Category analyst job description

As a Buyer- Category Analyst, you'll find innovative ways to manage the procurement of products through our vendors. You thrive on making processes more efficient and scalable, you work to ensure the highest level of quality of our operations and you proactively minimize operational risk. The Category Analyst monitors all assigned product during the entire purchasing cycle, from manufacturing to end customer. They establish product requirements with regard to normal customer movement and movement determined by advertised specials. The category analyst assigns purchase orders, works with logistics to arrange transportation, and secures delivery dates. The category analyst is also tasked with monitoring and maintaining inventory levels to an established inventory turn rate. The ideal candidate will be an assertive, detail-oriented individual with knowledge in their assigned category. We are specifically looking for a candidate with food purchasing experience.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES:

* Responsible for procurement of all items in assigned vendor listing
* Analyze items from multiple vendors within specified guidelines
* Communicate and collaborate with vendor and brokers when issues arise with product
* Partner with Internal Departments to understand all assigned inventory to ensure that product is being stored properly, rotated properly, and product movement is consistent
* Review and identify "buy-in opportunities"
* Identify and gather information pertinent to the analysis of back haul opportunities
* Maintain, analyze, and adjust the turn forecasting
* Perform real time promotional analysis of ad items to ensure the highest service levels utilizing the least amount of inventory
* Optimize Demand Planning tools to help achieve a proactive and adaptable approach to forecasting
* Responsible for establishing product requirements with regard to normal product movement by customers and movement of product as determined by advertised specials
* Monitors dates in order to minimize shrink
* Responsible for maintaining fill rate and service levels in order to meet customer expectations
* Coordinates disposition of substandard product, incoming or currently in the inventory, with inventory staff and vendor
* Establishes relationships with a variety of vendors and brokers
* Other tasks as needed

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

* Associate degree required; Bachelor degree a plus
* Food purchasing experience preferred
* Intermediate to Advanced level of proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
* Strong mathematical, problem solving and forecasting skills
* Consistent record of analyzing and trouble-shooting complex systems or processes
* Proven ability to work in a "Team-Based" or individual environment. Based on need of the department
* Professional written and verbal communication skills
* Must be able to read, write and understand English
* Demonstrated capacity to successfully complete multiple tasks in a high-volume purchasing environment

COMPANY PROFILE:

Lipari Foods is a regional full-line deli, bakery, packaging, and grocery distributor, headquartered in Warren, MI. We are a premier store distributor, delivering 31,000+ food and packaging products to 28 states and 10,000+ retail accounts. We operate several manufacturing facilities from a USDA fresh food plant to facilities specializing in jar goods, cheese and confections. We are in your communities providing food to your stores and feeding your families and neighbors. And we are growing. Fast. In fact, Lipari Foods was recently named by Crain's Business as one of the fastest growing companies in Michigan, and we're not just growing in Michigan!

We are looking for talent with a can do mindset, focused on growing a career, and interested in working on a diverse, dedicated team to create something greater collectively. Together, we are delivering more than great food to build a better tomorrow.

Lipari Foods LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

**Qualifications**

+ A Bachelor's Degree is required

+ 2-3 years' experience as a Category, Revenue Growth, or business analyst

+ 2-3 years of experience analyzing syndicated scanner and household panel data (IRI, A.C. Nielsen or other data sources)

+ Strong verbal and written communication skills for presenting insights and recommendations

+ Competency in successfully managing multiple projects

+ Solid proficiency in computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Pivot Tables/vlookups, etc.

+ Effective communication skills

**Additional Information**

BIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly commit to hiring people with different backgrounds and experiences to help us build better products, make better decisions, and better serve our customers. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability status, or similar characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

BIC is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any team member at BIC via email, or directly to a BIC team member in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of BIC, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by BIC as a result of the referral or through other means.

**Company Description**

BIC products are recognized all over the world for their quality, safety, affordability and ease of use. The ballpoint pen, the pocket lighter, and the shaver are all part of the daily lives of millions of consumers. These products make BIC an iconic international brand, present in more than 4 million retail outlets in more than 160 countries around the world.

BIC's founder, Marcel Bich, understood that to succeed, BIC needed hands-on team members who were willing to take measured risks and assume responsibility for their role in a team. Today, we provide our more than 15,000 team members in 61 countries with the opportunity to invent BIC's future - together - while honoring our past achievements. We are committed to our team members' development and empower those who wish to discover different areas of our business or acquire international experiences.

**Job Description**

The Category Analyst position will support the Canadian Commercial team through reporting, tracking and analytic activities for both BIC and our competition.

This position with report through the NAM Category Management/Shopper Insights team with a dotted line to the Canadian Commercial Team.

