Professional Strategic Initiatives Manager

at  Hills Pet Nutrition

WHO WE ARE

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, we sell our products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
We are recognized for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community wellbeing, including our achievements in decreasing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water, conserving natural resources and improving children’s oral health.
If you want to work for a company that lives by their values, then give your career a reason to smile and join our global team!
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of people and their pets? What about having the opportunity to connect with others across the world, full of stimulating discussions, and making impactful contributions?
If this is how you see your career, Hill’s is the place to be!
Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a multi billion dollar, global division of Colgate-Palmolive Company and the maker of Prescription Diet, Science Diet, and Healthy Advantage brand pet food. Our mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets by providing the best groundbreaking pet nutrition technology, products, and expertise to pet owners, veterinary professionals and other key pet professionals worldwide. Our company is a globally recognized Best Place to Work!
Veterinarians play an integral role in positioning Hill’s in the profession as scientific, innovative and credible partner who is engaged in improving the health of dogs and cats, and in supporting the profession. The Professional Strategic Initiatives Manager (PSIM) is part of the Canadian Professional and Veterinary Affairs team (PVA), that is responsible for relationship building and influence with veterinary customers that results in endorsement for and active recommendation of Hill’s products. This role reports to the Professional Veterinary Affairs Manager (PVAM) and supports the execution of strategies that position Hill’s as the most valuable partner, providing scientific evidence-based advancements in the field of nutrition, and demonstrating our commitment to transforming the lives of people and their pets. This role has a primary focus on driving Hill’s growth at key and corporate (omni) accounts, as well as continuing to develop and implement an innovative professional engagement and education ecosystem. The PSIM will work cross-functionally to integrate these programs into the commercial approach to accomplish the yearly Hill’s Canada strategic priorities and objectives.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional degree in veterinary medicine (DVM, VMD or equivalent) and 3+ years of clinical practice experience.
• 3+ years of experience at a veterinary pharmaceutical, diagnostics or nutrition company in a professional services, sales or marketing role.
• Valid driver’s license with no moving violations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MBA, Diplomate in Internal Medicine or Nutrition
• Fluent in both English and French
• Experience and interest in social media (various platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc)
• Experience and proven success with managing veterinary corporate accounts in an asset.
• Experience working with various digital engagement platforms and tools is required (example: Kahoot, Vimeo, Vyond, social media).
• Strong analytical skills and basic understanding of business and business terminology.
• Able to work independently to manage a demanding schedule with irregular hours and to manage travel within geography/region.
• Self-starter with high initiative, strong work ethic and high integrity.
• Creativity and vision, comfortable with building plans and solutions with minimal guidance.
• General computer skills, strong organization and time management skills, ability to work independently.
• Proven sales experience in a related industry is a benefit.

Digital Professional Engagement and Education (45%)

• Lead digital professional engagement planning and execution for Hill’s Canada, in collaboration with marketing, CDO and the rest of the PVA team, in alignment with Hill’s Canada strategic priorities.
• Leverage creativity and innovation to develop industry leading digital education and engagement offerings from Hill’s Canada.
• Responsible for keeping all Hill’s Canada external digital technical product data, tools and training materials updated.
• Responsible for localization and implementation of global digital education and engagement tools and initiatives, in alignment with the Hill’s Canada strategic priorities.
• Support the digitization of existing programs to expand reach and promote engagement.
• Responsible for the growth, development and maintenance of key digital education initiatives
• Liaison with US digital education team to identify areas of efficiency and opportunities for collaboration
• Create bespoke digital engagement and education content (ex: Inside Scoop videos) to meet business and customer needs.
• Leverage analytics and collaborate with analytics team to monitor ROI and guide planning.
• Ensure digital Hill’s tools are well known and used by veterinary professionals.
• Work with PCV’s to encourage uptake of Hill’s digital education and engagement programs by students and VHCT’s as appropriate.
• Ensure that digital professional tools and programs are bilingua

Corporate and Key Account Support (45%)

• Champion a holistic approach across PVA, CDO and Marketing to drive Hill’s recommendation in corporate and key accounts.
• Develop and maintain strong, influential professional relationships with key contacts in corporate and key accounts in order to uncover opportunities to drive growth and support nutrition recommendation.
• Drive engagement with medical leadership at the headquarter level with key and corporate customers
• Work collaboratively with Business Account Managers (BAMs) to ensure that each key and corporate account has an education plan, aligned with CDO and PVA strategic objectives, to drive BRMO, sales and market share.
• Act as a dedicated PVA point of contact for pet and vet BAMs, PCVs, and key/corporate accounts regarding key and corporate account education and professional engagement.
• Responsible for maintaining a national view and plan for key and corporate account initiatives, potential efficiencies, opportunities and best practices. Support commercial team members specifically in relation to key accounts of all channels.
• Act as a leader within the PVA team with respect to key and corporate account initiatives, leading national initiatives, and collaborating with PCV’s and delegating for local initiatives
• Collaborate closely with the Associate Professional Veterinary Affairs Manager where responsibilities/focuses align
• Participate in and represent the professional and veterinary voice during annual account planning and joint business planning (JBP) sessions, providing veterinary insight and uncovering/addressing opportunities for education and engagement.
• Provide national (and some regional) education to key and corporate accounts in support of new products, clinic conversions, protocol discussions and other initiatives as needed
• Develop and implement best practises for PVA wiring within each vet corporate group, with corresponding objectives for interactions and recommended frequencies.
• Create bespoke education and engagement content as needed, in collaboration with BAMs and in alignment with Hill’s Canada Strategic priorities.
• Provide expertise and technical support to key account customers on product selection & usage and support to key account customers requiring higher levels of knowledge & advice surrounding all Hill’s products
• Support the use of ecommerce in key and corporate accounts, in collaboration with eComm BAM.

Digital Professional Engagement and Education (45%)

• Lead digital professional engagement planning and execution for Hill’s Canada, in collaboration with marketing, CDO and the rest of the PVA team, in alignment with Hill’s Canada strategic priorities.
• Leverage creativity and innovation to develop industry leading digital education and engagement offerings from Hill’s Canada.
• Responsible for keeping all Hill’s Canada external digital technical product data, tools and training materials updated.
• Responsible for localization and implementation of global digital education and engagement tools and initiatives, in alignment with the Hill’s Canada strategic priorities.
• Support the digitization of existing programs to expand reach and promote engagement.
• Responsible for the growth, development and maintenance of key digital education initiatives
• Liaison with US digital education team to identify areas of efficiency and opportunities for collaboration
• Create bespoke digital engagement and education content (ex: Inside Scoop videos) to meet business and customer needs.
• Leverage analytics and collaborate with analytics team to monitor ROI and guide planning.
• Ensure digital Hill’s tools are well known and used by veterinary professionals.
• Work with PCV’s to encourage uptake of Hill’s digital education and engagement programs by students and VHCT’s as appropriate.
• Ensure that digital professional tools and programs are bilingual

Other Strategic Initiatives (10%)

• Lead the exploration and engagement with other emerging strategic initiatives in the pet and vet space.
• Lead and increase partnership with key Canadian professional organizations

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Overnight travel will be required approximately 25-30% of the time (but will vary depending on the base location of the candidate). Day travel will be required an additional 25% of the time. Total travel time expected will be approximately 50% of the time.
LOCATION OF THE JOB: Greater Toronto Area, ON (will also consider candidates located in Montreal or Calgary)