolio and project management capabilities and history of driving complex projects across broad teams

Strong organizational abilities and the capacity to excel across many tasks and competing priorities

Exceptional communications skills (verbal and written), executive presence, and cross functional leadership (including influencing/leading without position authority)

Known for mature, low emotion/high adjustment behavior

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Master's degree in business, analytics, marketing, or a related field desirable

Minimum 10 years of experience in strategy, consulting, executive communications, and/or commercial operator roles

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

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