Sr Analyst, Category Management

WHO WE ARE:

Entrepreneurial | Expert | Exclusive | Empowering

• We are entrepreneurial growth agents for our clients and our company.
• Backed by PLM's 35+ years of experience, we bring unparalleled Kroger expertise.
• We operate exclusively at Kroger, where our team excels in navigating its strategy, systems, and decision-making processes.
• We are an employee-owned company, fostering a culture and work environment that empowers and engages employees.

WHAT WE DO:

three sixty Merchandising Solutions specializes in the strategic expansion of CPG client product portfolios at Kroger, America's leading grocery retailer. We provide a wealth of merchandising expertise and vast brokerage capabilities in all facets of grocery retailing: Relationship Management, Category Management, Insights & Analytics, Space Optimization, Promotional Planning, Administration.

WHAT YOU'LL DO (POSITION SUMMARY):

As a Senior Business Analyst, you will be an integral part of a business unit partnering and supporting a team of client leaders by transforming retail & shopper data into insights that drive growth strategies and business plans. The role spans three core areas: 1) Insight Driven Consultation, 2) Data Integrity & Accuracy, 3) Solution Optimization & Growth

This role is not only about delivering analytic excellence but also about shaping how we and our clients make better, faster, data driven decisions.

Three Core Responsibilities:

Insight Driven Consultation:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Transform shopper, POS and syndicated data into actionable insights identifying growth opportunities and performance drivers across clients
• Data Expertise: Apply knowledge in Kroger systems and syndicated data sources (such as 84.51, Circana, Blue Yonder, etc.).
• Strategic Planning: Contribute to annual, period, and KOMPASS planning through data driven recommendations in pricing, promotions, assortment and products.
• Deliverable Leadership: Oversee the development, quality and timely delivery of regular analytic deliverables
• Collaboration & Communication: Partner effectively with internal teams, clients and Kroger to share insights and influence decisions.

Data Integrity & Accuracy:

• Data Stewardship: Partner with our BI Development team to ensure clean, accurate and accessible data supporting our analytics, solutions and our operational processes
• Quality Assurance: Ensure flawless execution through data accuracy, expert analytic technique, organization and delivery timeliness

Solution Optimization & Growth

• Solution Improvement: Continuously improve analytics solutions, deliverables, and processes by incorporating automation, scalable data models and advanced analytic techniques to make them more efficient, effective, automated and scalable
• Automation: Ideate, develop, automate, and distribute scalable solutions and reports using BI tools and analytics platforms to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy
• Process Optimization: Recommend and support process improvements, tools, and analytic approaches that increase efficiency and impact
• Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Stay current on new tools, data sources, technology, and industry trends, embrace change and apply new knowledge.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4-year degree in Business Intelligence, Analytics, Computer Science, Business, Statistics, or Economics preferred

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 Applications with a strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel
• Experience working in analytics within grocery merchandising
• Data visualization tool experience. Power BI preferred
• Reporting and database experience
• Ability to aggregate & analyze disparate data from multiple sources
• Strong understanding of data structures and schemas, and relational data modeling
• Experience with Power Automate and Power Platform to streamline workflows is a plus
• Exposure to programming languages such as Python or R for analytics is a plus

Analytic & Problem-Solving Skills:

• Ability to interpret business needs and translate them into actionable solutions
• Expert organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with large, high-volume datasets, optimizing queries for performance.
• Familiarity with core CPG/Retail metrics including TDP, USW, lift, penetration, trips, price/promo elasticity, and distribution voids, etc.

Communication, Collaboration & Leadership Skills

• Ability to communicate insights in person, virtual and in written communication
• Ability to build and maintain positive and productive business relationships with clients, Kroger, vendors, and team members
• Ability to effectively craft and deliver a message to senior level executives
• Strong organizational and teamwork skills
• Strong leadership, coaching and management skills
• Highly motivated self-starter who can work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, prioritize and multi-task

MINIMUM PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Must be able to:
• remain standing/sitting for several hours at a time
• lift 10-15 lbs. occasionally

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Retail / CPG Analytics
• Category Management
• Statistical & Analytical Methods
• Advanced Data Modeling
• Forecasting & Predictive Analytics
• Pricing & Promotion Analytics
• BI Solution Development

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS:

Some of the Competencies/Skills required to successfully perform this position are:

• Adaptability – adjusting effectively to work within new work tasks, structures, processes, requirements or cultures
• Building Strategic Working Relationships – developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
• Building Trust – interacting with Clients, Kroger employees, customers and suppliers in a way that gives confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization
• Communication – clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups
• Customer Focus –developing and sustaining productive relationships with clients and Kroger employees that we represent
• Decision Making – identify issues and opportunities, analyze data from multiple sources, choose a sound course of action, and act based on facts, constraints, and likely outcomes.
• Inclusion – value and leverage the ideas and strengths of people with diverse backgrounds, styles, and abilities to improve business results.
• Initiating Action – taking prompt action to accomplish objectives to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive; generating innovative solutions in work situations
• Leadership – provide training and clear direction, set high standards, and address performance issues in a way that supports growth.
• Negotiation – effectively exploring alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance of all parties.
• Self-Starter – working the majority of the time without direct supervision; prioritizing, organizing and completing workload accurately within allotted time.
• Work Standards – set high expectations, take ownership, and maintain excellence.