Customer Devt Mgr - Independant, Shelters and Emerging market

Customer Development Manager - Pet Independants, Shelters and Emerging

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food. Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods. We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life. A career at Hill's Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

We are looking for a high-energy builder to champion our Independent Pet Specialty sector, Shelters, and Emerging segments across New Zealand. While other Customer Development Manager roles focus on large corporate groups, your mission is to champion the "long-tail" vibrant, community-based independent market and hunt for brand-new white space.

The Core of the Role:

• Strategic Growth & Account Management: Act as the primary champion for independent pet specialty retailers and community focused animal shelters. You will develop annual plans to achieve sales volume goals, maximize premium shelf visibility, and lead the swift distribution of product innovations. Partner closely with our field sales team to ensure high-quality execution of the 6Ps at the store and local level.
• Emerging Partnerships & White Space Acquisition: Find new growth avenues by identifying, and breaking into non-traditional, emerging networks to drive brand awareness and secure long-term positioning. Drive strategic alliances by building creative partnerships within community networks and unique segments to rapidly expand Hill's footprint.
• Commercial Planning & Analytics: Drive financial viability by preparing detailed commercial plans backed by rigorous ROI analysis. You will manage forecasting via the ATLAS system and allocate investment to align with brand strategies via our Commercial Process.
• Leadership & Operations: Provide performance updates to the Country Manager, contribute to commercial process improvements, and ensure high-standard administrative management of claims and invoices.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Proven Track Record: Experience in FMCG, Pharma, or Vet/Pet industries with a focus on Key Account Management.
• Relationship Building: Developing deep engagement with community-based partners.
• Planning & Priority Setting: Managing a diverse "long-tail" portfolio effectively.
• Analytics Mindset: You aren't afraid of numbers. You have solid Excel skills and a natural curiosity for turning raw sales data into a compelling business story.
• Strategic Visionary: The ability to see the "big picture" while managing the granular details of a promotional calendar.
• Collaborative Influencer: Able to work cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, and Logistics to deliver results.

Our Commitment to Inclusion:

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business. Equal Opportunity Employer Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.