CATEGORY MANAGEMENT ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION

The Category Management Analyst owns the data infrastructure that keeps that from happening maintaining syndicated databases, modeling pricing and promotion scenarios, and translating POS trends into category strategies that retailers can act on. Demand for this function scales with the complexity of CPG portfolios. The role sits within a sales or marketing organization and answers to category leadership while serving retail account teams directly.

As the Category Management Analyst, you will own the full pipeline from raw syndicated data to retailer-ready category recommendations, directly influencing assortment, pricing, and promotional decisions across the portfolio. The position sits within the category or sales function, supporting field sales, account managers, and marketing leads with the reporting and analysis that shapes how products perform on shelf.

Career Impact: Fluency in Nielsen and IRI syndicated datasets, combined with hands-on POG and POS analysis, is a credential that commands premium positioning within CPG sales and marketing organizations at the national account level.

Business Impact: Retailers make ranging and promotional decisions based on the category stories this role builds; a well-constructed fact-based presentation can protect or expand brand distribution in accounts worth millions in annual GMV.

Growth Opportunity: Analysts who develop demand forecasting depth alongside category management skills move into Senior Analyst or Category Manager roles, where they own the full customer strategy rather than supporting it.

• Maintain syndicated data subscriptions and category reporting suites, ensuring accuracy and timely distribution to sales and marketing stakeholders.
• Analyze POS trends, consumption data, and competitive performance to develop fact-based category recommendations for retail customers.
• Build retailer presentations covering assortment, pricing, placement, and promotion opportunities grounded in market and shopper data.
• Model pricing and margin scenarios to support new product introductions and formal price change reviews.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams on customer-specific category strategies, channel plans, and sell-in materials.
• Monitor competitive shelf activity and market data integrity, flagging anomalies and recommending corrective action to category leadership.
• Support POG and product mix development by analyzing productivity metrics and comparing consumer demand patterns to current assortment.
• Prepare category scorecards, gap analyses, and ad hoc reports for account reviews, AOP cycles, and internal leadership meetings.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of category management or sales analytics experience, with demonstrated exposure to CPG retailer environments.
• Working knowledge of syndicated data platforms and panel data, including interpretation of consumption, distribution, and velocity metrics.
• Ability to analyze large datasets independently, identify trend inflections, and translate findings into clear business recommendations.
• Strong financial acumen covering margin calculation, promotional ROI, and category-level P&L contributions.
• Proficiency in presentation development, including structuring fact-based selling stories for both internal leadership and external retail partners.
• Effective cross-functional communicator with a track record of managing multiple concurrent projects within defined timelines.
• Familiarity with space planning principles, planogram logic, or POG-based assortment analysis.

• Experience supporting Natural and Specialty Channel accounts, including distributor-model selling environments.
• Exposure to demand forecasting processes, including consumption-based modeling and weeks-of-supply analysis.
• Graduate Gemologist credential or equivalent domain certification relevant to a specialty retail product category.
• Hands-on experience with category scorecard development and formal lifecycle planning reviews at the SKU level.

• Category report accuracy rate, measuring how often syndicated data outputs require correction after distribution.
• Retail presentation conversion rate, reflecting how frequently fact-based recommendations result in approved range or promotional changes.
• POG productivity score, tracking sales-per-linear-foot improvement in managed categories following planogram submissions.
• Forecast variance percentage, measuring deviation between projected and actual consumption across supported accounts.
• Time-to-insight for ad hoc retailer requests, reflecting responsiveness to account team and customer data needs.
• Typical tools: Syndicated data platforms (commonly Nielsen or IRI); space planning software (commonly JDA or ProSpace); advanced spreadsheet environments (commonly Excel or Google Sheets).

• Base Salary Range: $55,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on experience and market.
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus, typically 5% to 10% of base salary.
• Equity: Not standard at this level in CPG; offered selectively at senior levels.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by company size.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus standard federal holidays.
• Common Perks: Mileage or travel reimbursement for customer visits; professional development budget for data platform training.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the hiring process and in the workplace upon request. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. A background check is a condition of employment. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

