Category Management, Sr. Analyst

Market Type (EM)

Summary

SENIOR CATEGORY ANALYST

The Team:

JLB Insights provides a high-level partnership to drive Target’s strategic initiatives at an enterprise level, both in store and digitally and aligns with Target’s expectations. Our approach to Category Management provides merchants with elevated analytics and actionable recommendations that lead to category growth.

The Role:

We are looking for our next Senior Category Analyst. The ideal candidate is an eager learner and go-getter with a passion for collaborating and solving problems. You will utilize your strength in numbers and ability to utilize different types of data to tell a compelling story.  This role will be focused on delivering strategic and tactical support to our Target merchants and our clients.

What you’ll do:

• Work directly with a Team Lead or Seasoned Category Manager, managing a category at Target (both in-store and .com) and become a strategic thought partner to your merchant business units
• Be curious and motivated to dig deep in resources to research category and industry trends, becoming an expert in your business
• Obsess over data, utilizing multiple sources to identify actionable insights to drive business results
• Deliver merchandising and category assortment planning recommendations
• Generating weekly and monthly reports analyzing sales performance and competitive retailers
• Manage Target’s transition process from POG room management through POG execution, utilizing using the JDA software multiple times a year
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners at Target, vendor partners and within JLB

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, merchandising, financial analysis preferred
• 2 years of relevant experience (Category Management, Merchandising, Space Management)
• Curiosity, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Organizational strength and good attention to detail
• Strong Interpersonal skills with ability to interface with multiple levels of an organization and collaborate with cross-functional team members
• Self-motivated, proactive and committed to delivering results
• Positive attitude, creative resourcefulness and a team-player
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

Bonus Points for:

• Experience in Category Management Tools (JDA, Market Data, POS and Panel Data, etc.)
• Experience in digital pos and digital market share data, SEO, digital analytics, content management & site experience
• Experience building Planograms for Target

About JLB:

JLB is a retail business consulting firm dedicated to driving business growth for our clients.  We offer Sales Account Management, Category Management, Consumer Research, Business Insights, Creative Strategy Experience and Retail Services support for numerous brands at Target.  Our team comes from a variety of backgrounds and we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes diversity and inclusion.

Seniority Level:  Senior Analyst

Industry: Category Management, Sales, Retail

Responsibilities

The 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.

The Category Manager role requires the ability to understand our retailer’s processes, understand what data is available, understand our client’s objectives and marry the three together with compelling, data driven “story telling”.  This candidate is smart, creative, organized, curious, and confident presenting ideas and solutions to internal sales associates, clients and customers.  No day is ever the same in this job as the variety of work to be performed evolves weekly, but the importance of filtering different data sets to actionable solutions is the constant.  The Company differentiates ourselves from our competition through the flexibility and talent of our Analytics team….be a part of it!

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Data Collection & Analysis

• Leverages syndicated scan data and basic panel and geodemographic data to optimize new product introductions, distribution, shelving, pricing, and promotional strategies across a group of customers and clients
• Utilizes broad range of data metrics, tools, and analytics to identify opportunities and deliver insights to our customers and clients 
• Prioritizes tasks with focus on strategic versus tactical activities that deliver stronger ROI

Client/Customer Engagement

• Engages with customers and clients to understand strategies and objectives
• Leverages experience to create mutually beneficial solutions for all parties involved
• Contribute to RAVE process, focusing efforts on measurable value creation with customers and clients

Presentation Development/Delivery

• Creates insight driven presentations with actionable tactics and strategies
• Develops creative presentations with an eye toward story-telling, focused on flow, visualizations, headlines, and using company Branding Guidelines

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

Travel and/or Driving Requirements - Travel is an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job.  - Travel up to 15% 

Minimum Qualifications The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level: (Required) Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in marketing, math, statistics, or economic fields       Field of Study/Area of Experience:  - 2-4 years of experience in applicable field (sales and marketing agency or CPG industry solution provider, retailer, or manufacturer)

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Intellectually curious, eager to problem solve, and a quick learner
• Well-organized and strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to work with large data sets; appetite for numbers and analytics
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team; a hunger for “winning together”
• Ability to confidently work with client, customer, and internal leadership
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize business requests
• Creativity…. with a passion for building visually compelling presentations
• Good communication – written and oral – skills and strong interpersonal skills
• Strong work ethic and desire to succeed (often with minimal supervision)
• Microsoft Office experience: Highly proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Syndicated Data experience: Experience with IRI, Nielsen, and other relevant platforms preferred
• Experience with application of shopper panel data and geodemographic data sets preferred
• Understanding and application of principles and practices of Category Management (analysis of assortment, pricing, promotion, shelving, shopper) required

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary RequirementsIncumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66% each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds. 

Additional Information Regarding The Company 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 position 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 Information

The 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.