Merchandising Execution Manager Jobs in Minnesota

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don't hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We're everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren't buzzwords, they're expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands-Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, Golden Island, BiFi, and Peperami and KOOEE! to name a few-there's nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that's full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Sales Strategy & Execution supports the development and activation of Link Snacks' commercial strategy across U.S. retail channels. This role is responsible for turning insights into action by building customer-ready tools, supporting assortment and merchandising strategies, optimizing pricing and promotional plans, and ensuring strong execution at the shelf.

The ideal candidate is an analytical, organized, and collaborative CPG professional with hands-on experience in sales analytics, category insights, and/or sales planning. Experience with MAPS fundamentals-Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing, and Shelving-is a strong advantage.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sales Strategy Support

• Support the creation of annual and quarterly sales strategies, in assigned channels, by analyzing category trends, pricing landscapes, product mix, merchandising opportunities, and retailer shelving standards.
• Translate go-to-market strategies into customer-specific selling stories that highlight Link Snacks' strengths in assortment, shelf placement, pricing, and merchandising execution.
• Assist with customer planning processes, including JBP preparation, promotional calendar planning, pricing updates, and sales readiness materials.

Sales Execution & Tools

• Build customer sell-in decks with a focus on recommendations across Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing, and Shelving (MAPS) to drive incremental growth.
• Develop sales tools such as planogram guidance, assortment recommendations, launch playbooks, distribution trackers, and merchandising execution scorecards.
• Partner with Sales and Category Management to ensure new item launches include optimal shelf placement, display opportunities, and clear pricing guidance.

Performance Reporting & Analytics

• Maintain weekly/monthly dashboards tracking distribution, velocity, promotion lift, shelving compliance, pricing competitiveness, and planogram execution.
• Conduct analysis to identify gaps in assortment, shelf placement, and merchandising execution at the customer level.
• Partner with RGM to analyze price-pack architecture, evaluate promotional ROI, and assess price elasticity within the meat snacks category.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Category Management to build retailer-specific MAPS recommendations that drive category growth and align with retailer strategies.
• Work with Sales Planning and Supply Chain to ensure execution readiness for promotional windows, resets, seasonal merchandising, and major new item launches.
• Partner with Marketing and Innovation teams to prepare customer-facing materials for new products, packaging updates, and pack-size/price architecture enhancements.

Process & Capability Building

• Help standardize key commercial processes including MAPS frameworks, performance scorecarding, and trade promotion workflows.
• Provide training and support for the sales organization on assortment tools, pricing updates, merchandising guidelines, and planogram interpretation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant/office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. However, the vast amount of work is conducted in a climate-controlled office. Travel may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the Team Member is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The Team Member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The Team Member must occasionally lift and/or more up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or related field.
• 3-6+ years of experience in CPG sales strategy, category management, sales planning, RGM, and/or customer-facing sales.
• Strong understanding of MAPS principles (Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing, Shelving).
• Experience working with syndicated data tools (Nielsen/IRI/Circana) and retailer POS/portal systems.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication, organization, and project-management skills.

Preferred

• Experience in snacks, meat snacks, protein-based products, or highly impulse-driven center-store categories.
• Prior experience with trade promotion systems or retail merchandising tools.
• Exposure to planogram software or shelf optimization tools.

Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Able to analyze pricing, assortment, merchandising, and shelving data to uncover actionable insights.
• Execution Excellence: Strong attention to detail and follow-through across multiple commercial initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to partner effectively across Sales, RGM, Category, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain.
• Retail Storytelling: Skilled at turning data into clear, compelling MAPS recommendations for customers.
• Agility: Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment like Jack Link's.

The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $130,000 (Annually).  Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link's Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link's provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to generally describe the nature and level of work to be performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of employees performing this role.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link's provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link's is a participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employeesAll your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.