📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Sr. Manager, Commercial Planning & Growth
🔹 Company: Zevia
🔹 Location: United States - Remote
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Food & Beverages
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-18
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving commercial growth and profitability through data-driven insights and strategic planning
- Managing cross-functional projects and initiatives to optimize sales performance
- Collaborating with senior leadership and stakeholders to align on key priorities and challenges
- Developing and maintaining KPI dashboards and reports to track performance and inform decision-making
- Supporting the CCO and sales leadership in various aspects of sales operations and enablement
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high degree of independence and self-motivation, as well as strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills to drive progress and results.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and manage business-case models and proposals based on key commercial assumptions and inputs from partnering departments
✅ Lead cross-functional planning processes to create integrated plans that tie strategic goals to tactical initiatives and metrics
✅ Monitor performance-to-plan, assess root-causes, and advise on execution risks/opportunities and potential action plans
✅ Serve as project lead for CCO-sponsored initiatives involving multiple departments, driving consistent execution against critical objectives and customer deliverables
✅ Collaborate with Finance and Revenue teams to develop and manage dashboards for core sales and commercial KPIs
✅ Structure and maintain centralized document and communication platforms and processes for the sales team
✅ Support CCO in executive-level presentation development with clear insights and effective content structure
ASSUMPION: This role requires a strong analytical background and the ability to simplify complex data and topics, as well as excellent project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field. MBA preferred.
Experience: 4-6+ years in commercial strategy, sales operations, corporate strategy, or consulting, ideally in CPG, beverage, or retail sectors.
Required Skills:
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling capabilities
- Familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred), BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and ERP integrations
- Excellent project management, stakeholder engagement, and executive communication skills
- Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with executional detail in a high-growth environment
- High sense of urgency and ownership
- Ability to operate at different levels of organization and granularity
- Analytical and execution-oriented approach to responsibilities
- Customer orientation and sense of urgency, supporting sales success and target achievement
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to operate in some level of ambiguity as a change-agent and lower barriers to delivering volume goals
- Proactive cross-functional engagement to build 360-degree plans
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Google Docs)
- Familiarity with SQL or other database management systems
- Experience with data visualization tools
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with relevant industry experience and a strong analytical background are likely to be successful in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000 USD per year
Benefits:
- Competitive compensation package, including base salary, discretionary bonus, and stock options
- Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans
- 401k plan with company match
- Vacation, personal/sick days, and holidays
- Professional development contributions
- And of course, all the Zevia you can drink!
Working Hours: Full-time, with some flexibility in hours and the need for occasional evening and weekend work as job duties demand
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles, experience levels, and locations. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and company discretion.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Food & Beverages, specifically focusing on naturally sweetened, zero-sugar beverages and reducing plastic waste
Company Size: 51-200 employees, providing a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting with opportunities for growth and impact
Founded: 2007, with a mission to create a world of better-for-you flavor, better for people and the planet
Company Description:
- At Zevia, we get up every day to create a world of better-for-you flavor — better for people and better for the planet.
- We're cleaning up the beverage aisle with accessible, naturally sweetened, zero-sugar deliciousness – and you won't find a single plastic bottle in sight.
- Our passion, openness, gratitude, accessibility, humanism, humility, and scrappiness drive us to go against the grain and change the beverage world for good.
