The Business Analytics Specialist is responsible for developing monthly financial plans, pricing strategies, promotional plans, and forecasts that align to the tobacco department strategy. Supporting the category manager to increase sale, share of market, and continuously improve profitability of the tobacco category. Working cross functionally with the category manager and vendor partners, the Specialist will be responsible for maximizing both sales and profit, while optimizing inventory effectiveness, space, and trade funding. Responsible for leveraging analytics to drive a highly profitable product life cycle, including promotions and end of life product lifecycle management. The ideal candidate will be able analyze large and complicated data sets (internal and external), illustrate and recommend actionable insights, and also build new models and algorithms from scratch to identify pricing and margin opportunities within tobacco.
Responsibilities:
1. Strong knowledge of business metrics including sales, margin, cogs, inventory, and pricing KPI's.
2. Responsible for supporting the creation of an optimal assortment, SKU rationalization, and strategic pricing and promotional strategies to maximize tobacco gross profit dollars and trade funding.
3. Builds effective pricing and trade funding strategies to drive profitability. Manages inventory productivity to include end of life activity and optimize net margin dollars.
4. Identifies and recognizes business opportunities 1 to 6 months out by analyzing the trends within the business.
5. Partner with Category Manager(s) to develop a monthly Department-level bottom-up forecast with a focus on sales, margin, and inventory targets consistent with the category strategy.
6. Ability to evaluate and communicate opportunities and risks including reacting to sales trends and inventory flow as well as suggesting markdowns and promotions in order to achieve sales margin, and inventory objectives.
7. Builds and executes new business opportunities by measuring results and providing recommendations.
8. Continuously looking for improvements within assortment, pricing, space, and inventory management systems and processes.
9. Works closely with loyalty and digital teams on tobacco offers, loyalty programs, and incentives to drive volume, share, and maximize trade funding opportunities.
Working Relationships:
1. Internal:
a. Within Marketing: Indirect Reports; Advertising Team; POS/Price Book Team; Merchandising/Planogram Team
b. Within Corporate HQ (Business Support Campus): IT Department; Legal Department; Strategic Sourcing; Finance Team; Supply Chain/Warehouse Team
c. Retail Operations Team: Retail Vice President's; Regional Manager's; Area Sales Manager's, Store Managers
2. External:
a. Direct Vendors
b. Brokers
Requirements:
Minimum Education:
Bachelor's degree required with a focus on business analytics, data science, finance, mathematics, accounting, or related field.
Preferred Education:
Master's degree preferred with a focus on business analytics, data science, or related field.
Minimum Experience:
3-5+ years' of pricing or other business analytics experience. Experience working with PowerBI, Tableau, or other relevant data visualization tools.
Preferred Experience:
5+ years of relevant analytical experience with strong merchandise profitability understanding
Licenses/Certifications:
Soft Skills:
Understands financial metrics inclusive of sales, margin, cogs, inventory, and weeks of supply.
Expert user of Business Intelligence and similar software systems
Ability to translate analytical research into presentations
Strong problem solving, retail math, and expert analytical skills.
Detail and results oriented with a strong sense of urgency.
Organized and process driven.
Utilizes relevant data and facts to articulate recommendations and provides insights in a clear and concise manner.
Ability to work independently as well as cross functionally.
Advanced Excel skills and Planning Software experience
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Other:
Travel: Ability to travel independently 5%.
Hours & Conditions: Monday - Friday 8 hour day in office setting. This position requires reporting to the office three times per week with an option for a hybrid work schedule of two days per week from a home office. The hybrid work flexibility is up to department managers discretion and requires LST approval.
Physical Requirements: Ability to maneuver and regularly lift and or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.