Customer Development Manager – Wakefern

Remote from: USA
Salary, yearly, USD: 86,000 - 137,000
Department: Sales
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 16 Jun 2026
Apply before: 16 Jul 2026
Experience level: Midweight
Views / Applies: 32 / 4

About company

About Colgate-Palmolive

To provide the healthiest mouth, the happiest pet and the greatest possibilities for people everywhere.

Consumer Goods
1806

Actively Hiring

AI Summary

The Customer Development Manager role for Wakefern at Colgate-Palmolive involves owning sales objectives and P&L for the account, developing strategic plans, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. You will leverage consumer insights to drive growth and manage promotional strategies. The position requires 4+ years of sales experience, people leadership, and proficiency with syndicated data. It is a remote role with occasional office work in New York, NY. The company offers a competitive salary range of $86,000-$137,000 plus benefits and bonuses.

Role DNA

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

Pace & Pressure

Relaxed Fast-paced

Autonomy Level

Guided Full Ownership

Communication Load

Independent Highly Collaborative

AI Insight The role requires 4+ years of experience and people leadership, but it is a manager-level position with established processes, so difficulty is moderate.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The offered salary range of $86,000-$137,000 is competitive for a Customer Development Manager role in the US CPG industry. The median of $111,500 aligns well with market rates, and the potential for bonuses and profit-sharing enhances overall compensation.

Key Skills

Sales Customer Development P&L Management Consumer Insights Strategic Planning Cross-functional Collaboration Nielsen/IRI Leadership Negotiation CPG

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Customer Development Manager position for Wakefern at Colgate-Palmolive. With over 5 years of sales experience in the CPG industry and a proven track record of driving volume growth and P&L management, I am confident in my ability to deliver results for your team.

In my previous role, I successfully managed key accounts, developed strategic plans using Nielsen data, and led cross-functional initiatives that increased market share. My leadership experience includes coaching junior talent and fostering collaborative partnerships with retail teams.

I am excited about the opportunity to leverage consumer insights to create winning strategies for Wakefern and contribute to Colgate-Palmolive's mission of reimagining a healthier future. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my skills align with your needs.

Sincerely,
Jane Doe

Possible Interview Questions

How would you approach developing a strategic plan for Wakefern to increase volume and profitability?

I would start by analyzing historical sales data using Nielsen/IRI to identify trends and opportunities. Then, I'd collaborate with brand marketing to align on consumer insights and with the Wakefern team to understand their goals. I would develop a plan that includes promotional calendars, pricing strategies, and new product introductions, with clear KPIs and regular review points.

Describe a time you led a cross-functional team to achieve a challenging sales target.

In my previous role, I led a team of sales, marketing, and supply chain to launch a new product line within a tight deadline. We held weekly cross-functional meetings, used a shared dashboard for tracking, and quickly resolved bottlenecks. As a result, we achieved 110% of the target volume in the first quarter.

How do you use consumer insights to drive incremental growth?

I use consumer insights to identify unmet needs and tailor promotions. For example, I analyzed shopper data showing that customers preferred value packs during holidays. I proposed a bundled promotion that increased basket size by 15% and improved loyalty.

What is your experience with P&L management, and how do you ensure profitability?

I have managed P&L for accounts up to $50M, analyzing cost drivers and optimizing trade spend. I regularly review profitability by SKU and customer, using ROI analysis to allocate resources efficiently. I also negotiate with suppliers to reduce costs.

How would you coach a junior team member to improve their sales performance?

I would start by observing their work and providing constructive feedback. I'd set clear, achievable goals and schedule regular check-ins. I'd also encourage them to shadow experienced colleagues and provide resources like sales training modules. I've successfully mentored two associates who later achieved top performance ratings.

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #174137 – New York, New York, United States
Who We Are
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!
Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let’s build a brighter, healthier future for all.

As the Customer Development Manager for Wakefern, you will have ownership & responsibility to deliver sales objectives on volume, spending and retail execution. You will formulate and execute our strategic plan to reach maximum volume, profitability and customer service. You will also have direct oversight over the business P&L.

You’ll collaborate with direct reports and cross-functional partners to deliver designated account strategies and champion solutions where everyone wins. You will leverage consumer insights to drive incremental growth and strengthen the customer investment strategy, so that it is consistent with Retail Environment strategy, brand strategy, and shopper insights.

**This is a remote role, though openness and flexibility to work out of the New York, NY office on occasion is preferred.**

Responsibilities:

Identify areas of opportunity for products and programs, develop Customer Marketing strategies that incorporate consumer insights, and have an awareness of the competitor landscape to create promotional strategies where we all win.
Establish partnerships with direct reports, cross-functional teams, brokers, and the customer retail team. These relationships thrive on mutual trust and integrity to achieve results and execute against strategy and goals. In this role, you will help coach and develop more junior talent, so interest in leading teams is key in this role.
Influence internal and external partners through collaboration, negotiation and thought leadership.
Look for opportunities to improve and seek creative solutions. Adapt and adjust the strategy with the customer, revisit objectives, gain insights from pre- and post-evaluation and return on investment analyses to ultimately incorporate learning into the future strategy.
Highlight business trends in each account through fact-based analysis to include brand share, pricing, promotion levels, and trade class development. Understand the effectiveness of different investment levers.

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree
4+ years in sales roles or adjacent experiences
Experience working with a syndicated service (Nielsen, IRI) account
Previous people leadership experience, including leading teams

Preferred qualifications:

Experience working in consumer product goods
Direct previous experience working with Wakefern/ShopRite
Microsoft Office or Google Suite proficiency (i.e, Sheets, Slides, Docs)

Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $86,000.00 – $137,000.00 USD
Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.
Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee’s hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.
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.
For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.
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