Category Development & Space Planning Analyst

C&S Family of Companies•Miami, FL

34d•Hybrid

About The Position

Keep our communities fed. Our focus is simple but meaningful - from our distribution centers to our offices, every employee of C&S and our family of companies works to help feed local families, neighbors, and communities. As a space planning and category development professional, you will create and optimize product layouts in stores using data to maximize sales and profitability. Key responsibilities include analyzing sales and shopper data, creating store-specific planograms, developing category strategies, and collaborating with merchandising, sales, and operations teams to align plans with business goals and customer needs.

Requirements

Working knowledge of current technologies and products used in the industry; strong commercial acumen
Strong strategic and analytical orientation with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights
Expertise in software like JDA Space Planning or AutoCAD and advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Experience with retail metrics (POS, forecast, margin) and category management principles
Proven leader, team-builder, and resourceful problem-solver
Strong organization, project management, and stakeholder service skills
Exceptional presentation, communication, and story-telling skills to influence internal and external stakeholders
Self-motivated, action-focused mindset
3-5+ years of experience in space planning, category management, merchandising, or a related area

Nice To Haves

Experience developing store and banner specific assortment planograms preferred
Experience with SymphonyAI and space or floor planning tools is preferred

Responsibilities

Owning, creating, managing, and delivering warehouse-specific category planograms, including mix options, variety, shopper selection, and output quality.
Incorporating key corporate growth objectives into assortment planning, providing clear retail guidance and in-store activation priorities.
Determining assortment growth goals in line with the C&S growth plan.
Monitoring, tracking, and communicating assortment and execution KPIs versus timelines.
Developing and presenting data-driven strategies for category composition, assortment, and shelf placement to influence key stakeholders and drive sales and profitability.
Analyzing sales, category trends, and shopper behavior using syndicated data tools (like Circana/IRI, Nielsen) and Point-of-Sale (POS) data to identify growth and operational opportunities.
Incorporating key insights to determine industry and consumer trends, product market performance, and space-to-sales allocation.
Utilizing shopper insights to make macro-planning decisions regarding category placement, adjacencies, and flow, as well as micro-planning decisions for product placement, visibility, and adjacencies.
Leading manufacturer relationships focused on category mix, assortment, and best practices, integrating key learnings into planning and activation.
Developing business cases and recommendations for new products.
Collaborating with internal supply chain partners to recommend exit strategies for underperforming products.
Working with systems, product, and sales management teams to ensure execution of the growth agenda.
Communicating internally and externally regarding cycle guidance and execution.
Leading assortment planning SOPs, ensuring process adherence and proper outputs.
Ensuring key information and asset management resources are fully engaged and current.
Managing and executing store remodels, new store openings, and resets, ensuring all space plans and merchandise plans are complete, accurate, and compliant with safety and regulatory requirements.
Continuously monitoring and evaluating the performance of space and merchandise plans, providing recommendations for improvement to leadership.