Company Specialties:
- Beverage
- Natural
- CPG
- CSD
- and Stevia
Company Website: http://www.zevia.com
ASSUMPTION: Zevia's commitment to sustainability, natural ingredients, and positive social impact makes it an attractive employer for candidates who align with these values.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level management, with the opportunity for growth into broader commercial leadership roles
Reporting Structure: Directly reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), with cross-functional collaboration with various departments, including Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Sales
Work Arrangement: Remote OK, with some travel requirements (up to 32%) for customer HQ meetings or customer calls depending on project workload
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential for career progression into broader commercial leadership roles within the organization
- Opportunity to shape and scale commercial operations in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting
- Direct exposure to the CCO and executive decision-making, driving change-evolution in a growing CPG company
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic and operational responsibilities, providing a strong foundation for career growth within the commercial function.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote-first, with a home office environment for 80% of the time
Office Location(s): 15821 Ventura Blvd, Suite 145, Los Angeles, CA 91436, US (headquarters)
Geographic Context:
- Los Angeles, CA: The company's headquarters is located in Los Angeles, with a remote-friendly work culture
- United States: The role is open to remote candidates based in the United States
- West Coast: The company has a strong presence on the West Coast, with opportunities for in-person collaboration with the headquarters team
Work Schedule: Full-time, with some flexibility in hours and the need for occasional evening and weekend work as job duties demand
ASSUMPTION: The remote-friendly work environment and flexible hours allow for a better work-life balance, while still providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and growth.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
- In-depth interview with the Hiring Manager and key stakeholders
- Final interview with the CCO
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Problem-solving skills and analytical thinking
- Project management and stakeholder engagement skills
- Executive communication and presentation skills
- Industry-specific knowledge and commercial acumen
- Alignment with company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on problem-solving, project management, and stakeholder engagement
- Research Zevia's mission, values, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm
- Be ready to discuss your approach to data analysis, KPI tracking, and performance management
ATS Keywords: Commercial Strategy, Sales Operations, Corporate Strategy, Consulting, Analytical Skills, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Executive Communication, Financial Modeling, CRM Systems, BI Tools, ERP Integrations, Customer Orientation, Problem Solving, Data Analysis, KPI Tracking, Performance Management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and cultural fit with Zevia's values and mission.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Google Docs)
- Salesforce CRM
- Tableau or Power BI
- ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP)
- SQL or other database management systems
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in these tools and technologies is required for success in this role, as they are essential for data analysis, reporting, and project management.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Passion
- Openness
- Gratitude
- Accessibility
- Humanism
- Humility
- Scrappiness
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional, with a focus on driving progress and results
- Data-driven and analytical, with a strong emphasis on performance tracking and improvement
- Entrepreneurial and dynamic, with a willingness to adapt and change in a growing CPG company
- Customer-centric, with a focus on supporting sales success and target achievement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Zevia's values, particularly 'passion' and 'scrappiness' in driving commercial growth and change?
- How comfortable are you operating in a remote-friendly work environment, with some travel requirements?
- How do you approach balancing strategic thinking with executional detail in a high-growth environment?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with Zevia's values and work style, as well as a willingness to adapt and grow in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting, are likely to be successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing strategic thinking with executional detail in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
- Operating independently and driving progress in a remote-friendly work environment
- Managing cross-functional projects and initiatives with multiple stakeholders
- Adapting to changes in the beverage industry and market dynamics
- Occasional evening and weekend work as job duties demand
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability skills to successfully navigate the role's demands.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from related positions in its focus on commercial strategy, sales operations, and data-driven decision-making, rather than pure sales or marketing functions
- Industry-specific context: The beverage industry is characterized by intense competition, rapid innovation, and evolving consumer preferences, requiring a strong understanding of market dynamics and trends
- Career path comparison: This role offers a unique blend of strategic and operational responsibilities, providing a strong foundation for career growth within the commercial function
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with relevant industry experience and a strong analytical background are likely to find this role appealing, given its focus on commercial strategy, data-driven decision-making, and career growth opportunities.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a new KPI tracking system to improve performance visibility and accountability across sales channels and customers
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of sales performance trends, risks, and whitespace opportunities through data insights and competitive market assessment
- Managing a cross-functional project to optimize distribution and pricing strategies, driving volume growth and profitability
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the role's focus on data-driven decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and driving commercial growth and profitability.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the company's long-term growth plans, and what opportunities are there for career progression?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I best support the CCO and sales leadership in driving progress?
- How does the company support work-life balance, particularly for remote employees?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the beverage industry, and how can this role contribute to addressing them?
- How does the company foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, and what role does this position play in driving that culture?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate the candidate's interest in understanding the role's context, priorities, and growth opportunities, as well as their fit with the company's culture and values.
📌 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 problem-solving, project management, and stakeholder engagement
- Research Zevia's mission, values, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
