Category Analysis Supervisor

The Category Analysis Supervisor must be a dynamic, detail-oriented individual, capable analyzing ISN’s SKUs in a variety of dimensions.  The individual must be analytical, always searching the data for opportunities to grow, or problems to be dealt with. 

The Category Analyst Supervisor’s main mission is to collaborate with the business to answer business questions by using data mining techniques, including pattern detection, graph analysis or statistical analysis. They will be responsible for categorizing trends, such as growth, decline, or year-over-year analysis.  Major accounts and channels by their size have the leverage to influence growth of ISN, and the ability to identify the key components of that growth is an important attribute.
 

II.  ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Category Analysis Skills:  The Category Analysis Supervisor must be analytical in nature, and must make use of the company’s storehouse of data.  The ability to categorize the data into year over year and trend reports is important.  Opportunities exist for revenue and profit margin growth, as some SKUs are faster selling, of higher value, or of higher gross margin percentage.  The Category Analysis Supervisor must be able to comb through this data, and identify those opportunities (or occasional problems), in order to develop plans for growing the business. Understanding our customer’s sell-through rates (POS) data is also important, as it indicates the rate at which our products move through the customer’s system, and thus should be replenished (or harvested).
• This individual will deliver POS- and sales-based competitive advantages by analyzing categories at the direction of the Manager of Trade Marketing and Category Analysis and via input from Sales, Marketing and Category Management. The Category Analyst will plan and communicate the business trends to the relevant teams. This role will require an in-depth knowledge of the relative industry standards and leading technologies and solutions. The Category Analyst will assist in developing and communicating the relative strategies as aligned to the business strategy.
• The Category Analyst will assist the with the Demand Analysis process. This individual will plan against current and future business demands and execute to the prioritization established by the Category Manager. This includes assisting with the definition of internal baselines and the prioritization of business requirements.
• The Category Analyst will assist the Category Manager in the development and execution of the relevant category strategies. This includes the leverage of all internal and external knowledge sources, development of the strategies, communication of the strategies, implementation of the strategies inclusive of the communication of the strategy, compliance assurance.
• The Category Analyst will execute the necessary reporting and data analytics in support of the definition and creation of the category strategies. Assist in the tracking and updating of the changing business priorities as related to the demand intake process. Provide the necessary inputs from the industry forums and internal market intelligence sources to help shape the overall category strategies. Have an in-depth knowledge of the business’s project portfolio and leverage that knowledge in shaping the resource planning. Communicate in written and verbal form the category strategies and the relevant industry changes. Communicate status and update the required toolsets to ensure reporting consistency. Actively engage in team building and Sales events.
• This role requires direct engagement with Sales, Marketing, and Category Management as well as limited engagement with senior executive levels in the business.
• Catalyst for achieving assigned sales quota in designated strategic accounts.
• Catalyst for meeting assigned expectations for profitability.
• Helps achieve strategic customer objectives defined by company management.
• Assists in development of strategic customer account plans that meet company standards.
   

III. QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Minimum of a Bachelor Degree is required and/or equivalent 3-5 years of experience.
• Experience with Tableau desktop preferred.
• Expert level Excel and MS Access skills required.
• MS Office suite (Word, PowerPoint) proficiency is required.
• Skilled in SQL scripting and the ability to pull data is required.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills are required.
• Demonstrated verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills are required.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and processes is required.
• This individual must have the ability to drive adoption and alignment of category strategies within ISN and with customers.