Commercial Manager, Specialty Channel (U.S. Hard Goods)

Location: Chicago USA

The Commercial Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining hard goods product category initiatives, market planning and general day to day operations in  the U.S. specialty business channel  in order to achieve our brand & financial objectives.  The position will help manage the "go to market" strategy and  process from assortment planning, distribution validation and  launch meetings, to the sell-in process and sell-through programs with the U.S. sales organization.  The role will work closely with the U.S. product, marketing, and sales organizations to build relationships with key accounts, plan inventory and execute marketing and promotional initiatives to support our brand & business goals.  

This position will work closely with the Global Commercial Director to develop commercial strategies, pricing, and inventory management plans in order to achieve the hard goods revenue and profitability expectations in  the U.S. specialty and  specialty Ecommerce  business segment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily:

• Partner with sales, product and marketing teams to identify hard goods business development opportunities within the specialty trade channel and consumer markets, as they relate to the overall U.S. tennis racket brand & product positioning strategies
• Implement sales, promotional, and off price programs
• Plan and prepare for U.S. Hard Goods product launches
• Plan and execute pre-line presentations with key accounts
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation/files/records of all activity
• Qualify any new opportunities and evaluate the caliber of opportunities with the expectation of full execution
• Provide information, education, and some coordination support for International markets based on above primary focus areas for U.S. market
   

Education/Experience

• Bachelor Degree in Business or related field
• 5+ years in packaged goods, a related industry or sales
• Strong background in tennis / avid player is required
• Experience in marketing, finance and/or sales in the tennis racket industry is a plus
  

Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate/communicate an expert understanding of technical features, end use, and performance benefits of each tennis racket product
• Ability to gain a full understanding of price/value relationship of each product
• Strong knowledge of competitors and their products
• Demonstrated excellence in communication (oral and written) and presentation skills
• Solid organizational skills, analytical ability, and strategic planning ability
• Strong computer proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint is required
• Experience with SAP is a plus
  " Ability to travel about 35% required (primarily in U.S., with some limited international travel)
  

EEO - M/F/D/V