Category Insights Analyst
About The Position
The Category Insights Analyst serves as an analytical and insights resource for clients in a designated regional sales market. The role collects, analyzes, and reports syndicated, retailer, shipment, consumption, shopper, and internal data to provide business insights, forecasting, sales planning, pricing recommendations, and pre- and post-promotional evaluations. The analyst develops standardized and ad hoc reports, identifies reporting needs, and turns complex analyses into actionable recommendations that support client development and business growth. The position works closely with regional sales teams, clients, and internal stakeholders, and serves as a subject matter expert on consumption, category, and regional marketplace data for assigned accounts. Responsibilities include analyzing trends, competitive activity, pricing, promotions, assortment, shelving, and shopper behavior; supporting business reviews and client selling opportunities; and collaborating with space management on planograms. The role may also contribute to tools and processes that improve data quality, reporting efficiency, and business intelligence. The company is a North American sales and marketing agency serving consumer packaged goods and food product manufacturers, suppliers, and producers across multiple retail channels. The posting describes both leadership-level duties and a separate version of the role with no direct reports and less than one year of relevant experience; those descriptions conflict.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Analytics, Economics, Statistics, or a related field.
- The posting lists 5–8+ years of experience in category management, shopper insights, business intelligence, strategy, analytics, or a related field in CPG, FMCG, retail, or consulting; a separate version lists less than one year of relevant experience.
- The leadership-level description requires 3+ years of people leadership experience managing teams of five or more associates.
- Experience using syndicated data sources such as NIQ, Circana, or comparable industry platforms.
- Strong analytical, interpretive, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and business acumen skills, including the ability to turn complex data into actionable business insights.
- Strong presentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain quantitative analysis clearly to varied audiences.
- Ability to collaborate with clients, customers, sales teams, and cross-functional partners and influence decisions through fact-based recommendations.
- In-depth understanding of category management, including assortment, pricing, promotion, shelving, and shopper marketing.
- Advanced proficiency in leveraging syndicated, retailer, and internal data sources.
- Working knowledge of syndicated scan data and business reporting applications.
- Experience using data visualization tools.
- Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs, and aptitude for learning relational databases and multidimensional data tools.
Nice To Haves
- Professional category management certification, such as Category Management Association (CMA), Certified Knowledge Management Global (CKMG), The Partnering Group (TPG), Delta Associates, or a similar industry-recognized certification.
- Consumer packaged goods experience.
Responsibilities
- Collect, analyze, and report syndicated, retailer, shipment, consumption, shopper, and internal data to support sales and client business objectives and key performance indicators.
- Develop and deliver standardized and ad hoc reports, business insights, forecasts, sales plans, and actionable recommendations.
- Contribute to retail trade and promotional pricing recommendations and support pre- and post-promotional analysis.
- Analyze market trends, competitive activity, channel shifts, pricing, promotions, assortment, shelving, and shopper behavior to identify growth opportunities.
- Develop expertise in assigned retailers and regional marketplaces and serve as a subject matter expert for category and consumption data.
- Assist with line reviews, business overviews, and selling stories that support client selling opportunities.
- Collaborate with sales teams, clients, internal stakeholders, and the Space Management team on strategies and planograms.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, customers, and internal and external partners; influence decisions with fact-based insights.
- Integrate category, consumer, and shopper insights into presentations and business stories for diverse audiences.
- Identify business growth opportunities through proactive analysis and data-driven solutions.
- Contribute to tools and processes that improve data quality, reporting efficiency, and business intelligence capabilities.
- In the leadership-level description, coach, train, direct, hire, develop, and retain team members; manage performance and ensure deliverables meet quality standards.
- In the leadership-level description, support the professional growth and performance of direct and indirect reports.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Training and professional development opportunities.
- Generous paid time off.
- Career growth and advancement opportunities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