The Category Management Analyst owns product plan creation and maintenance across development stages, conducting pricing analysis, competitive market research, and lifecycle planning reviews to maximize category profitability. Working alongside internal cross-functional teams and reporting within the merchandising function, this role shapes assortment strategy and equips leadership with the dashboards, presentations, and sales analyses needed to drive category performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the creation and maintenance of product plans throughout various stages of development, ensuring accuracy of item detail.
• Ensure critical SKU level details within category architectures are systematically maintained and project milestones are met on a timely basis.
• Research product offerings to aid with the initiation of new product development and ensure the product strategy remains robust and competitive.
• Analyze classification, price point and sales trends to inform decisions on new product.
• Aid with execution and implementation of margin reviews and pricing structure strategies to ensure margin requirements are met for the formal price change process.
• Conduct analysis and gather comparable product information to inform retail, cost and margin targets as well as final retails for new products.
• Model pricing scenarios for optimization, validating pricing based on sales volume and margin drivers to inform decisions.
• Conduct competitive market research on a regular basis.
• Aid with execution and implementation of formal Lifecycle Planning reviews to achieve style count and productivity targets.
• Develop reports and presentations that communicate a high-level view of new product introductions and current assortment for meetings and conferences.
• Conduct key initiative information gathering and research as it pertains to the current assortment.
• Maintain and distribute architectures, image grids, weekly and monthly sales dashboards and competitive landscape reporting per the merchandising schedule and as needed.
• Communicate with internal cross-functional teams to address and support key initiatives, category assortments, discontinuations, re-classes, pricing, new product plans and new launch strategy materials.
• Coordinate, manage, and maintain security of samples and stock according to inventory control process requirements.
• Prepare product category reviews and conference meeting materials and assist with other administrative tasks and projects as needed.
• Respond to branch inquiries and offer appropriate suggestions in a timely manner.

Required Qualifications

• 2 to 3 years of prior work experience of similar or relevant experience.
• Prior Category Management and reporting experience.
• Overall knowledge of the retail industry and luxury jewelry.
• Basic Gemstone knowledge, with Graduate Gemologist credentials a plus.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint and Excel, with ability to learn new software and adopt new processes.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and work in a highly dynamic, fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
• Ability to manage and uphold departmental standards and business direction.
• Strong project management skills with ability to be flexible, adapt to changing priorities and meet deadlines.

Embedded within the Post Refrigerated Retail Sales Team, the Category Management Analyst develops actionable business insights by mining and organizing data into compelling sales stories for Customer Account Managers and customers. Working closely with field sales, internal teams, and syndicated data sources including Nielsen and IRI, this role delivers category analysis across assortment, pricing, placement, and promotion to build category growth for retail partners.

Core Functions

• Assist in mining, organizing, and developing data into compelling sales stories for presentation to Customer Account Managers and customers by developing actionable business insights.
• Communicate business opportunities and recommend action plans by collaborating with Customer Account Managers and customers.
• Assist in presenting insights, strategies, and tactics to business partners.
• Participate with the Post Refrigerated Retail Sales Team in identifying and presenting recommendations for category growth.
• Maintain project status by monitoring progress, coordinating activities, and resolving problems.
• Manage and maintain ongoing relationships for category management activities.
• Provide category management insights and actionable recommendations that drive category growth for customers.
• Provide detailed category analysis and recommendations in the areas of product assortment, placement, pricing, and promotion.
• Provide regular consumption updates with an assessment of brand, category, and competitive issues and opportunities.
• Provide information for customers, field sales, and internal teams using syndicated or customer-specific data sources.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, with graduate degree preferred.
• CPG selling experience preferred.
• 1 to 3 years of experience in an analyst role supporting category and sales for a major organization.
• Strong working knowledge of syndicated data including Nielsen, IRI, Spectra, and Panel Data.
• Experience with space planning tools such as JDA and Apollo a plus.
• Solid PC knowledge including Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proven record of influencing within cross-functional relationships with key decision makers.
• Ability to successfully integrate different streams of information into sound propositions.
• Ability to research, build, and deliver fact-based selling stories, business reviews, and market analysis to drive sales and marketing strategies forward.
• Ability to manage multiple projects within tight timelines and have CPG retailer understanding.
• Strong quantitative, analytical and presentation skills with strong oral and written communication.
• Ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Highly proactive self-starter with strong time management and organizational skills.

Reporting to Leadership, the Category Management Analyst interprets market data and POS trends to deliver actionable insights that directly support a key customer's category and channel strategies. Partnering with internal Sales and Marketing teams as well as the retailer, this role contributes to product mix development, POG analysis, and the regular communication of performance results that enable measurable sales growth.

