Category Management Analyst

Our client is seeking a Category Management Analyst to lead customer-facing category analysis, line-review execution, and assortment and shelf recommendations for assigned retail accounts.

This role serves as the primary category management resource for designated customers. The analyst will create buyer-ready category narratives, competitive assessments, assortment recommendations, and planogram strategies that position the organization as a knowledgeable category partner within the cooking oils market.

The position works cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Innovation, and Category Insights teams. Analysis will incorporate retailer-provided data, syndicated market data, internal sales information, and other relevant sources. The role reports to the Associate Director of Category Insights.

This remote position is available to candidates residing in states where the employer is registered to employ, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, New Hampshire, California, New Jersey, and Washington. Approximately 25% travel is required for customer meetings, planning sessions, line-review presentations, and periodic visits to the Baltimore corporate office.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Data Analytics, or a related field
• One to three years of category management experience with a consumer packaged goods company
• Direct experience supporting customer-facing work with retail buyers
• Experience developing and presenting category reviews or line-review materials
• Experience with planogram, shelf, and assortment analysis
• Proficiency with Nielsen, Circana, and/or retailer-specific syndicated data platforms
• Ability to combine large and varied data sets into clear category recommendations and buyer-ready presentations
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong PowerPoint presentation-development skills
• Strong analytical thinking, curiosity, and problem-solving ability
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational, resource-management, and adaptability skills
• Ability to learn new systems and software quickly

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Power BI, including refreshing, maintaining, and reviewing existing dashboards
• Experience supporting weekly business reporting
• Experience within olive oil, cooking oils, or center-store grocery categories

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $67,000-$82,000, based on experience
• Annual bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer-funded monthly premiums for individual or family coverage
• 401(k) plan with company matching
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Paid vacation, 40 hours of paid sick leave, nine paid holidays, and two floating holidays
• Paid jury duty, bereavement, and volunteer leave
• Employee referral bonus and Employee Assistance Program
• Educational assistance and family scholarship programs

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver customer-facing category presentations, line-review materials, and planogram recommendations
• Create account-level category growth strategies aligned with organizational objectives
• Build trusted relationships with retail buyers and merchandising teams
• Lead category reviews and contribute to line reviews and joint business planning discussions
• Develop and optimize planograms, including assortment, product flow, shelf placement, and space allocation recommendations
• Support set-room activities for resets and product cut-ins as needed
• Translate consumer, shopper, competitive, and marketplace insights into actionable assortment, pricing, and shelf recommendations
• Monitor category and brand performance using point-of-sale, panel, shopper, and retailer data
• Identify performance risks and develop action plans
• Partner with Category Insights leadership to develop category narratives, competitive positioning, and go-to-market strategies
• Maintain and refresh existing Power BI reports and dashboards
• Support weekly reporting and routine performance analysis
• Track new product launches and compare results against existing and competitor products
• Conduct SKU rationalization, promotion planning, and post-promotion effectiveness analysis
• Travel to customer meetings and present insights alongside the Sales team
• Represent the organization professionally in customer-facing environments
• Complete additional analytical projects and data requests as assigned