Customer Devt Mgr - Independant, Shelters and Emerging market

Customer Development Manager – Independent, Shelters & Emerging Markets Auckland, North Island, New Zealand Travel required: 25% of time. Hybrid position. No relocation assistance offered. Posting Start Date: 7/8/26. Job Number #174678. About Hill’s Pet Nutrition – A Colgate‑Palmolive Company Hill’s Pet Nutrition offers the highest‑quality pet nutrition with Prescription Diet® and Science Diet® brand lines, trusted worldwide by veterinarians and pet owners. With product lines available in approximately 80 countries, we serve more than 60 Prescription Diet and more than 50 Science Diet pet foods, aspiring to positively impact every pet’s life. Your Role Champion the Long‑tail Independent Pet Specialty sector, Shelters, and Emerging segments across New Zealand. Focus on community‑based markets and create new white‑space opportunities. What You’ll Be Doing: The Core of the Role Strategic Growth & Account Management: Act as the primary champion for independent pet specialty retailers and community‑focused animal shelters. Develop annual plans to achieve sales volume goals, maximize premium shelf visibility, and lead swift distribution of product innovations. Partner closely with the field sales team to ensure high‑quality execution of the 6Ps at the store and local level. Emerging Partnerships & White Space Acquisition: Identify and break into non‑traditional, emerging networks to drive brand awareness and secure long‑term positioning. Build 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. Manage forecasting via the ATLAS system and allocate investment to align with brand strategies through 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: Demonstrated ability to develop deep engagement with community‑based partners. Planning & Priority Setting: Manage a diverse “long‑tail” portfolio effectively. Analytics Mindset: Comfortable with numbers, strong Excel skills, and a curiosity for turning raw sales data into a compelling business story. Strategic Visionary: Ability to see the big picture while managing granular details of a promotional calendar. Collaborative Influencer: Works cross‑functionally with Marketing, Finance, and Logistics to deliver results. Our Commitment to Inclusion We develop strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers worldwide, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. 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 if you require accommodation. #J-18808-Ljbffr