Sr. Category Advisor

Who You Are and What You'll Do

The Senior Category Management Advisor performs a valuable role in building strong partnerships with Walmart by providing strategic, consultative category guidance and leadership to create end-to-end category strategies from ideation and development through final store and site execution.  This position will conduct high quality analysis and synthesis of multi-source data to derive insights, while leveraging effective communication & influencing to orchestrate action within the operational realities of Walmart’s environment.

The ideal candidate will
  - Develop and cultivate strong business relationships with Walmart partners that establish and maintain Unilever as the expert and indispensable partner for all category management needs
  - Thrive in dynamic environments with evolving priorities and market conditions

  - Possess innate attention to detail as well as appreciation for streamlining processes to ensure accurate and timely deliverables to Walmart
  - Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to navigate uncertainty and drive results amidst ambiguity
  - Provide leadership and mentorship to teammates, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning
 

Day-to-Day Business & Customer Management:

• Serve as the omnichannel subject matter expert for Walmart through utilization of Luminate Channel Performance and Shopper Behavior, Retail Link, syndicated data sources, panel data sources, etc. to identify unexpected performance changes, early detection of category risks, and uncover business opportunities
• Responsible for providing Category reporting, trend analysis, customized customer reports, strategy blueprints, and special project work directly to Walmart Merchandising
• Employ critical thinking and problem solving skills to recognize and anticipate issues and opportunities by elevating analyses beyond reporting and translate insight into retail action

Planogram Execution Excellence:

• Manage planogram execution process for Walmart, ensuring optimal assortment, adjacencies, flow & product placement
• Utilize planogram tools such as JDA & Shelf IQ to automate processes, ensure consistency across stores, and generate needed reports to communicate and analyze modular changes and projected performance evaluations

Strategic Insights & Guidance:

• Develop comprehensive category growth plan aligned with merchant strategy, retailer objectives, and market dynamics by utilizing relevant tools and resources, analyzing market trends, understanding consumer needs and behavior while identifying gaps vs competitive landscape
• Develop category growth strategies by utilizing relevant tools and resources, analyzing market trends, understanding consumer needs and behavior while identifying gaps vs competitive landscape
• Conduct thorough data analysis to identify opportunities and challenges within the category and work with cross-functional teammates to develop shopper-centric solutions and strategies
• Translate complex data into compelling narratives and actionable recommendations, demonstrating thought leadership in category management
• Proactively provide strategic omnichannel category consulting, including strategy health assessments, deep dives into the most valuable shopper, need states, and shifting demand, to inform future strategic direction for Walmart. 

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA preferred with 6+ years of experience in Category Management, Insights, or Sales Strategy
• CPG experience required; Walmart experience strongly preferred
• Proficiency in planogram management tools (e.g. JDA Space Planning, Shelf IQ)
• Proficiency in syndicated and panel data sources (e.g. Nielsen, IRI, Numerator)
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in data interpretation and storytelling.
• Demonstrated thought leadership and intellectual curiosity in exploring new methodologies and driving innovative approaches & processes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Proven track record of building strategic partnerships and driving business growth.
• Leadership experience, including managing direct reports and developing high-performing teams
• Extensive knowledge of Walmart data sources (Luminate Channel Performance, Luminate Shopper Behavior, Retail Link) and Walmart Modular Relay processes

Pay: The pay range for this position is $113,400 to $170,200. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications