Category Analyst, Grocery

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in North Carolina.

📋 Description

• Act as a trusted partner focused on driving category growth for Grocery retailers.

• Provide data-driven insights and category solutions that foster mutually beneficial growth.

• Collaborate with customer management to align and implement category and brand strategies.

• Deliver strategic insights regarding shoppers, categories, and markets tailored to each retailer.

• Establish and nurture strong relationships both internally and externally.

• Work with Sales to create and execute strategies for growth.

• Develop Category Insights Reviews, strategies for shelving excellence, JDA POGs, optimization of assortments, efficiency in pricing/promotions, and effective merchandising initiatives.

• Analyze syndicated data, shopper insights, retailer POS data, and market trends.

• Utilize category management tools such as Nielsen, IRI, JDA, Kantar, CMI, and similar resources.

• Create and sustain scalable tools, reports, scorecards, and templates.

• Identify trends and growth opportunities related to categories, shoppers, and competitors.

• Assist in annual customer planning and strategic initiatives with actionable insights.

• Manage multiple projects and serve as a go-to category expert for assigned customers.

• Develop and execute customer penetration strategies for designated retailers and distributors.

• Provide recommendations for shelf layout, assortment planning, space-to-sales analysis, item placement, and planograms.

• Employ project management skills throughout ideation, development, piloting, testing, learning, and scaling processes.

• Influence annual planning in collaboration with Sales.

• Analyze data and generate planograms as a technical leader.

• Engage with customers at headquarters and advocate for fact-based selling to stakeholders.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.

• Proven analytical skills and capabilities.

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in CPG Sales key accounts, retail, and/or analyst responsibilities.

• Willingness to travel at least 25-40% of the time.

• Possession of a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

• Ability to work in a field-sales and home office environment.

• Successful completion of a drug and background screening.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

• Experience with Nielsen Scan data.

• Familiarity with JDA.

• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint.

• Strong external selling, negotiation, and influencing skills.

🏝️ Benefits

• 401(k) plan.

• Company-sponsored medical insurance.

• Company-sponsored dental insurance.

• Company-sponsored vision insurance.

• Basic life insurance for the employee and eligible dependents.

• Up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave.

• 120 hours of vacation annually.

• Paid sick time at 100% pay continuation for a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year.

• 12 paid holidays throughout the year, including both fixed and flexible holidays.

• Variable pay and general allowances may apply if eligible.

• Field-sales and home office work arrangement.