Primary Duties

• Interpret data trends and prepare reporting and analysis to present a clear roadmap for Leadership, Sales and Marketing, and regularly communicate POS results to leadership.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing on customer presentations by working within retailer and product teams to understand strategy and sales goals, help guide strategy to achieve sales goals and metrics, and conduct market, retailer, and item level analysis as needed.
• Provide actionable insights to the retailer by interpreting market information and data trends, and deliver fact-based recommendations and reporting for product, price, place and promotion opportunities.
• Contribute to product mix and POG development by analyzing product productivity and conducting detailed analysis to compare consumer and store traits versus product offered.
• Identify trends and relationships between different pieces of data, draw appropriate conclusions and translate analytical findings into business strategies and recommendations.
• Contribute to year-round POS meetings for Marketing, Sales Leads and Leadership team.
• Monitor market data and providers for data integrity, and participate in and make recommendations for data structure enhancement.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing or related field required.
• Experience in an analytical role within category management, forecasting, inventory management, or POS analysis.
• Consumer product experience is desirable.
• Ability to independently manipulate large data sets within all Microsoft Office environments.
• Working knowledge of ProSpace or equivalent software preferred.
• Strong customer service skills including effective written and oral communication, with ability to present to both internal and external client groups.
• Strong organizational skills with a disciplined approach to managing processes on a day-to-day basis respecting defined authority levels.

Sitting at the intersection of data analytics and category strategy, the Category Management Analyst delivers reliable insights from multiple data sources to support tactical and strategic business decisions across Product Category, Procurement, Demand and Supply, and MDM. Operating across Category Management, Tech and Data teams, this role designs customer self-service interfaces, advises management on commercial opportunities, and drives quality and efficiency improvements in standard operating processes.

Duties

• Monitor key performance indicators and conduct analysis, understand cause and effect relationships to identify root causes and recommend improvement opportunities.
• Conduct in-depth analysis by combining and interpreting external and internal quantitative and qualitative data.
• Discover ways in which business value can be added to the data and design customer self-service interfaces for Category Management in close collaboration with Tech and Data, then visualize and interpret results.
• Build and maintain a network of cross-functional stakeholders and act as a linking pin between Category Management, Tech and Data.
• Advise colleagues and management on data and insight analysis, data sources, commercial opportunities and market developments.
• Turn complex information into clear findings that help take action or reach decisions.
• Support the strategic Category Management process.
• Ensure all activities are conducted with orientation to the business and are facilitated with speed, accuracy, quality, and a service attitude conducive to good relations.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's and/or Master's degree with some experience and background in Business Analytics and Operations Research, Industrial Engineering or Business Administration.
• Strong mastery of SQL and Microsoft Excel are must-haves.
• Basic understanding of programming languages like VBA and Python is a plus.
• Experience with reporting and visualization tools such as SAS VA, PowerBI, Tableau, or similar preferred.
• Strong customer focus and customer awareness, dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.
• Strong problem-solving ability using rigorous logic and methods to develop effective solutions.
• Excellent knowledge of English, spoken and written.

A key member of the category and sales team, the Category Management Analyst leads syndicated data maintenance, shopper insight development, and solution-based sales presentations that deliver growth across brands and the category. Collaborating across the Sales Team, third-party data providers, and internal stakeholders throughout the Natural and Specialty Channels, this role builds category strategies and scorecard-driven customer opportunities that advance profitable growth across the full portfolio.

Functions

• Aid in the development and commercialization of the Brand strategy, guidelines, tools, and processes to meet business objectives.
• Own syndicated data base maintenance, ad hoc projects facilitated through third party data providers, distribution and maintenance of the monthly reporting suite, sales strategy communications, and consolidating sales inputs for monthly internal meetings.
• Identify customer opportunities through Category Management scorecards and other gap analysis.
• Leverage customer, industry, market, and competitive information to develop solution-based sales presentations that drive growth to the category.
• Collaborate with Sales Team, utilizing total portfolio offerings to meet their needs and drive sales and profitable opportunities for all categories in the Natural and Specialty Channels.
• Utilize an understanding of market dynamics, consumer trends, and shopper behaviors to deliver category insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in routine internal processes and deliverables including AOP, SMART, and sell-ins.

Experience & Qualifications

• Related Bachelor's degree required.
• At least 2 years of successful CPG Sales experience in Category Management, Insights, Strategy, Sales, or Finance.
• Knowledge of Category Management practices and tools, including IRI and/or Nielsen POS and Panel data, Kantar, Mintel, and 84.51.
• Experience providing industry, consumer, and customer trends to develop strategies and action plans.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong presentation skills internally and in front of customers.
• Detail oriented with ability to leverage multiple data sources, identify key opportunities, and create action-oriented recommendations and selling stories.
• Team player who can also work individually and manage own timelines.
• Ability to work successfully and efficiently under multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities.

