[Hiring] Director, Strategic Initiatives, Client Sales & Insights @Circana

Role Description

Lead the development, execution, and performance of strategic sales growth initiatives aligned to the Hardlines sector & total GM revenue and long-range growth objectives. In partnership with department leadership, this role will define client targeting and prioritization strategies, drive sales programs, and ensure alignment across client teams, solution groups, and executive stakeholders. The role is accountable for advancing pipeline and revenue performance through disciplined planning, execution, measurement, and continuous optimization. The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative leader who can identify growth opportunities, simplify complex challenges, and translate strategy into clear, actionable plans that drive results.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, planning, execution, and tracking of key sales growth initiatives, ensuring clear accountability, measurable outcomes, and revenue attainment.
• Define client segmentation, targeting, and prioritization frameworks that enable client teams to focus resources on the highest-value growth opportunities.
• Build Strategic Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across client organizations, including decision-makers and influencers.
• Develop and implement sales programs that drive pipeline creation, solution adoption, cross-sell opportunities, and revenue growth across the department.
• Establish performance metrics, monitor pipeline and revenue results, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend actions to improve business outcomes.
• Partner with client-facing teams, product leaders, finance, and executive stakeholders to align priorities, remove barriers, and accelerate sales execution.
• Leverage deep knowledge of Circana solutions, client needs, and the sales cycle to identify growth opportunities and guide go-to-market strategies.
• Simplify complex business challenges into scalable processes, actionable plans, and clear communications that drive consistent execution across teams.
• Proactively identify improvement opportunities, lead change initiatives, and influence organizational performance through strategic problem-solving, innovation, and cross-functional leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in sales strategy, commercial operations, business development, consulting, client leadership, or strategic initiatives.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide growth initiatives with measurable impact on revenue, pipeline generation, or market expansion.
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leaders to develop and execute strategic business plans.
• Experience within syndicated data, analytics, consumer insights, SaaS, retail, CPG, or related industries preferred.

Requirements

• Proven ability to translate organizational growth objectives into actionable sales strategies and execution plans.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen with the ability to identify market opportunities, growth levers, and competitive advantages.
• Experience designing client segmentation, account prioritization, and go-to-market frameworks.
• Deep understanding of sales processes, pipeline management, forecasting, and revenue acceleration strategies.
• Experience analyzing performance metrics and using insights to optimize sales effectiveness and business outcomes.
• Experience leading complex initiatives across multiple business functions without direct authority.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate recommendations and business cases to senior leadership.
• Advanced project and program management capabilities with experience leading multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.
• Skilled at creating structures in ambiguous environments and driving disciplined execution against organizational priorities.
• Proven ability to establish KPIs, governance processes, and performance measurement frameworks.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, SharePoint.
• Experience with CRM platforms (Dynamics, Salesforce, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with sales enablement, reporting, and project management tools (Monday.com, Power BI, Tableau, Unify+, etc.).
• Experience leveraging data and AI-enabled tools to improve commercial decision-making preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is also eligible for bonus pay.