Director, Connected Commerce

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Location: Downers Grove, IL, US, 60515

Company: Glanbia

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life's journey

The Director of Connected Commerce will lead Glanbia Performance Nutrition's omnichannel retail marketing strategy across its portfolio of performance nutrition and healthy lifestyle brands. This role is responsible for connecting the in-store, retailer digital, retail media, social commerce, and experiential components of the shopper journey to drive brand growth, customer performance, consumer engagement, and increased digital penetration.

 

The Director will establish the vision, operating model, measurement discipline, and investment priorities for Connected Commerce across GPN's omnichannel retail customers. The role will ensure that physical and digital activation plans work together as one integrated commercial strategy, balancing impactful in-store execution with effective retailer digital campaigns, retail media, content, and experiential trade and consumer programs.

 

This leader will build strong partnerships across Customer Sales, Customer Strategy & Planning, Brand Marketing, Category Management, Insights & Analytics, Finance, and external agencies. The Director will lead and develop the Connected Commerce team, creating clear accountability, stronger capabilities, and a performance-oriented culture grounded in consumer and shopper insights, measurable outcomes, continuous learning, and return on investment.

 

Connected Commerce Strategy

  • Lead GPN's Connected Commerce strategy across omnichannel retail customers, integrating in-store activation, retailer digital, retail media, social commerce, content, and experiential marketing.
  • Translate enterprise, brand, channel, and customer priorities into connected shopper programs that drive growth across the full path to purchase.
  • Establish the operating model, governance, and cross-functional ways of working that position Connected Commerce as a key commercial capability.
  • Prioritize investments and resources across brands, customers, and growth opportunities to maximize business impact.

Omnichannel Customer Activation

  • Develop integrated activation strategies that connect pre-shop, purchase, trial, and post-purchase engagement across physical and digital retail environments.
  • Partner with Sales and Customer Strategy & Planning to deliver customer-specific programs that support business plans, innovation launches, and growth objectives.
  • Oversee execution of merchandising, digital content, promotions, sampling, experiential activations, and retail media programs.
  • Ensure programs are delivered on time, on budget, and in alignment with retailer requirements and brand standards.

Retailer Digital and Retail Media

  • Lead retailer digital marketing and retail media strategies across key omnichannel customers.
  • Partner with customer teams, Brand Marketing, and agency partners to develop campaigns that leverage search, display, social commerce, digital merchandising, and retailer content.
  • Drive performance through clear objectives, shopper insights, measurement, and continuous optimization.
  • Champion test-and-learn approaches that evaluate emerging retailer capabilities and identify scalable growth opportunities.

Events, ON Academy and Experiential Marketing Activation

  • Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of customer and consumer event programs, including ON Academy and university partnerships.
  • Establish objectives, budgets, and measurement frameworks for experiential marketing, sponsorships, trade shows, sampling programs, and retail events.
  • Ensure experiential investments are amplified through digital content, retailer integration, and ongoing consumer engagement.
  • Oversee external agency and vendor partners responsible for event planning, execution, logistics, and activation.

Measurement, ROI and Optimization

  • Establish measurement frameworks that connect Connected Commerce investments to customer, brand, category, and financial outcomes.
  • Define success metrics and learning agendas that drive accountability and informed investment decisions.
  • Partner with Insights & Analytics, Finance, Marketing, and commercial teams to evaluate effectiveness, incrementality, and return on investment.
  • Leverage performance insights to optimize programs, improve future investments, and scale the most effective initiatives.

Team Leadership and Capability Development

  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Connected Commerce team with clear objectives, accountability, and development plans.
  • Foster a culture of strategic thinking, commercial accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Identify future capability needs and build team expertise across shopper marketing, retail media, experiential marketing, digital commerce, and analytics.
  • Attract, retain, and develop diverse talent while creating opportunities for growth across brands, customers, and channels.

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Serve as the primary Connected Commerce partner to Sales, Customer Strategy & Planning, Brand Marketing, Category Management, Insights & Analytics, and Finance.
  • Influence business planning, investment allocation, innovation launches, and customer growth strategies.
  • Present strategies, performance results, and investment recommendations to senior leadership and customer stakeholders.
  • Build strong relationships with customers, retail media organizations, agencies, vendors, and strategic partners to drive business outcomes.

Financial and Agency Management

  • Own the Connected Commerce budget, ensuring investments align with strategic priorities and deliver measurable results.
  • Lead annual planning, forecasting, financial management, and performance reporting across Connected Commerce activities.
  • Oversee agency strategy, selection, performance, and partnerships to ensure integrated execution across channels.
  • Partner with Finance, Procurement, and Legal to maintain effective controls, vendor relationships, and contract management.

The Skills you will bring to the team

 

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, Analytics, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in connected commerce, shopper marketing, retail media, omnichannel marketing, customer marketing, digital commerce, experiential marketing, or a related CPG commercial function.
  • At least 5 years of people leadership experience, including coaching, talent development, and team management.
  • Demonstrated success leading omnichannel programs across both physical and digital retail environments.
  • Strong experience working with major omnichannel retailers, retail media networks, agencies, and external partners.
  • Proven ability to manage significant budgets and optimize marketing effectiveness and return on investment.
  • Deep understanding of omnichannel shopper behavior, retail media, digital commerce, experiential marketing, and performance measurement.
  • Strong strategic thinking, commercial acumen, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to influence within a complex, matrixed organization.
  • Excellent communication, storytelling, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.

 

If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please apply!


Where and how you will work

 

The opportunity will be based in Downers Grove, IL with hybrid working arrangements available which allow greater flexibility in how you work and live, helping to support work-life balance.


What we would like to offer you!

 

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental benefits, 401(k), annual bonus opportunity, and a competitive salary.

 

Glanbia provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles located in IL. This position has an annual base salary of $185,000 - $230,000 plus annual bonus. The target salary is generally at the midpoint of the range. Compensation is determined based on factors including skills, experience, and internal equity.


About Glanbia

 

Glanbia is a better nutrition company with three divisions: Performance Nutrition, Health & Nutrition and Dairy Nutrition. Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of over 5,800 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award-winning and market-leading brands and ingredients in more than 100 countries worldwide.

 

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates and will give your application consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

 

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.


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