Sustained category growth depends on the Category Management Analyst, who translates commercial data into actionable insights and drives continual optimisation across social media engagement, acquisition, retention, and conversion. Based within the broader category function, this role evaluates competitor data, identifies emerging market trends, and supports commercial projects with analysis that sharpens decision-making across all channels.

Accountabilities

• Translate data into valuable insights and present results and recommendations.
• Evaluate market conditions and competitor data to identify emerging trends and recommend learnings and action points to optimise results.
• Identify new commercial opportunities through deep analysis and innovative research methods.
• Regularly review and analyse key commercial metrics to develop reports, drive continual optimisation and improve campaign efficiency.
• Provide data-driven, actionable insights and recommendations for improving social media engagement, acquisition, retention and conversion across all channels.
• Support additional projects as requested for the Category.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration or related fields.
• 2 to 6 years of experience in e-commerce or related fields.
• Knowledge of technical tools including SQL and Excel.
• Creative, well-organised and self-motivated with logical thinking ability.
• Team player with positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
• Communication skills in both written and verbal format, including English communication.

As the Category Management Analyst, this role provides integral category management, merchandising, and space planning expertise to the Marketing, Commercial, and Finance departments of a market-leading FMCG business. The Marketing team relies on this work to deliver detailed EPOS analysis, compelling shelf layouts, and data-driven insight to national retailers that strengthen brand visibility and drive sales performance.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• As part of the Marketing team, actively involve in detailed analysis of retailer EPOS sales and also the creation and update of line plans for all accounts, using specialist software.
• Identify trends and opportunities by providing detailed analysis of customer sales data and make a difference by analysing sales and market data and creating specialist shelf layouts for customers.
• Interpret and analyse data, reviewing gaps, shelf space, trends, promotional activity and similar to provide ongoing reports.
• Provide actionable insights to improve brand visibility in store.
• Translate analysis to meaningful insight and present findings to internal and external commercial teams building strong relationships.
• Collaborate with the National Accounts team to deliver compelling insight to key national retailers.
• Create, develop, update and circulate charts and spreadsheets across EPOS, Category Data, GfK and BCF data sources.

Professional Experience

• Experience with in-depth analysis of market data to identify trends and opportunities to strengthen sales and improve profitability.
• Experience with JDA Space Planning Plus beneficial but not essential as training will be given.
• Numerate with strong data manipulation skills.
• Highly analytical with ability to analyse different sets of data and translate into meaningful insights.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Excellent communicator with ability to influence.
• Service oriented, a good listener with a can-do attitude who is keen to develop practical and compelling solutions.

Category Management Analyst shapes tactical promotion planning and analytical solutions within the Marketing Business Unit, supporting the Category Management Manager in delivering GMV performance targets. The work directly supports daily promotion execution across product discounts, free delivery, and Buy 1 Get 1 campaigns, while driving sales trend analysis and cross-functional coordination with Tech, Operations, and Customer Service.

Job Functions

• Responsible to create tactical planning if needed to meet monthly sales and budget promo targets on a daily basis.
• Execute various types of product promotion such as product discounts, free delivery, and Buy 1 Get 1 on a monthly basis.
• Monitor and manage promotion execution on a monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly basis.
• Serve as information hub by working closely with cross-functional teams including Tech, ops, and customer service.
• Initiate a promotion plan with retail and client, and work along with the Business Development team when necessary.
• Manage sales reporting on a daily basis using Tableau and other resources.
• Collect and process datasets from multiple data sources.
• Deliver analysis of sales trend and shopping behavior to support business growth.

Background & Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant working experience.
• Having experience as Account Executive would be a plus.
• Experience in data analysis.
• Minimum intermediate Excel and PowerPoint skills, with SQL as a plus.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Agile and adaptable to business changes.
• Proactive, able to work with minimum supervision.
• Able to work well across functions.
• Fluent in English.

