Manager, Sales Planning and Strategy Coordination

Mercedes-Benz Group•Atlanta, GA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Sales Planning and Strategy Coordination, leads the execution of the MBUSA sales strategy by creating and managing a comprehensive volume plan for the US Market. This role has a holistic responsibility for all volume planning activities in the US - short term as well as long-term spanning across the entire portfolio of Mercedes-Benz. The position leads monthly and annual planning activities to drive alignment between production, wholesale, retail, and inventory strategies to optimize sales performance and maintain healthy stock levels. The manager's role has a constant exposure to Executive Management with emphasis on effective presentation and communication skills. The strategic and tactical volume scenarios derived by the manager serve as a basis for the Executive Management's decision-making process. This role leads to the coordination and preparation of the long / middle term sales strategy, offensive aligning cross-functional teams on future growth initiatives, driving consensus on key measures and actions to support business objectives. The manager position will also involve close collaboration with the global headquarters in Germany.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (accredited university), Master's degree preferred in: o Business Administration/Management o Economics/Finance o Marketing/Statistics o International Business
10+ years of professional experience in sales planning, forecasting, or business analytics (automotive industry experience is a must). Project management experience needed.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (complex formulas, modeling, KPI tracking, scenario analysis).
Strong working knowledge of Power BI (dashboard creation, data visualization, and performance monitoring)
Strong analytical skills with experience in scenario modeling and forecasting.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, public speaking with ability to communicate complex findings clearly to stakeholders to drive solution finding process
Detail-oriented, proactive, and adaptable with a problem-solving mindset.
Team Leadership & Guidance: Team Direct and mentor team in analytics, solution design, and Execution
Planning & Business Plan Oversight: Ensure volume and strategic planning is done in alignment with the business objectives
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with business areas to validate and re-align volume & strategic planning
System Expertise & Strategic Optimization: Apply Mercedes-Benz system knowledge to improve efficiency and performance
Advanced/ Strong analytical and scenario-planning skills
High data literacy
Cross-functional collaboration and team player, motivator and leader
High proficiency in Excel and Power BI as core planning and data visualization tools
Story telling based on KPIs and ability to manage the internal and external stakeholders
Strong knowledge of automotive market dynamics and drivers
Strong written and verbal communication

Nice To Haves

Experience with market research or business development consulting to support portfolio and channel strategy discussions a plus.
Bilingual in German and English is a strong asset
Strong written and verbal communication; bilingual proficiency in German and English is an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead and execution of monthly planning by aligning production programs, wholesale, retail, and stock planning across all models in the MBUSA portfolio (including AMG, Maybach and G Class)
Manage complex tasks simultaneously while balancing MBUSA''s interests
Ability to interpret sales and market pronouncements and apply interpretations to steer the business
Lead strategic initiatives within MBUSA and represent sales volume dept. in meetings and discussions
Conduct scenario analyses and “what-if” modeling to evaluate planning options, identify risks, and support adjustments.
Monitor and analyze competitive market developments and translate insights into actionable planning adjustments.
Maintain planning documentation, methodologies, and assumptions to ensure consistency and transparency throughout the planning cycle.
Identify process improvement opportunities to enhance sales planning efficiency and accuracy.
Effective lead and manage a team of multiple members with diverse backgrounds
Promote an open and honest team culture