Trade Marketing Manager (Saudi National)

About the Role

Arabian Trading Supplies (ATS), a distinguished member of the Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Group, is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Trade Marketing Manager to join our esteemed team in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In this pivotal role, you will serve as the strategic bridge between our distributors and leading brand owners, ensuring seamless execution of brand strategies while driving visibility, availability, and profitability across all trade channels. Your expertise will be instrumental in translating high-level business objectives into actionable trade plans, fostering strong stakeholder alignment, and delivering measurable growth in sales, market share, and financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

As the Trade Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for a diverse portfolio of critical functions, including:

• Principal Relationship & Business Management:
  • Act as the primary liaison for assigned principals, ensuring alignment on business objectives, expectations, and deliverables.
  • Lead the annual business planning process, encompassing volume targets, pricing strategies, promotional initiatives, and investment allocations.
  • Develop and present detailed monthly and quarterly performance reviews, highlighting achievements, identifying gaps, and proposing actionable solutions.
  • Collaborate closely with principals to align on strategic initiatives, including new product launches, channel prioritization, and pricing adjustments.
• Trade Marketing Planning & Execution:
  • Develop and manage annual and quarterly trade marketing calendars that align with principal brand strategies and market dynamics.
  • Design and implement channel-specific plans for modern trade, traditional trade, wholesale, and e-commerce, ensuring consistency with principal guidelines.
  • Lead the end-to-end launch of new SKUs, focusing on pricing optimization, distribution expansion, visibility enhancement, and in-market availability.
  • Oversee the execution of promotional activities, ensuring strict adherence to supplier authorization protocols and brand guidelines.
• Budget Management & Financial Oversight:
  • Manage trade marketing budgets, including Business Development Activities (BDAs) and visibility expenditures, in full compliance with MYN financial policies and principal agreements.
  • Monitor and track spend versus planned allocations, identifying variances and implementing corrective measures as necessary.
  • Ensure all financial commitments are authorized and aligned with internal governance frameworks to mitigate unauthorized expenditures.
• Channel Execution & Visibility Enhancement:
  • Partner with sales teams to implement trade programs, including planograms, in-store displays, point-of-sale (POS) materials, and visibility elements.
  • Conduct regular market visits and trade audits to assess in-market execution quality and ensure adherence to brand standards across all retail environments.
  • Collaborate with principals to refine and optimize trade execution strategies based on real-time market feedback.
• Data Analysis & Performance Tracking:
  • Analyze sales and trade performance data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement, providing actionable insights to principals and internal stakeholders.
  • Conduct post-promotion evaluations to assess the effectiveness of trade activities and recommend optimizations for future campaigns.
  • Monitor and report on key distribution KPIs, including numeric distribution, weighted distribution, out-of-stock percentages, shelf share, and on-shelf availability (OSA), leveraging available measurement tools.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:
  • Work in tandem with sales teams to provide strategic tools, training, and trade materials that enhance execution capabilities and drive performance.
  • Coordinate with internal departments, including finance, supply chain, and operations, to ensure seamless alignment and execution of trade initiatives.
  • Facilitate supplier investment management (SAFs) and ensure transparency in tracking and reporting.
• Compliance & Governance:
  • Ensure all trade activities, including BDAs, credit notes, and discounts, comply with internal policies and principal agreements.
  • Establish and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for trade spend approvals, execution, and tracking, including SAF tracker management.
  • Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and regulatory compliance in all trade marketing initiatives.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field; an MBA is a strong plus.
• Minimum of 5–10 years of progressive experience in trade marketing or category management, with a preference for roles within the FMCG sector.
• Proven expertise in managing distributor–principal relationships and navigating complex business dynamics.
• Strong analytical acumen with proficiency in data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Nielsen, IRI, or equivalent platforms.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience in managing trade marketing budgets and evaluating return on investment (ROI).
• In-depth understanding of modern trade, traditional trade, and wholesale channels, including their unique operational and strategic requirements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Success Metrics

Your success in this role will be measured by your ability to:

• Achieve and exceed sales and growth targets agreed upon with principals.
• Optimize distribution KPIs, including numeric distribution (ND), weighted distribution (WD), and on-shelf availability (OSA).
• Effectively manage trade marketing activities to ensure timely and high-quality execution.
• Enhance in-market execution quality, focusing on visibility, planogram compliance, and brand consistency.
• Strengthen and maintain high levels of principal satisfaction through transparent communication and reliable delivery.