The Sr. Analyst- Category Management and Planning produces and leads short-term and long-term sales and demand planning processes, connecting Sales, Operations, Innovation, Marketing, and Finance to manage shifts in customer demand and advance overall business performance. Serving as liaison between category marketing and the broader organization, this role quantifies risk and opportunity, develops forecast models from syndicated data sources, and delivers strategic project management that produces measurable brand growth within the CPG natural and specialty foods sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management and development of short-term and long-term sales and demand planning processes with strong organizational skills.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, innovation, operations, and finance to understand and manage shifts to meet customer demand.
• Understand critical cross-functional processes including sales planning, consumption tracking, innovation launch plans and overall business performance management.
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, develop forecast models, and evaluate forecast results as part of updating ongoing company sales forecasts.
• Serve as liaison between category marketing and the broader organization.
• Quantify risk and opportunities for the organization and track pacing towards initiatives.
• Connect with Sales, Innovation and Marketing teams to get the most accurate input on market events.
• Partner with cross-functional teams on strategic project management and associated workstreams to grow the brand.
• Effectively communicate changes and associated action plans across projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• 1 or more years in related fields in the CPG industry including category management, forecasting, sales planning, business planning, project management or demand planning.
• Experience working with distributor and direct business models.
• Experience with one of Nielsen, IRI, or SPINS databases.
• Strong numerical and analytical skill set with ability to interpret quantitative data and perform detailed trend analysis utilizing raw volume data.
• Proficiency with using multiple information sources for developing a demand forecast including orders, shipments, consumption, weeks of supply, revenue management, distribution, velocity, and more.
• Advanced skillset in building solutions with Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills with a proven ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to handle simultaneous projects and deliver within agreed upon time frames.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Self-starter with can-do attitude and passion for continuous improvement.
• Genuine passion for growing Natural and Specialty foods.

Embedded within the sales and business leadership structure, the Category Management Analyst develops actionable business insights by analyzing syndicated data, mining consumer research, and identifying industry trends and consumption barriers across multiple channels. Working closely with sales teams, business partners, and cross-functional stakeholders, this role advances category performance through fact-based presentations, promotional analytics, and operational efficiency projects that support both customer and business objectives.

Key Deliverables

• Determine and quantify primary business opportunities and key drivers by analyzing data and developing actionable business insights that support the goals of customers and the business.
• Mine existing research and consumer data on a regular basis to communicate insights synthesized from multiple sources and different data sets in support of key business opportunities.
• Analyze syndicated data to identify current industry trends, forecast future trends and recognize potential opportunities for retailers.
• Identify consumption barriers, seasonality and channel preferences to develop consumer insights needed to identify potential new business opportunities.
• Present business insights to sales and business leadership teams.
• Support team members, sales and business teams with ad hoc projects and requests such as customer reports, sales presentations, and promotional analytics.
• Perform project-based analytics associated with operational efficiencies.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing or related field.
• Minimum 1 year of relevant professional experience including category management, marketing and/or sales analytics, demand and forecasting or similar.
• Strong functional knowledge of category management is a plus.
• Multi-channel experience is a plus.
• Experience with dashboards is a plus.
• Knowledge of syndicated data and applications.
• Strong financial acumen to calculate margins, business growth and declines, and promotional impacts.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with ability to adapt to different audiences.
• Creativity in research, pulling data from different areas with the goal of creating a compelling story.
• Advanced analytical abilities including the ability to develop intuitive and actionable insights.
• Initiative when it comes to solving problems and offering new ideas.
• Ability to work cooperatively cross-functionally and with customers, cultivating positive relationships to achieve common objectives

Reporting to Category Management leadership, the Category Management Analyst oversees procurement analytics support including basket matching, competitive pricing benchmarking, and client-facing reporting solutions built from multiple data points. Partnering with Category Teams, Account Managers, and internal stakeholders, this role advances gap analysis, opportunity assessments, and data-driven solutions that strengthen category competitiveness and grow client categories.

Scope of Work

• Oversee procurement analytics team in supporting basket matching and solution design for new and existing clients.
• Work with wider team to develop automated and intelligence-based solutions to increase efficiency and speed of client response.
• Provide feedback to Category Teams on competitiveness of pricing against client reviews.
• Fulfill ongoing client requirement to understand and continuously benchmark against the market.
• Develop reporting tools utilizing multiple data points to provide client-facing solutions.
• Work with category teams to ensure competitive pricing to clients.
• Work with Account Managers and resources to develop best-in-class reporting on trends and cost analysis.
• Develop opportunity assessments with existing clients.
• Create analysis-based solutions using client data to support the growth of client categories.
• Ensure most effective and efficient products are utilized across the business using internal data.
• Support Category Managers in developing gap analysis and data-driven solutions in Category Tenders.

Position Requirements

• Procurement background with an understanding of clients and customer focus.
• Proven record of utilizing data and creating data-based solutions for organizations.
• Financial acumen with commercial analytics capability.
• Advanced Excel and computing capability.
• Strong working knowledge of technology-based solutions including MS Office, Power BI and other reporting tools.
• Dynamic and technology driven with the ability to understand future trend requirements.
• Ability to present data in an accessible format.