Category Advisor Walmart

Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Category Advisor is a critical resource for the Walmart buyer. Using American Greetings’ category data and expertise, and well as retailer-supplied competitive data, the advisor initiates and implements product category and space management strategies that will improve total category performance for Walmart. This position will work extensively and independently with the Walmart buyer and executives. Success in this job requires excellent analytical skills, strong presentation capabilities, a forward-thinking approach to strategy, and demonstrated executive influence. In addition, this employee must demonstrate a superior level of ethical behavior regarding independent work and confidential information. This person will be a key face to the customer and will greatly influence the entire category strategy for our largest retailer. Currently this position’s scope supports the Christmas Gift Packaging category advisement for Walmart, but likely will include other product categories as well.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Provides trusted/credible leadership and counsel to Walmart in a Category Advisor role by providing insight based on facts/data along with recommendations for how to drive total category growth. Develop and maintain active, on-going relationships with Walmart’s Buying Team and Planning Team.

Protects the confidentiality of competitive data that the category management team will have access to so that no one outside of the category management team (unless explicitly granted by Walmart) has access to this information.

• Evaluates category performance – in total, by vendor and across channels
• Creates comprehensive view of performance through sales, margin, space, price, formats. Initially this position will also assert what that comprehensive view looks like – timing and content and will review with the Walmart Buyer.
• Utilizes Walmart Customer Advantage and other IRI tools to evaluate performance relative to the rest of the market
• Demonstrates analytic thought leadership by thinking about “why this is important / relevant?”, and “how is it best evaluated and communicated?”
• Utilizes data storytelling to communicate performance, highlight key indicators and incite action where applicable
• Category strategy development to drive total category growth
• Compiles and synthesizes competitive insights / marketplace trends
• Uses data driven insights (performance and market) to drive recommendations
• Delivers influential presentations to buyer conveying findings and recommendations
• Keeps abreast of Walmart developments
• Keeps abreast of developments in retail landscape – through research and regular retail visits to Walmart and direct and indirect competition
• Continues to develop category management and analytic capacities
  
  

Physical Demands

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Physical demands typical for office environment. Computer work, sitting, light lifting, talking on phone, etc.
  
  

Work Environment

The characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Work will be conducted primarily at the American Greetings Bentonville, AR office. Some travel may be necessary (to plants, subsidiaries, conferences, external meetings, etc.) but likely not more than 10% of the time. A fast-paced environment with an occasional heavy workload. Job may require working more than 40 hours a week at times. Frequent fixed deadlines.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environment.
• May travel occasionally for up to one week at a time as needed.
  
  

NOTE: The above stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit the discretionary authority of supervisors to assign other tasks of similar nature or level of responsibility.

Experience Required

• 2-3 years sophisticated, detailed data analysis (required)
• 2-3 years identifying, developing, and communicating strategies (required)
• 1-2 years presenting to, persuading, and influencing executives / retailers (preferred)
• 2-3 years direct interaction with Merchant / Product functions (required)
• 1-2 years category-specific experience (preferred)
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Data management (i.e., collection, integration, analysis, reporting, and storage)

• Talent development and management of direct staff
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) tailored to varying levels of the organization
• Competence in general research and testing methodologies
• Statistical measurement and interpretation
• Innate curiosity
• Systems thinking (understands part, whole and connectedness)
• Strong working knowledge of Access, Excel, and Powerpoint. Power BI, coding in R, or similar a plus
  
  

Education Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in a business field, or significant working experiencing in a related field
• Master’s Degree preferred, but not required
  
  

Career Site Category

Corporate Jobs