Category Insights Analyst

Advantage Solutions•St. Louis, MO

22h•$58,400 - $73,000•Remote

About The Position

The Category Insights Analyst serves as an analytical and insights resource for clients in an assigned regional sales market. The role collects, analyzes, and reports syndicated, retailer, shipment, consumption, shopper, and internal data to support sales and client business objectives. It accelerates information delivery, streamlines reporting, and produces business insights through analysis, forecasting, sales planning, pricing recommendations, and pre- and post-promotional evaluations. The analyst works with regional sales teams, clients, and internal stakeholders to identify reporting needs, conduct business analyses, and create standardized and ad hoc reports. As a subject matter resource for consumption, category, and regional marketplace data, the analyst translates findings about market trends, competition, pricing, promotions, assortment, shelf optimization, channel shifts, and shopper behavior into actionable recommendations and business stories. The role also supports business reviews, client selling opportunities, trade effectiveness, and collaboration with the Space Management team on planograms and shelving standards. The position works primarily in an office environment and is described as sedentary. The job posting includes conflicting descriptions of the role’s seniority and experience: one section calls for 5–8+ years of relevant experience and 3+ years of people leadership, while another specifies less than one year of relevant experience and no direct reports.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Analytics, Economics, Statistics, or a related field is required.
Experience requirements are inconsistent across the posting: one section specifies 5–8+ years in category management, shopper insights, business intelligence, strategy, analytics, or a related discipline in CPG, FMCG, retail, or consulting; another specifies less than one year of relevant experience.
Experience requirements are inconsistent across the posting: one section requires 3+ years of people leadership managing teams of five or more associates; another states the position has no direct reports and no supervisory responsibilities for direct reports.
Experience using syndicated data sources such as NIQ, Circana, or comparable industry platforms; another section specifies working knowledge of syndicated scan data and business reporting applications.
Strong analytical, interpretive, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to turn complex data into actionable insights.
Strong presentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex quantitative analysis clearly and precisely to diverse audiences.
Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables and V-lookups.
Ability to use data visualization tools.
Advanced proficiency in leveraging syndicated, retailer, and internal data sources to identify trends and opportunities.
In-depth understanding of category management principles, including assortment, pricing, promotion, shelving, and shopper marketing.
Ability to collaborate effectively with clients, customers, sales teams, and cross-functional business partners.
Strong business acumen and ability to connect insights to measurable business outcomes.
The posting states there are no travel requirements; another section says travel and driving are not essential functions.
Ability to perform the essential functions in an office environment, including sitting for extended periods, hearing a telephone, entering data on a computer, and potentially lifting up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Professional category management certification, including CMA, CKMG, The Partnering Group (TPG), Delta Associates, or a similar industry-recognized certification.
Consumer packaged goods experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Collect, analyze, and report consumption, shopper, syndicated, retailer, shipment, and internal data to support sales and client objectives and core KPIs.
Develop business insights, forecasts, sales-planning analyses, and standardized and ad hoc reports.
Contribute to retail trade and promotional pricing recommendations and conduct pre- and post-promotional analysis to improve trade effectiveness and efficiency.
Analyze market trends, competitive activity, channel shifts, retailer dynamics, pricing, promotions, assortment, shelving, and shopper behavior; serve as a regional marketplace subject matter resource.
Assist the Category Analytics & Insights Manager with line reviews, business overviews, and selling stories that support client selling opportunities.
Collaborate with the Space Management team to develop planograms and advocate for shelving standards aligned with client objectives.
Build and maintain relationships with assigned clients, customers, sales teams, and internal and external stakeholders.
Present insight-driven recommendations and translate complex quantitative analyses into clear, actionable business guidance.
Partner with sales and cross-functional stakeholders on category management initiatives, strategies, and business-building opportunities.
Identify business growth opportunities through proactive analysis and data-driven solutions.
Where applicable, coach, train, direct, develop, and support team members; ensure project deliverables meet organizational and client quality standards.
Where applicable, hire, train, coach, develop, and retain direct reports and conduct performance management using established company processes.
May delegate work and provide guidance, mentorship, and support to associates without direct reporting relationships.
Contribute to tools and processes that improve data quality, reporting efficiency, and business intelligence capabilities.