Senior Research Manager - Analytical Sales

NielsenIQ is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. We provide consumer packaged goods manufacturers/fast-moving consumer goods and retailers with accurate, actionable information and insights and a complete picture of the complex and changing marketplace that companies need to innovate and grow. Our approach marries proprietary NielsenIQ data with other data sources to help clients around the world understand what’s happening now, what’s happening next, and how to best act on this knowledge.  We like to be in the middle of the action. That’s why you can find us at work in over 90 countries, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit www.niq.com.

Roles & Responsibilities

Leads Business development efforts with NIQ clients in the region, for NIQ Analytics solutions (P&P, A&M, RTM, MMM) and is responsible for the commercial plan development and execution. Key priorities include:

• Build and grow the relationships and business size with the Clients by the systematic networking, proactively identifying sales opportunities based on client strategic priorities and expanding business with the existing client portfolio (selling new / renewing existing contracts)
• Close collaboration with the Delivery COE team to drive seamless delivery to clients.
• Ensuring healthy sales pipeline and accurate forecasting
• Strong Sales hunting and sales closure attitude with demonstrated past experience in B2B, preferably FMCG/ Research

Success will require:

• Strong sales leadership including prospecting, building a pipeline, moving opportunities through the sales cycle; proposing, presenting, and discussing solutions with key personas on client side
• Ability to build enduring relationships with the client – truly passionate relationship developer
• Strong affiliation to Sales Personas & develops sales strategies to suit
• Excellent problem-solving skills, solution-oriented, and good analytical skills
• Very good client-facing and communication/presentation skills
• Financial understanding (eg. P&L, EBITDA) and how this relates to business success
• Excellent at consultative selling
• Ability to speak at external forums
• Strong Collaboration and Networking skills

Core Job Responsibilities:

Earning Client Trust/Building Relationships

• Build and maintain strong engagement with client’s key Marketing and Sales personas.
• Confidence & credibility to talk to a wide range of decision influencers.
• Demonstrate the highest commitment to sales force penetration and retention.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the CPG and Retail industry, understanding how trade and business needs are changing and how NIQ solutions can help solve client business issues.
• Responsible for developing case studies & client testimonials. Present at client/ Retailer events, external industry events
• Full understanding of NielsenIQ portfolio and interconnectedness of different solutions.

Understanding Client Needs

• Has a deep understanding of customer business around (pricing, assortment, distribution, and execution) and can reframe and challenge the way customers view their businesses
• Clearly understands the needs of different personas at the client end - Sales, Commercial Directors, Revenue Management, Category Management, and Retailers and how a particular solution can deliver outcomes.
• Available during final presentation of results to ensure client satisfaction, actionable recommendations and additional opportunity detection

Sales Management

• Able to identify and clearly deliver the value of certain solutions to the client stake holders.
• Follows and own the sales/negotiation process – follows the commitments, building the clear comprehensive proposals, timely follow-ups etc.
• Comfortable negotiating with senior clients and knows what levers to use. Clearly links the value of NielsenIQ products and solutions with the price to overcome objections.
• Pre-empts stakeholder objections and pushes the client to a favorable outcome.

Planning and Forecasting

• Owns the business plan for the responsibility area (group of clients/solutions) – provides clear estimations and forecast of the revenue results for short/mid/long term.

Team Management and Collaboration

• Relentless curiosity to learn from & share with Analytics peers from own market and beyond
• Works continuously with internal stakeholders such as ADs, Commercial Leaders, PL, Delivery COE team & other Analytics teams to ensure that leads and opportunities are picked up, pertinent information about clients is shared and the relevant people are consulted and/or informed of key activity on an account.

• 8-12 years of experience in CPG Sales, Trade Marketing, Retailer - Key Account, Merchandising.
• Bachelor's Degree, MBA preferred
• Knowledge of sales processes in CPG companies, customers, and modern and traditional markets.
• Good knowledge of NielsenIQ products, services, and data preferred
• Digital knowledge, Microsoft Dynamics
• Excellent business English (+ local language), both verbal and written
• Proven sales acumen
• Expertise in (application of) one of NielsenIQ solutions in Analytics is a plus
• Excellent problem-solving skills, solution-oriented and good analytical skills
• Very good client-facing and communication/presentation skills
• Financial understanding (eg. P&L, EBITDA) and how this relates to business success
• Strong Collaboration and Networking skills

About you

• Passionate and knowledgeable about CPG industry and how marketing/sales work
• Committed to professional excellence – externally with clients and internally in the organization
• Highly disciplined and rigorous in planning and execution
• Positive and high energy with clients and internal teams
• Ability to learn continuously on multiple fronts (products, clients etc.)
• Comfortable with a full sales cycle from planning and forecasting to closing

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

NIQ is committed to reflecting the diversity of the clients, communities, and markets we measure within our own workforce. We exist to count everyone and are on a mission to systematically embed inclusion and diversity into all aspects of our workforce, measurement, and products. We enthusiastically invite candidates who share that mission to join us. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, protected veteran status or any other protected class. Our global non-discrimination policy covers these protected classes in every market in which we do business worldwide. Learn more about how we are driving diversity and inclusion in everything we do by visiting the NIQ News Center: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion