📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Associate Manager, Sales Account Management - Club / DIY Channel
🔹 Company: SC Johnson
🔹 Location: USA - IL (Chicago, IL)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Sales & Business Development
🔹 Date Posted: May 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Home office-based with travel up to 10%
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing customer and broker relationships for key retailers like Lowe's, Home Depot, and BJ's
- Driving profitable business growth in the Alternate Channel through strategic planning and execution
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch new products and initiatives
- Analyzing data and using insights to inform decision-making and grow the business
- Building and managing trade budgets, and leading forecasting processes
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Build, prioritize, and manage multiple objectives within the growth plan, including distribution, pricing, promotion, merchandising, category expansion, and shopper marketing
✅ Translate objectives for House of Brands into key priorities for broker partners and hold self and others accountable for results
✅ Collaborate and build strong relationships with customers and broker partners, elevating presence within the customer's hierarchy
✅ Spend within trade budget, assess plan for effectiveness, and make appropriate adjustments
✅ Deeply understand the strategic purpose of our brands and customers to bridge strategies and drive long-term profitable growth for both parties
✅ Lead demand planning and forecasting for a portion of the business, and develop, analyze, and adapt promotional and merchandising plans to achieve objectives
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of autonomy and the ability to work independently to identify business needs and opportunities to help grow sales.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Experience: 5+ years of Sales experience to a major retailer OR within Customer Marketing/Planning across the Personal Care/Household Cleaning products space.
Required Skills:
- Proven ownership approach to business
- Strategic thinking and proactive problem-solving
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Strong analytical mindset and data interpretation skills
- Ability to manage budgets and overall trade management
- Strong technical skills: PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Web, and other required computer applications
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with Lowe's, Home Depot, or BJ's
- General Management mindset
- Curious and analytical mindset; ability to independently assess data, integrate into selling stories, and leverage it to grow the business
- Experience in analyzing syndicated data (e.g., Nielsen)
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in English is required for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $91,760 - $120,435 USD per year (based on job level, experience, and location)
Benefits:
- Profit sharing
- Short-term incentive
- Long-term incentives
- Comprehensive benefits program
Working Hours: Regular business hours, Monday-Friday
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels. The actual starting base salary may vary based on job-related skills, experience, education, and location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: SC Johnson is a leading manufacturer of household cleaning products, home storage, air care, pest control, shoe care, and professional products. They operate in 70 countries worldwide and have 13,000 employees.
Company Size: SC Johnson has 10,001+ employees, making it a large enterprise with established processes and a well-defined company culture.
Founded: 1886, in Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Company Description:
- Family-owned and led company with a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility
- Offers a wide range of iconic brands, including OFF!, Raid, Glade, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Ziploc, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day, method, Autan, Baygon, Mr. Muscle, Duck, and Lysoform
- Includes both SC Johnson Professional (solutions for healthcare, industrial, and institutional markets) and SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands (a house of like-minded brands working together for bold, transformative growth)
Company Specialties:
- Chemical products
- Home cleaning
- Air care
- Fast-moving consumer goods
- Consumer packaged goods
- Pest control
- Home storage
- Shoe care
Company Website: www.scjohnson.com
ASSUMPTION: SC Johnson's large size and extensive product portfolio offer numerous opportunities for career growth and development within the company.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level management career stage, with opportunities for growth into senior management positions.
Reporting Structure: The Associate Manager reports directly to the Manager, Sales Account Management - Club / DIY Channel and works closely with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Finance, and Operations.
Work Arrangement: This role is home office-based with up to 10% travel to customer meetings.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a senior management role within the Sales organization or explore opportunities in other functions within SC Johnson
- Chance to work on high-impact projects and initiatives that drive business growth and innovation
- Ability to develop leadership and management skills through collaboration with cross-functional teams and broker partners
ASSUMPTION: SC Johnson's large size and diverse product portfolio provide numerous opportunities for career growth and development within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Home office-based with occasional travel to customer meetings
Office Location(s): Chicago, IL
Geographic Context:
- Chicago, IL, is a major metropolitan area with a diverse economy and a large consumer market
- The city offers a wide range of cultural, recreational, and entertainment options
- Chicago has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters
Work Schedule: Regular business hours, Monday-Friday, with flexibility for occasional remote work
ASSUMPTION: The home office-based nature of this role requires a high level of self-motivation, time management, and communication skills to work effectively and collaboratively with remote team members and customers.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Talent Acquisition team
- In-depth interviews with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final round interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Budget management and trade promotion management skills
- Customer relationship management and broker management skills
- Analytical mindset and data interpretation skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of the retail landscape and SC Johnson's product portfolio
- Showcase your ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a remote work environment
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, customer relationship management, and strategic planning
ATS Keywords: Sales, Account Management, Retail, Customer Marketing, Strategic Planning, Broker Management, Trade Promotion Management, Data Analysis, Retail Sales, Customer Relationship Management
ASSUMPTION: SC Johnson's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit for the role and the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel)
- Web-based tools and applications for remote work and collaboration
- Syndicated data analysis tools (e.g., Nielsen)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and web-based tools is required for this role. Familiarity with syndicated data analysis tools is preferred.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Excellence
- Accountability
- Innovation
- Sustainability
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and focused on delivering consistent, positive business results
- Adaptable and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Proactive and solution-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for the business
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you align with SC Johnson's core values, and how have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?
- How comfortable are you working in a remote, home office-based environment, and how do you ensure effective communication and collaboration with remote team members and customers?
- How do you balance multiple priorities and manage your time effectively to deliver results in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
ASSUMPTION: SC Johnson's company culture emphasizes integrity, respect, excellence, accountability, innovation, and sustainability. Candidates should be able to demonstrate alignment with these values and a strong work ethic.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple priorities and stakeholders in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with customers and broker partners
- Analyzing data and using insights to inform decision-making and drive business growth
- Occasional travel requirements for customer meetings
- Working effectively in a remote, home office-based environment
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong time management, communication, and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on the Alternate Channel and requires a strategic mindset and strong customer relationship management skills
- Compared to other sales roles within SC Johnson, this position offers a unique opportunity to work with a diverse range of customers and broker partners
- Career progression in this role may involve moving into senior management positions within the Sales organization or exploring opportunities in other functions within SC Johnson
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of strategic planning, customer relationship management, and data analysis, making it an attractive opportunity for candidates with a strong background in sales, customer marketing, or a related field.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a strategic growth plan for a key retailer, including distribution, pricing, promotion, merchandising, category expansion, and shopper marketing
- Analyzing syndicated data to identify trends and opportunities in the Alternate Channel and developing targeted promotional campaigns to capitalize on these insights
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch a new product or initiative, including demand planning, forecasting, and promotional planning
ASSUMPTION: These projects require a strong analytical mindset, strategic thinking, and excellent communication and collaboration skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the overall sales strategy for SC Johnson, and how will my work contribute to the company's long-term growth and success?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I best prepare to hit the ground running?
- How does SC Johnson support the professional development and career growth of its employees, particularly in the Sales organization?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best position myself to succeed in these areas?
- How does SC Johnson foster a culture of innovation and sustainability, and how can I contribute to these efforts in my role?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate your interest in the role, the company, and your long-term career growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, customer relationship management, and strategic planning
- Research SC Johnson's product portfolio and the retail landscape to demonstrate your understanding of the business
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role and inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
