Category Analyst

The Category Analyst is responsible for comprehensive end-to-end product lifecycle forecasting. This includes establishing initial forecasts, continuously monitoring product performance, making recommendations for product discontinuation, and overseeing the stock clearance process through to the product's end-of-life. This role requires strong analytical skills and tool proficiency to evaluate and monitor product and category performance, ensuring alignment with market trends and company strategies. A key aspect will be effective communication with US Demand and Sales teams to synchronize on critical business alignments, including sales targets, supply plans, product drop dates, and strategies for replacement or excess stock clearance.

The Category Analyst plays a pivotal role within the Global Forecasting team, ensuring consistent performance and driving continuous improvement through assigned projects.

1.     New Product Forecasting: Analyze historical category performance to generate initial forecasts for new products.

2.     Sales Collaboration for New Products: Collaborate with the sales team to incorporate product specifics and customer feedback, influencing new product forecasts.

3.     New Product Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor the performance of new products, adjusting forecasts based on actual sales and customer feedback.

4.     Inline Product Performance Management: Track inline product performance against targets, work with the sales team to adjust forecasts, and propose actions, identify underperforming products and contribute to proposals for product discontinuation.

5.     Product Drop Coordination (Supply Alignment): Coordinate with the Supply team to align the remaining material and confirm drop dates for planned discontinued products.

6.     Product Status & Forecast Alignment: Maintain accurate product status and adjust forecasts to align with official product drop dates and current stock situations.

7.     Discontinuation Notification: Issue timely discontinued notifications for end-of-life products to all relevant teams.

8.     Category Performance Analysis: Identify key trends, opportunities, and risks within assigned categories, conduct analysis to support decisions on product assortment, rationalization, and SKU optimization.

1.     Education

-       Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Statistics, Data Analytics, or a related field

-       Master’s degree in supply chain or data science is advanced

2.     Experience

-       At least 3 years of experience in the supply chain field

-       Experience working in an international business environment

-       Successfully driving continuous improvement processes in previous positions

3.     Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

-       Exceptional analytical skills

-       Strong product knowledge, particularly within the furniture industry

-       Proficiency in demand forecasting and inventory planning methodologies

-       Solid understanding of core supply chain principles and best practices

-       Familiarity with ERP systems and specialized demand planning software

-       Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SQL, Power BI, and other reporting tools

-       Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional team environments

-       Fluent in English