Business Support Specialist
We are seeking a dynamic Business Support Specialist to work closely with the Sales Team to ensure that our client’s brand marketing and consumer strategies are implemented. This role collaborates with the Sales Team, Suppliers and Retailers to assist with achieving growth objectives. This role is focused on project coordination and administration of key sales tasks.
Essential Responsibilities
- Responsible for executing the following key sales administration tasks accurately and timely:
- Price Changes
- New Item Forms
- Assist with vendor set up.
- Partner with suppliers on PO queries / Late deliveries
- Cash collection, deductions
- Updates to Promotional Grid and dashboards for Business Manager review
- Maintain category hierarchies.
- Ad tracking and sharing with suppliers.
- Manage and track revenue accruals by supplier.
- Supports the Sales Team with the following:
- Contract management
- Supplier forecasts
- Supplier Collaborative Business Plan updates
- Weekly/Monthly tracker updates
- Category reviews – data pulls and analysis of data.
- Product Development - Managing Product Cuttings and documenting results.
- Project Coordination
- Facilitates and assists with driving projects through the process, working closely with the Sales Team, and cross functional teams to achieve project milestones within established timeframes.
- Assists the Sales Team on new projects by collecting and organizing all support data (sales data, market insights, trends, competitor reviews, etc.) for new projects enabling quicker turnaround and decision making by the Sales Team.
- Communication
- Proactively communicates with retailers, suppliers, internal teams and/or third-party teams to ensure objectives are met.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Direct Reports
- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports
Indirect Reports
- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports
Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
Field of Study/Area of Experience: Retail experience is preferential or 2 or more years of experience in accounting, administration would be useful.
1-3+ Years of experience in similar role, preferably within the retail industry.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office with a focus on Excel.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be accurate and timely with completing work.
- Previous experience in the consumer goods industry is considered a plus.
- Proactive and curious with ability and desire to find the root causes of issues and develop process and methodology to prevent reoccurrences
- Ability to work unsupervised and meet critical deadlines
- Methodical and process driven to ensure milestones are achieved in projects
Job Will Remain Open Until Filled
ResponsibilitiesThe Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.
Essential Responsibilities
- Responsible for executing the following key sales administration tasks accurately and timely:
- Price Changes
- New Item Forms
- Assist with vendor set up.
- Partner with suppliers on PO queries / Late deliveries
- Cash collection, deductions
- Updates to Promotional Grid and dashboards for Business Manager review
- Maintain category hierarchies.
- Ad tracking and sharing with suppliers.
- Manage and track revenue accruals by supplier.
- Supports the Sales Team with the following:
- Contract management
- Supplier forecasts
- Supplier Collaborative Business Plan updates
- Weekly/Monthly tracker updates
- Category reviews – data pulls and analysis of data.
- Product Development - Managing Product Cuttings and documenting results.
- Project Coordination
- Facilitates and assists with driving projects through the process, working closely with the Sales Team, and cross functional teams to achieve project milestones within established timeframes.
- Assists the Sales Team on new projects by collecting and organizing all support data (sales data, market insights, trends, competitor reviews, etc.) for new projects enabling quicker turnaround and decision making by the Sales Team.
- Communication
- Proactively communicates with retailers, suppliers, internal teams and/or third-party teams to ensure objectives are met.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Direct Reports
- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports
Indirect Reports
- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports
Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
Field of Study/Area of Experience: Retail experience is preferential or 2 or more years of experience in accounting, administration would be useful.
1-3+ Years of experience in similar role, preferably within the retail industry.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office with a focus on Excel.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be accurate and timely with completing work.
- Previous experience in the consumer goods industry is considered a plus.
- Proactive and curious with ability and desire to find the root causes of issues and develop process and methodology to prevent reoccurrences
- Ability to work unsupervised and meet critical deadlines
- Methodical and process driven to ensure milestones are achieved in projects
Environmental & Physical Requirements
Office / Sedentary Requirements
Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the abilty to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.
Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions
Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.
Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).
Important InformationThe above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.
The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- 1–3+ years of experience in a similar role, preferably in retail
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to complete work accurately and on time
- Ability to work independently and meet critical deadlines
- Methodical, process-driven approach to project milestones
- Retail experience
- Accounting or administration experience
- Consumer goods industry experience
Advantage Solutions Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Advantage Solutions and has not been reviewed or approved by Advantage Solutions.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare offerings span medical, dental, vision, FSAs/HSAs, and robust mental-health services; feedback suggests coverage is solid for many full-time employees. Company-paid life and disability insurance further strengthen the sense of protection.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a company match and an employee stock-purchase plan provide meaningful savings vehicles. These are presented alongside other financial-wellbeing resources and standard paid time off.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Some part-time employees may access health, dental, vision, 401(k), life, and supplemental insurance, signaling broader eligibility beyond full-time roles. Access for certain part-time tiers is highlighted as a notable feature despite role-based variation.
Advantage Solutions Insights
What We Do
Advantage Solutions is a business consulting and services company that helps consumer packaged goods brands and retailers improve sales and market execution. Its offerings include selling to retailers, retail merchandising, omnichannel marketing, experiential sampling, private-brand strategy, retail media, and aisle/shelf optimization. The company positions itself as a strategic extension of CPG sales and marketing teams, delivering brand, retailer, and omnichannel execution services.