The Category Analyst will collaborate with our Canadian commercial team to perform market and category trend reporting as well as analyzing and charting insights from this data for both internal and customer presentations. Additional they will assist the Category Manager with analyzing Promotional ROIs, work to track pricing in the market and BDF fund allocation by customer.

Additionally, this person will perform monthly item maintenance for our POS databases, track innovation, planogram analysis.

As a member of the Category Management team, this role will regularly interact with other team members to share category/shopper insights, analytic approaches/tools, story-telling, and best practices.

EOE including disability/veteran

About Us
The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We're a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

No matter the brand, we're united under one vision: To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally. Bringing this vision to life is our team of 39,000+ food lovers, creative thinkers, and high performers worldwide. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership with Rise Against Hunger. We also stand committed to responsible, sustainable practices that extend to every facet of our business, our consumers, and our communities. Every day, we're transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion - and are ready to create the future, build a legacy, and lead as a global citizen - there's only one thing to do: join our table and let's make life delicious!

Our Culture of Ownership, Meritocracy & Collaboration
We're not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level - from entry-level intern to senior leader - to own their work. We share a responsibility to think like Owners - to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz - which we apply to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you're supported to grow and achieve. You're expected to bring your authentic self to work every day, to lead with humility, and drive outstanding performance at every level - and you'll be rewarded. You're given opportunities to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won't do it alone. You're supported by passionate teammates along the way, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress.

Job Description
About the Role
The Category Analyst is responsible for supporting the development, communication and execution of retailer-tailored strategies that align with the delivery of our company's targets. As part of the ANZ Commercial Strategy team, this individual must be able to work independently and cohesively as part of a team. They will also need to build strong relationships with cross functional partners in areas such as Sales, Marketing, Category Development, Field Sales, Procurement and Demand Planning. Individual will support one of the ANZ Business Units at Kraft Heinz Company.

Key Responsibilities
Delivery of Annual Operating Plan
Identify risks, develop and monitor retailer-oriented plans through cross-functional initiatives Communicate category strategy and assumptions, engaging sales, marketing and demand planning Manage volume calls and understand performance drivers behind sales execution, working across functions to address execution needs.

Development of category-specific retailer strategies
Work with sales on bottom up customer planning, including customer segmentation, shelf relay opportunities, ranging gaps and promotional activation Understand category role internally and across different customers, developing external customer rationale for promotional strategies based on insight

Innovation (NPD) selling story and assumptions
Define customer target setting for new product launches, including distribution, cost price and margin assumptions Build commercial plan for NPD and engage sales in executional delivery.

Business support
Assess ranging gaps across customers to drive profitable sales growth.Deliver the annual distribution drive plans to management and Field.Track implemented recommendations and analyse post event assessment of in-store activation.Develop and leverage tools, processes, insights and systems capabilities associated with range, shelf layout and distribution performance.Work closely with the balance of Commercial Finance, Category Development, Brand, Revenue Growth Management and Field teams Validate mid-long term forecast assumptions and identify risks based on customer insight.Engage with the Field team to understand and develop action plans at customer level

About You
1-2 years of working experience in Category Management and Shopper insights, Key Account Management or Sales related function. FMCG is desired Comfortable with data insights platforms e.g. Dunhumby, QuantiumAdvanced Excel and PowerPointStrong commercial acumen, ideally through direct experience in Sales or Category management Comfortable in customer-facing role to sell plans to an external audience, with strong interpersonal skills to influence and sell recommendations internally Inquisitive problem-solver with a strong desire to learn and an action-focused mindset Able to collaborate effectively across markets and functional teams

Benefits Program

We empower our people to own their work- and it's true our employees are our competitive advantage - so we take care of our Kraft Heinz family with our ‘Live Well' benefits program:
Hybrid Working- flexibility around when and where you work Gatherings - monthly drinks & nibbles- End of Year CelebrationWellbeing - annual health checks & flu shots- onsite wellbeing sessions & webinars Volunteering - volunteer days with Foodbank- meal packing events for our Global partner Rise Against HungerParental Leave - 12 weeks paid parental leave for primary caregivers In-house training programs - Access to our online learning platform, Ownerversity for continuous learning and development Career Development - Opportunity to be mentored by excellent leaders and have on-the-job skill development and coaching Cultural Leave - Two days paid leave per calendar year for the purpose of fulfilling or observing religious, ceremonial or culturally significant days

The Kraft Heinz Company Australia & New Zealand is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces- promotes and values diversity and inclusion. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds hesitate to apply for roles if they feel they don't meet 100% of the criteria. So, if this opportunity excites you and you think you have skills and experience that can add value (even if not specified), please don't hesitate to apply!
#LI-DNI
Location(s)
Newmarket - Auckland

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.