Category Analyst III

Default Brand; Arkansas; On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Default Brand is seeking a Category Analyst III to provide advanced analytics across assigned customer accounts. You will analyze sales, customer, and market data to uncover trends and opportunities, and partner with Sales and cross-functional teams to drive merchandising initiatives and sales objectives.

The role requires strong presentation skills, independence in managing multiple projects, and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 4–6 years in category management, sales analysis, or related analytics.
• Experience turning data into actionable business insights.
• Ability to manage multiple analytical projects independently.
• Experience delivering presentations to cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; data translation to actions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel; familiarity with data tools.
• Space planning software and planogram experience preferred.
• Ability to build collaborative cross-functional partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Acts as category and analytics SME for assigned accounts.
• Leads complex sales, shipment, and market analyses to identify trends and risks.
• Develops data-driven recommendations for merchandising and plans.
• Designs and oversees analytical reports and dashboards.
• Evaluates competitive trends and shares insights with Sales/leadership.
• Leads post-promotional analyses to improve future performance.
• Recommends pricing, assortment, and space planning aligned to objectives.
• Oversees complex merchandising projects and tracks progress against plans.
• Performs brand performance analyses including ROI and benchmarking.
• Identifies process improvements to boost team efficiency.
• Serves as primary analytical resource for accounts.
• Anticipates needs and provides analyses with minimal direction.
• Develops analytical content for meetings and reviews.
• Participates in account planning and strategy discussions.
• Leads analytical projects and mentors junior analysts.

Skills

Strong analytics

Excel proficiency

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Data visualization

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Finance, or related field

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

Space planning software

Planogram development tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Category Analyst III provides advanced analytical support for assigned customer accounts by analyzing sales, customer, and market data, identifying business trends and opportunities, and developing insights to support account performance. This role serves as a subject matter resource for assigned accounts, independently manages complex analytical projects, and partners with Sales and cross-functional teams to provide recommendations that support merchandising initiatives, business planning, and sales objectives.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the category and analytical subject matter expert for assigned customer accounts.
• Leads complex sales, shipment, and market analyses to identify business trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Develops data-driven recommendations to support merchandising initiatives, account planning, and sales strategies.
• Designs, enhances, and oversees analytical reports, dashboards, and reporting processes.
• Evaluates competitive market trends and communicates business insights to Sales and leadership.
• Leads post-promotional analyses and provides recommendations to improve future performance.
• Develops pricing, merchandising, assortment, and space planning recommendations to support business objectives.
• Leads complex merchandising projects and monitors progress against established business plans.
• Provides in-depth brand performance analyses for company-owned and licensed brands, including advertising ROI, marketplace assessments, retailer positioning, promotional effectiveness, and competitive benchmarking.
• Identifies opportunities to improve analytical processes and partners with leadership to implement process improvements that enhance team efficiency.
• Serves as the primary analytical resource for assigned customer accounts.
• Anticipates business needs and proactively provides analyses, recommendations, and decision support with minimal direction.
• Develops analytical content and presentation materials for customer meetings, business reviews, and sales presentations.
• Participates in account planning and sales strategy discussions by providing analytical insights and recommendations.
• Leads complex account-related analytical projects and serves as a resource for other analysts.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

• Partners with Sales to support account planning, customer meetings, business reviews, and sales presentations.
• Prepares executive-level analysis and presentation materials for customer meetings and strategic business discussions.
• Collaborates with the Forecasting team to identify inventory risks and opportunities and support business planning.
• Partners with Product Development to develop product assortments, product proposals, and competitive analyses.
• Collaborates with Marketing to support packaging, product messaging, merchandising initiatives, planograms, and product renderings.
• Participates in customer meetings, conference calls, and sales strategy discussions as needed.
• Communicates analytical findings and business recommendations to cross-functional teams and executive leadership.
• Provides guidance and technical expertise to junior analysts and promotes best practices across the team.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor\'s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in category management, sales analysis, business analytics, merchandising, or a related analytical role.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing complex sales, customer, and market data to develop business insights and recommendations.
• Proven ability to independently manage multiple analytical projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience developing and delivering presentations and communicating analytical findings to cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel; experience with reporting, data visualization, or category management tools preferred.
• Experience with space planning software and planogram development preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and effectively partner with cross-functional teams.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to withstand prolonged periods of time sitting at a desk.
• Frequent use of upper extremities to perform keyboard functions.
• Ability to occasionally stand/walk.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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