Customer Business Manager, Natural Channel

Unilever

Customer Business Manager nurturing relationships with UNFI and KeHE as major distributors for Unilever. Leading commercial plans and cross-functional teams to achieve KPIs and growth targets.

Posted 7/21/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $103,000 - $154,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong financial and business acumen with a focus on P&L ownership and customer planning, while effectively leading cross-functional teams to achieve growth targets in the Natural Channel. Skilled in developing strategic plans and operationalizing customer strategies to drive profitable sales growth.

Highest-signal resume keywords

P&L OwnershipJoint Business Planning (JBP)Distributor Network ManagementSPINS/Nielsen Data AnalysisCross-Functional Team Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Customer PlanningAnalytical SkillsForecastingRetail Inventory ManagementTrade Investment ROI

Soft Skills

Relationship BuildingEffective CommunicationResilienceGrowth MindsetBig Picture Thinking

Tools & Technologies

SPINSNielsenPOS Data

Industry Keywords

CPGRetailNatural ChannelBroker Sales TeamsOperational Delivery

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and nurture sustained business relationships with two of the largest U.S. distributors, UNFI Natural and KeHE, and their downstream retail customers
Manage all aspects of the commercial plan for the Natural Channel business
Lead a 3-person dedicated broker team, as well as indirect cross-functional partners, to deliver the collective KPIs required of the overall team
Lead both near-term and long-term Joint Business Planning (JBP), including the development of strategic platforms and other growth drivers to achieve growth targets across Foods, PC, and BW categories in the Natural Channel
Work with the Business Development Team and internal Brand and CS&P teams to ensure plans are resourced and that spend and volume are synchronized to deliver the JBP
Create and operationalize the Natural Channel customer strategy, including all components of the go-to-market plan such as “Big Bets,” innovation execution, trade investment ROI, and the integration of shopper marketing plans with merchandising plans
Cross-functionally lead all aspects of operational delivery of the business plan, including initiating growth platforms, forecasting and retail inventory level management, supply chain compliance, managing deductions, and balancing trade investment

Requirements

What you’ll need

Undergraduate bachelor’s degree required
5–7+ years of experience in the CPG or retail industry
Experience working with distributor networks and broker sales teams is a plus
Working knowledge of SPINS/Nielsen, Evergreen, and customer POS data is strongly desired
Ability to build strong relationships with multiple levels of management internally and externally
Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L ownership, customer planning, effective internal/customer communication, and analytical skills
Skilled in verbal and written communications to work with the Sales Leadership Team, Business Development Team, CS&P, and Brand Team
Resilience: Thrive on challenges and confidently navigate ambiguity with numerous support groups to deliver growth initiatives
Growth Mindset: Ability to present and sell new ideas and techniques to all Natural Channel and Unilever personnel to achieve profitable sales growth and turnover targets
Always seeking to optimize and evolve
Ownership Mindset: Ask challenging “why” questions and take full accountability for successes and failures
Big Picture Thinking: Connect the dots and develop strategic plans to deliver growth

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance, including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage
Retirement savings benefits
Life insurance and disability benefits
Parental leave
Sick leave
Paid vacation and holidays
Access to numerous voluntary benefits