Category Analyst

Weis Markets • Sunbury, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Category Analyst manages and analyzes data for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with category objectives. The role uses data sources and tools to evaluate vendor performance, pricing, assortment, and other metrics, and develops category strategies by analyzing competitors, pricing, and store visits to identify growth opportunities. The analyst collaborates with teams on growth levers and vendor plans, supports vendor negotiations, evaluates and finalizes offers, and models alternative strategies to assess their impact on category performance. The position also manages vendor communications and negotiation materials, supports email negotiations, hosts vendor onboarding sessions, and maintains records of offers, negotiations, and communications.

This position requires onsite presence in Sunbury, Pennsylvania and is not eligible for remote work. Occasional travel may be required to visit vendors, suppliers, or retail locations. The role has no direct supervisory responsibilities, though it may involve collaborating with and guiding cross-functional teams, including Merchandising and Operations.

Requirements

• At least 3–5 years of experience in category management, procurement, data analysis, or a related field, with a strong understanding of vendor negotiations and retail analytics.
• Deep knowledge of category management principles in the small-format retail environment; convenience retail channel experience is ideal.
• Thorough understanding of retail consumers and how they engage with and shop retail food offers.
• Proficiency in data cleaning, analysis, and categorization to inform decisions.
• Strong understanding of competitive analysis, including pricing, assortment, and vendor performance.
• Experience with vendor negotiations, including preparing offers, assessing terms, and ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Ability to work with large data sets and derive insights from complex information to drive strategy.
• Familiarity with negotiation tools, category management systems, and performance benchmarking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and concisely and engage internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, and draw meaningful insights to guide decisions.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to adapt to changing business needs.
• Ability to calculate percentages, margins, and other financial metrics relevant to category management and vendor negotiations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment; strong organization, time management, detail, and accuracy skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business documents, including vendor contracts, financial reports, and performance data.
• Minimum age of 21 years old.
• Ability to pass a drug test.
• Commitment to customer service that makes internal and external customers feel welcome, important, and appreciated.
• Ability to preserve the confidentiality of information.
• Ability and willingness to move with purpose and a strong sense of urgency.
• Ability to organize and prioritize a variety of tasks and projects, work within strict time frames and deadlines, and understand industry or technical terms and processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Windows 7.
• Ability to work weekends, extended days, and day or evening hours.
• Typing speed of 40 WPM.
• Valid driver's license for business travel.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Data Science, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience in the convenience retail channel is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Manage and analyze data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with category objectives.
• Analyze vendor performance, pricing, assortment, and other key metrics using data sources and tools.
• Develop category strategies by analyzing competitor data, pricing, and store visits to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with teams to identify growth levers and develop actionable vendor plans that support category goals.
• Support vendor negotiations to establish favorable terms aligned with financial and strategic objectives.
• Prepare and respond to vendor inquiries and manage communications to maintain strong vendor relationships.
• Model alternative category strategy scenarios and assess their impact on category performance.
• Finalize vendor offers and work with leadership to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Support email negotiations by calculating vendor asks and customizing communications to help close contracts.
• Onboard vendors to the negotiation process by hosting informational sessions and sharing necessary materials.
• Evaluate vendor offers, negotiate responses, and follow up to support timely contract closure.
• Maintain an archive of vendor offers, negotiations, and communications for future reference and analysis.
• Collaborate with and provide guidance to cross-functional teams, including Merchandising and Operations, to support execution of category strategies.
• Travel occasionally to vendors, suppliers, or retail locations as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level