Marketing Planning & Strategy Manager

Salesforce · Chicago, Illinois

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Manager of Planning and Strategy to support our Marketing Planning and Strategy function. Reporting to the Director of Functional Marketing Planning & Strategy within CMO Marketing Operations, this role leads budget and workforce management for a global marketing organization.

This position is responsible for annual planning, program spend management and optimization, and monthly spend reviews with marketing leaders. You will use data-driven insights to guide decisions and ensure marketers have the tools and visibility needed to manage budgets effectively.

You will drive consistency and scale across planning processes, templates, and workflows, while identifying opportunities to improve existing practices. Success in this role requires both strategic thinking and strong operational execution, with a focus on building reliable planning, forecasting, and reporting processes.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, cross-functional influence, and a commitment to high-quality execution in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead annual, quarterly, and ad hoc marketing planning processes, ensuring accuracy, agility, and alignment with business priorities for supported functions.

  • Own budget management, forecasting, and reporting, providing clear visibility into spend performance and enabling effective execution.

  • Deliver actionable insights through budget and workforce reviews, leveraging dashboards and partnering with Finance and Analytics teams to drive spend efficiency and business impact.

  • Drive end-of-quarter close processes, proactively identifying variances and partnering with stakeholders to resolve issues.

  • Identify and implement opportunities to streamline, standardize, and scale planning processes, tools, and templates across Marketing.

  • Partner cross-functionally (Finance, Analytics, and Marketing teams) to ensure systems and workflows support efficient planning, budget execution, and reporting.

  • Support workforce planning by managing headcount processes, tracking, and reporting.

  • Build strong relationships with marketing leaders, serving as a trusted advisor on planning, budget, and resource decisions.

  • Support key business deliverables, including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and executive updates.

  • Maintain clear documentation and ensure adherence to budget governance, accounting standards, and internal processes.

Required Qualifications and Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing Strategy, Operations, Business Analytics, Finance, or a related field

  • 5-7 years of relevant professional experience with an emphasis on marketing strategy and operations

  • Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights

  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite

  • Experience with data visualization and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Salesforce Analytics); Salesforce or Tableau certification a plus

  • Ability to think creatively, identify and tackle problems through data analysis

  • Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and communicate effectively with senior leaders

  • Strong problem-solving skills, with a proactive and structured approach to identifying opportunities

  • Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment

  • High attention to detail and a commitment to quality execution

This is not a remote position. The Marketing Return to Office policy is 3 days per week. This role should be available during Pacific Time Zone hours as the marketing leader is located in the west coast. #LI-Hybrid

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