Marketing Planning & Strategy Manager

Salesforce•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Salesforce is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Manager of Planning and Strategy to support its Marketing Planning and Strategy function. This role, reporting to the Director of Functional Marketing Planning & Strategy within CMO Marketing Operations, is responsible for leading budget and workforce management for a global marketing organization. The position oversees annual planning, program spend management and optimization, and monthly spend reviews with marketing leaders. The role utilizes data-driven insights to guide decisions and ensure marketers have the necessary tools and visibility for effective budget management. Key responsibilities include driving consistency and scale across planning processes, templates, and workflows, while identifying opportunities for improvement. Success requires strategic thinking, strong operational execution, and a focus on building reliable planning, forecasting, and reporting processes. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, cross-functional influence, and a commitment to high-quality execution in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing Strategy, Operations, Business Analytics, Finance, or a related field
5-7 years of relevant professional experience with an emphasis on marketing strategy and operations
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite
Experience with data visualization and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Salesforce Analytics); Salesforce or Tableau certification a plus
Ability to think creatively, identify and tackle problems through data analysis
Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and communicate effectively with senior leaders
Strong problem-solving skills, with a proactive and structured approach to identifying opportunities
Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment
High attention to detail and a commitment to quality execution

Nice To Haves

Salesforce or Tableau certification

Responsibilities

Lead annual, quarterly, and ad hoc marketing planning processes, ensuring accuracy, agility, and alignment with business priorities for supported functions.
Own budget management, forecasting, and reporting, providing clear visibility into spend performance and enabling effective execution.
Deliver actionable insights through budget and workforce reviews, leveraging dashboards and partnering with Finance and Analytics teams to drive spend efficiency and business impact.
Drive end-of-quarter close processes, proactively identifying variances and partnering with stakeholders to resolve issues.
Identify and implement opportunities to streamline, standardize, and scale planning processes, tools, and templates across Marketing.
Partner cross-functionally (Finance, Analytics, and Marketing teams) to ensure systems and workflows support efficient planning, budget execution, and reporting.
Support workforce planning by managing headcount processes, tracking, and reporting.
Build strong relationships with marketing leaders, serving as a trusted advisor on planning, budget, and resource decisions.
Support key business deliverables, including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and executive updates.
Maintain clear documentation and ensure adherence to budget governance, accounting standards, and internal processes.