ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

Wakefield Canada Inc., is a privately owned Canadian company that markets, distributes and manufactures category-leading products for the automotive, commercial heavy-duty, and industrial markets including Castrol, the #1 brand of passenger car motor oil in Canada, and the “Super Clean” cleaner-degreaser brand.

In 2020, Wakefield celebrated its 15th anniversary as the exclusive Canadian marketer of Castrol lubricants. With coast-to-coast distribution and warehousing, and a large dedicated sales force, Wakefield provides exceptional service and innovative solutions to more than 5,000 customers in all segments, including retailers, warehouse distributors, automotive and heavy-duty jobbers, franchised and independent installers, quick lubes, fleet companies, new car dealers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).

Wakefield Canada Inc. is recognized as a Platinum Member with Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. This accomplishment puts Wakefield amongst the best-in-class of Canadian-owned and managed companies, demonstrating clear strategy and vision, capability, and commitment to talent.

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the VP, Marketing, this role is responsible for the development and implementation of pricing strategies for Wakefield’s product portfolio. In addition, this role will have complete product life-cycle management for all products, channels and segments that Wakefield operates in. The position will help identify target markets and review customer trends to determine the need for new products, lead all fluid and packaging changes and have full project management responsibility for new products or adaptation of current products, working in cross-functional project teams and with external partners. They will develop and coordinate all product requirements relating to formulations, packaging and pricing strategy providing ongoing sales and profit analysis on product lines to alert on deviation from expected performance levels.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Pricing:

• Lead and direct Castrol pricing strategy and take necessary pricing actions to enhance profitability in close partnership with the Channel Marketing Managers and the sales teams.
• Support in price setting and pricing analyses in the RFP process for key account opportunities and lead Bids and tenders submissions
• Present a quarterly report on competitive price positioning based on data gathered from sales teams and field research. Maintain and regularly update a pricing history database.
• Perform financial evaluation to assess pricing action effectiveness.
• Drive implementation and maintenance of the Pricing Framework with a clearly articulated RACI matrix including managing price lists and make changes as required for any required price changes.
• Manage monthly product margin “Early Warning” process. Work closely with marketing team members and sales force to monitor profitability of product lines.
• Manage total pricing procedure, enhance processes and ensure timely response to market conditions.
• Analyze financial impact of price approach in view of overall history as well as profitability within the automotive and commercial segments.

Product:

• Ensure all saleable products meet set brand guidelines and consistent packaging quality standards that meet customers’ expectations of a premium brand.
• Lead all fluid and packaging changes across all channels. Full project management responsibility for introduction of new product lines/adaptation of current products for Canadian product launches working with cross-functional project teams and external partners, ensuring timelines and budgets are maintained.
• Ongoing monitoring of the suite of product offerings, and provide business cases/justify requests for additional products/retirement of SKU’s no longer required.
• Key point of contact with BP on product issues in Canada.
• Lead monthly Marketing/Supply Chain process, including the alignment meeting.
• Provide sales support tools for matching oil specs to correct application
• Assist in the development of overall brand strategy, annual Marketing plan and budget.
• Provide back-up to team members and assist with special projects and other duties as required.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Analytical and strategic thinker.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Collaborative approach in maintaining and building relationships with internal and external partners.
• Proven business acumen and ability to balance competing priorities to determine “optimal” recommendations/solutions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• University Degree in Business Administration, Commerce or a related discipline.
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in a product pricing role in B2B environment required.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results through leveraging resources beyond his/her own team.
• Experience leading product related projects with cross-functional teams.
• Microsoft Suite experience with strong Excel skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Office environment.