Senior Category Analyst

Summary

Join C.A. Fortune, a leading consumer brands agency, as a Senior Category Analyst. Champion the development and maintenance of go-to-market analytics to support and grow product initiatives. Lead quarterly business reviews, optimize pricing and distribution, and develop category management tools. Serve as an internal consultant and trusted advisor to the sales organization and clients. This fully remote or hybrid (Chicago-based) role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic individual with strong communication skills and experience in CPG category management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree plus 5-7 years CPG industry sales and category management experience (Natural/Specialty/Organic food and/or beverage preferred)
• High level of proficiency in SPINs (Satori), Nielsen and IRI data
• In-depth experience in selling story development, category reviews & category management principals
• Well-honed analytical and highly advanced Excel & PowerPoint skills
• A proven record of leading category and business reviews
• Advanced communications skills, ability to clearly articulate complex concepts in a concise manner
• A demonstrated competency in multi-tasking and problem-solving with focus on meeting deadlines
• Strong analytical and strategic thinker; can turn self-developed strategies/efficient processes into execution
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Implement category management strategy aligned with the gold standard merchandising vision
• Develop fact-based category reviews, business reviews and selling stories
• Present business reviews to client, clearly articulating trends and recommendations to optimize strategic planning and selling efforts
• Develop and deliver account presentations relative to new items, share of shelf, and/or efficient assortment
• Create, maintain and perfect analytical tools, reporting and resources leveraged against the client
• Improve methodology related to reporting, analysis, identifying distribution voids and quantifying opportunity gaps
• Analyze shopper and consumer information and develop recommended actions based on insights
• Track, monitor and provide actionable feedback on ACV/distribution, sales trends, shelf management
• Utilize distributor, syndicated, and consumer research to develop fact-based analysis and business reviews
• Conduct promotional planning support via in-depth retailer specific analysis
• Develop best-in-class and retailer-specific planograms and merchandising proposals
• Work with the Business Managers to manage the distribution priorities by retailer and determine key opportunities
• Assist in the development of customer planograms and merchandising proposals
• Evaluate effectiveness of programs and communicate strategy and best practices internally and externally

Preferred Qualifications

• CPG industry sales and category management experience (Natural/ Specialty/ Organic food and/or beverage preferred)
• High level of proficiency in JDA and/or other space planning software
• Experience working with Shopper 360

Benefits

• 16 days of PTO
• 11 paid company holidays per year
• 2 paid volunteer days per year
• Bonus eligible
• 3 months fully paid parental leave (regardless of gender)
• Medical, dental, and vision
• Paid company life insurance
• 401k with company match
• Summer hours (half day Fridays from Memorial Day thru Labor Day)
• Work from home flexibility