CUSTOMER BUSINESS MANAGER

The Hartz Mountain Corporation • Secaucus, NJ

6h • $115,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are excited to offer a dynamic, high-impact opportunity for a motivated, hands-on sales professional to serve as Customer Business Manager for International Markets. In this role, you will take ownership of the strategic and end-to-end operational management of Hartz’s established international portfolio, ensuring maximum performance, volume growth, and category share across all markets outside the U.S. and Canada.

This position offers the exciting challenge of driving expansion into established and emerging markets, specifically leading the growth agenda for priority regions such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru, the UK, and Brazil. Because success in these territories depends on your ability to drive regional market penetration and effectively influence key international stakeholders, this role requires professional business proficiency in Spanish. You will be expected to conduct high-level negotiations, draft professional correspondence, and navigate complex business requirements in both English and Spanish.

By leveraging market insights and cross-cultural business expertise, you will act as a key driver in Hartz’s mission to secure new distribution opportunities in high-potential territories, ultimately scaling our presence in the global pet care marketplace.
This position is located at our Secaucus, NJ corporate headquarters, with the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule. The role requires approximately 20% travel, encompassing both domestic and international trips to engage with key partners and oversee market expansion.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in a Business-related discipline with 2+ years of direct sales experience (or 5+ years in lieu of degree), calling on Mid/South American retail businesses or global export companies with a history of setting and delivering a growth agenda; pet care industry a plus
• Bilingual Proficiency: Professional working proficiency in Spanish (verbal and written) required; proficiency in Portuguese is preferred
• Industry Experience: Proven expertise in strategic business planning, with experience in managing multi-account international portfolios
• Presentation Skills: Experience with category management, fact-based selling techniques (point of sale and syndicated data analysis), and the ability to create, develop, and present this information compellingly from scratch
• Negotiation Skills: Proven negotiation skills, coupled with the demonstrated ability to finalize business and expand current account list
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs
• Business Travel: Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (20%)

Responsibilities

• Achieve sales targets for overall territory, customer and category within approved trade spend budget through negotiations with the buyer on sales and product placement.
• Develop, monitor, and continually revise assigned accounts’ annual business plans.
• Analyze point of sale and other sales data; communicate trends, insights, and risks via performance reports to Hartz internal teams, and to accounts’ category/replenishment teams. Use data to update and adjust the customer business plan.
• Identify opportunities for all category and line reviews on an ongoing basis, building a selling story to secure new business as well as increase existing distribution across all categories.
• Ensure retail margins and promotions fall within the published brand strategy for all items and categories, including proper shelf position.
• Forecast customer events as required.
• Build exceptionally strong relationships with key account stakeholders and brokers through consistent communication and meetings.
• Collaborate closely with internal Brand and Customer Planning teams and external broker partners to pinpoint significant opportunities within established and emerging accounts. Develop and implement strategies and programs aimed at generating profitable and incremental sales.
• Collaborate with strategic partners for new market development.
• Manage different sales models including direct sales, distributor relationships and strategic partnerships.
• Understand and convey account strategies and goals to the internal Hartz team. Attend/participate in industry and customer events, trade/trade show events, and company sales/marketing meetings.
• Effectively manage the administrative responsibilities, including price change forms, deductions, and selling and planning schedules.

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Schedule: Enjoy flexibility with 3 days in-office and 2 days remote.
• Pet-Friendly Culture: Bring your pet to work and enjoy a casual, inclusive environment.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Receive a generous 401(k) match with immediate vesting.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy up to 34 paid days off annually.
• Paid Leaves: Parental leave, Bereavement leave, and Military leave.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Healthcare FSA, and Mental Health EAP, basic Life insurance and Disability Insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement & Career Growth: Access to tuition reimbursement and other learning and development opportunities.
• Employee Perks: Volunteer opportunities, fun employee events, and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level