Distribution Sales Planning & Operations Manager – Foodservice

Schwan's Company • St. Louis Park, MN

3h • $93,000 - $154,000

About The Position

At CJ Schwan’s, we don’t just make food — we help create moments that matter. From kids devouring pizza after soccer practice, to students laughing over dumplings in a cafeteria, to families enjoying pie during the holidays, our team members play an important role in bringing those everyday moments to life. Our portfolio includes iconic pizzas, global flavors and timeless desserts from brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants and just about everywhere people shop and eat, our products reflect a commitment to quality, innovation and the power of food to bring people together.

As a Distribution Sales Planning & Operations Manager supporting our largest Foodservice Broadline accounts (e.g., Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, Performance Food Group, DOT Foods, UniPro) along with Independent Distributors, you will drive commercial planning excellence, trade optimization, and customer-specific business plans that deliver measurable growth. You’ll partner with cross-functional leaders to build differentiated go-to-market strategies, lead forecasting and promotional investment processes, and elevate the sales organization’s effectiveness with insightful analytics and compelling selling tools. You’ll play a pivotal role in how we bring our brands to market—ensuring the right plans, investments, and partnerships are in place to win with customers and drive sustainable growth!

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) with 8+ years in sales, sales planning/operations, trade strategy, or customer program development within the CPG industry ideally in foodservice
• Experience translating strategy and insights into clear, executable plans that drive measurable results.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, including managing trade investments and assessing promotional effectiveness to optimize ROI.
• Experience with Sales Planning & Operations tools – PowerPoint, Excel, Salesforce, Trade Systems, SharePoint, SAP, etc.

Nice To Haves

• Previous people leadership experience is nice to have (direct or matrixed).

Responsibilities

• Lead the customer planning process, ensuring timelines, tools, and cross-functional alignment support flawless execution, influencing how we go to market with the largest Foodservice Distribution players.
• Translate enterprise and category strategies into customer-specific sales plans, promotional calendars, annual programs/promotions, and investment strategies that support revenue and margin objectives.
• Own the customer demand and trade forecast process, amplifying accuracy with data modeling and scenario planning. Monitor and report customer performance vs. plan, identifying growth opportunities and leading cross-functional corrective actions.
• Provide the senior sales team with effective selling tools, account analytics, and customer presentations to drive points of distribution, increased velocity, and adoption of key marketing initiatives.
• Oversee trade fund allocation, promotion planning, and post-event ROI analysis to maximize return on investment.
• Monitor performance against goals, identify risks and opportunities, and drive action plans in partnership with Sales & Marketing to stay on track.
• Own leadership of the Distribution Inside Sales function, setting priorities, developing talent, monitoring KPIs, and ensuring disciplined execution of customer programs and growth strategies.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to build Annual Operating Plans and the 3-year customer/channel plans, aligning strategy, volume goals, and trade investment.

Benefits

• The base salary range for this position is $93,000 to $154,000 annually, with eligibility for a 20% annual incentive bonus based on organizational performance.
• The range reflects factors such as experience, skills, education, certifications, and location, and starting salary may fall anywhere within the stated range.
• Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package designed to support your overall well-being, including comprehensive health benefits, time off programs, and retirement and financial offerings.

What This Job Offers

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