Sr. Assortment Analyst

PURPOSE: The Senior Assortment and Data Analyst provides strategic and tactical support to Corporate, Banner, Region Merchants, and Independent Retailers in the development of the merchandising strategy and support tools, specifically to optimize assortment decisions. Utilize both internal and external data analysis, custom Nielsen tools, and SPINS data to support efficient and accurate item acceptance and item discontinue decisions. Position requires open and proactive communication with Merchants located across UNFI business units. This communication may be in person, but majority of communication will be via phone calls and e-mail. The Assortment and Data Analyst will work closely, and in coordination, with the Corporate Schematics Team to ensure assortment decisions are acted upon in schematics. In addition, position requires close working relationship with SPINS business partners and Nielsen On-Site Team to make informed and on trend decisions. To be successful in the position, requires balancing assortment analytics with merchandising knowledge, data integration, technical skills, and the understanding of business units go-to-market strategies.Ideal candidate comes from the Grocery industry with a good understanding of overall category management and planograms. Experience with merchandising and schematics.Strong technical skills: Advanced Excel - pivot tables, macros, etc. Experience with SQL and Power BI is a plus.Must feel comfortable with leading presentations. Effective communication when speaking with peers, senior leadership and C-Suite at the Customer level.JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:Analyze assortment using a fact base knowledge (consumer/category/competitive insights) to provide recommendations aligned to local market relevance and natural/organic/specialty trends for corporate, banner and region merchandising teams.Plans and executes data mining, data integration, trend analysis, report development, and custom analytics for Retailers with multiple disparate point of sale systems.Develop an understanding of each business unit's go-to-market strategies and tactics, along with understanding the assortment philosophies of merchants across the company.Determine space by schematic, by store working in concert with the schematic analysts.Provide analytical insight on space and assortment during the tactical new item acceptance and item discontinue processes, generating a ranked list of potential assortment changes for merchants.Make recommendations on localized SKU assortments by helping to manage localized schematics and open communication with down-stream, local banner merchants.Provides analysis, insight and support to determine category trends and performance as well as identify strategies and tactics to improve category performance.Architecture and integration of data warehouse combining multiple data sources into one model for analyzing and presenting data based on business initiatives or project requests.Experience with data extraction, visualization, or analyst/interpretation and the art or data storytelling Proven track record of intellectual curiosity and process improvement/automation and a hunger to develop leading edge reporting solutions.Ability to influence and persuade others without authority.Conducts consultative and collaborative conversations with merchants and partners who are seeking information or analytical support to help stand-up new analytical workstream for them.Capable of working beyond the data to understand the business functions and behaviors of our customers, merchants, and corporate partners.Is comfortable in autonomy and ambiguity, while also having the ability to collaborate and innovate with others to quickly bring solutions to life in our ever dynamic and changing environment.Conduct detailed data analysis to support key business initiatives and to foster data driven decision making.Eye for detail, accuracy, and creativity with the ability to connect disparate information to create a story around the data and solve for obstacles they may encounter along the way.Partners with Merchandising, Store Services teams, Technical Services, and teammates to execute key projects and initiatives.JOB REQUIREMENTS: Education/ Certifications:BS degree in related field required.Experience:5+ years of analytical merchandising and/or assortment analysis experience.Knowledge:Specialists in data analysis, achieved from either experiential and/or academic routes.Skills/ Abilities:Ability to use common reporting and database technologies: MicroStrategy, Power BI, Tableau, Excel, Teradata, and SQL Server.Ability to perform programming and complex formulas.Understanding of syndicated data sources preferred (i.e. Nielsen, IRI, SPINS).Strong relationship management and collaboration skills.Can work effectively as part of a team, including being remote from the team.Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently in a high energy and optimistic manner.Comfort with extreme ambiguity.Ability to break down multiple data sources to draw conclusions and provide recommendations Understands business drivers and is commercially aware.Ability to work across vast amounts of data from different data sources.Strong innovation and creative skills.Strong basis for action.PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/ DEMANDS:Some travel may be required.Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at desk or computer terminal.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone and other office equipment in the course of normal workday.Stooping, bending, twisting and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.