Senior Trade Marketing Manager

Career Guide

A Senior Trade Marketing Manager drives sales growth through retail and distributor partners by creating in-store and partner marketing plans, improving product visibility, and coordinating promotions. The role blends commercial strategy, shopper insights, budgeting, and cross-team leadership to ensure products win at the point of purchase.

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Key Responsibilities

Build annual and quarterly trade marketing plans aligned to sales targets
Design retail promotion calendars and partner activation programs
Develop in-store execution standards and merchandising guidelines
Lead product launch plans for retail and distributor channels
Manage trade marketing budgets and measure return on spend
Create sales materials and partner toolkits for field teams
Negotiate marketing support with key retail and distributor partners
Coordinate with Sales to improve execution quality in stores
Coordinate with Brand Marketing to keep messaging consistent
Coordinate with Supply Chain to reduce out-of-stock risk during promotions
Track performance and produce clear reporting for leadership
Run shopper and channel research to improve campaign effectiveness
Support pricing, assortment, and pack strategy with channel insights
Lead agencies and vendors for production, printing, and displays
Mentor junior trade marketing team members and influence cross-functional stakeholders

Top Skills for Success

Retail Partner Management

Promotion Planning

Merchandising Strategy

Shopper Insights

Channel Strategy

Budget Management

Forecasting

Performance Measurement

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Communication

Leadership

Pricing Strategy

Trade Spend Management

Category Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Trade Marketing Director

Head of Trade Marketing

Commercial Director

Sales Director Category Director

Transition Opportunities

Brand Marketing Director

Shopper Marketing Director

Revenue Growth Management Lead

Key Account Director

Ecommerce Growth Lead

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Trade Spend MeasurementRetail Media PlanningData AnalysisJoint Business PlanningForecast Accuracy ImprovementIn-store Execution AuditingPost Promotion AnalysisVendor Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a repeatable measurement approach for promotions, strengthen retailer planning routines, and improve data confidence through practical analysis projects. Focus on linking activities to sales lift, margin impact, and execution quality.

Market Intelligence Report

Senior Trade Marketing Manager is part of the Military Training & Leadership category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 85,000 to 110,000

Mid LevelUSD 110,000 to 145,000

Senior LevelUSD 145,000 to 190,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring remains strong in consumer goods and retail-driven categories, with added focus on measurable impact, retailer collaboration, and omnichannel execution.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Procter and GambleUnileverNestlePepsiCoCoca-ColaKraft HeinzMondelez InternationalDiageoL OrealNikeSamsungColgate-PalmoliveKimberly-ClarkMars

Industry Sectors

Consumer Packaged GoodsFood and BeverageBeauty and Personal CareConsumer ElectronicsApparel and FootwearHome and Household ProductsHealth and WellnessPet Care

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio of three recent activations with goals, budget, execution plan, and results

Standardize a post-promotion review template and use it after every major event

Partner with Sales on one joint business planning cycle for a key retailer

Up-skill in retail media planning and align it to in-store activity

Improve reporting by building a single view of spend, execution, and outcomes

Lead one cross-functional launch plan and document the operating rhythm and decision points

Build a vendor scorecard for displays, printing, and field execution partners

Mentor a junior teammate and delegate ownership of one recurring process