We are hiring an analytically elite Category Manager / Category Analyst to serve as the commercial intelligence engine for a fast-growing CPG brand scaling from. This role blends deep category analytics, trade optimization, and retail strategy with storytelling that drives better decisions — internally and with key partners.You will transform complex datasets — syndicated data (SPINS, Nielsen, IRI), retailer portals (e.G., 84.51°), distributor reporting, and internal systems — into actionable insights that meaningfully improve velocity, trade efficiency, pricing, and distribution performance. This person is the strategic partner to Sales, Marketing, Ops, Finance, and Leadership.Strategic Importance- As we scale nationally and deepen relationships with major retailers and distributors (UNFI, KeHE, C&S, Dot), this role is critical to commercial success by:- Elevating category insights as a competitive advantage- Strengthening sales pitches with data-backed stories that win distribution- Increasing promo ROI through rigorous trade and lift analysis- Driving cross-functional alignment on strategy via clear analytics + narratives- This role is not just about dashboards — it’s about impact and influence across the business.Key Responsibilities- Syndicated Data + Retailer Insights- Own analysis of SPINS, Nielsen/IRI and retailer portal data to understand:- Category growth drivers- Competitor dynamics- Velocity and share trends- Translate data into retailer-specific insights for buyers and commercial teams.Promotion & Trade Effectiveness- Measure incremental lift, promo effectiveness, and trade ROI.- Partner with Sales and Finance to improve TPM discipline, promotional forecasting and post mortems.- Create frameworks to compare promo results vs. baseline and forecast.Assortment, Pricing, and Space Strategy- Recommend SKU rationalization, pricing strategies, and assortment optimization.- Partner with Sales/Category buyers on planogram space recommendations.Distributor & Retail Performance TrackingTrack performance across key channels and distributors (UNFI, KeHE, C&S, Dot), including:- Fill rates- Retail sell-through- Inventory health and void riskProvide early-warning signals and corrective action recommendations.Forecasting & Demand Planning Support- Improve forecast accuracy and alignment with Supply Chain and Finance.- Provide insights that enhance S&OP and promotional planning.Cross-Functional Analytics & ReportingBuild and maintain executive-ready dashboards in Power BI / Tableau.Provide cadence reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly) tailored to:- Sales- Marketing- Finance- OperationsExecutive Storytelling & Data Communication- Translate analytics into structured business narratives that inform strategy and execution.- Support pitch materials, competitive heatmaps, and retailer presentations.Required Experience & SkillsExperience- 3–8+ years in CPG analytics, category management, revenue management, or related retail strategy roles.Proven track record with:- Syndicated data platforms (SPINS, Nielsen/IRI)- Retailer portals (84.51°, Luminate)- Commercial analytics in a growth CPG environmentTechnical Skills- Advanced Excel (modeling, pivot tables, data transformations)- Power BI / Tableau dashboard creation- Familiarity with trade spend economics, TPM, and promotional lift frameworksCapabilities- Strong analytical rigor and ability to build structured insights- Excellent communication and executive presence- Storytelling that transforms data into selling narrativesPreferred Experience- Experience in frozen or high-velocity CPG categories- Prior work with national retailers and major distributors- Startup or high-growth CPG environment