Category Analyst Jobs
Category analysis is a key strategic role, assisting with the profitability of the company by minimising waste and eliminating overstocking and under-ordering. The modern role involves a good deal of computer analysis but also plenty of interpersonal work with suppliers and those at the customer-facing side of the business.
Much of the work will be involved with identifying trends and predicting future events that will influence the needs of the categories under your control, particularly by identifying opportunities and threats. Just as important will be looking into your own past actions and judging whether or not they corrected the problem and if there was improvement, identifying areas where even more efficiency can be introduced into the system.
Regular contact with suppliers will be required as it is they who will ultimately determine whether your plans can be fulfilled. Since they will have their own supply needs, the accuracy and timeliness of your projections will be key to maintaining supply.
The category analyst will also need to keep abreast of new procurement technologies and systems as these might be able to provide long-term efficiencies to the company.
Depending on the size of the employer, the category analyst will report directly to senior management or to intermediated category managers.
The skills required
Superb analysis skills will be required for this role, and although much of the number crunching will be computerised, there’s a strong human element to the role. The category analyst will be required to keep in touch with national and global news and cultural events which could influence future opportunities negatively or positively. You must have the confidence in your results to take action in a timely and effective manner.
Experience of the specific sector in question is usually considered an advantage in category analysis, as some trends might be unknown to outsiders. Good Excel experience will usually be considered essential, and skills in SAP, Oracle and Business Objects are often required.
Category Analyst Jobs in Grimsby
As town names go, Grimsby might sound a little unoptimistic, although one theory is that the name bore no relation to the demeanour of the town; it was simply named after a Dane named Grim, who probably went out of his was to prove his conviviality by doing exciting things like founding towns. There was a presence in Roman times, but it appears that the town was mainly founded by the Vikings, so maybe the legend is true.
It was during the early 1800s that the town really grew in size, though, becoming an important port on the east coast of Britain, and industrial scale fishing started, to feed the booming population. By 1848 the town had a railway link, and grew even more, becoming a major port for exporting coal. Grimsby was targeted during WW2 (although not its famous tower, which bomber pilots used for naviagation).
After the 1950s, Grimsby’s fishing was to go into terminal decline, although the fish market remains a thriving part of the town, and is indeed the largest in the UK (although little of the produce is from the North Sea). This is partly why food processing and frozen food companies are a key part of its modern economy. Young’s and Findus both have large presences in the town.
The cargo ports at Grimsby and Immingham is the busiest in the UK by tonnage, its georgraphical location being a great help for hopping across to mainland Europe to Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. And wherever there are ports, there is an ongoing demand for Category Analyst jobs, and Grimsby is no exception.
Popular locations
Discover category analyst opportunities with Cast UK
Cast UK are dedicated to filling roles in the procurement sector, so whether you are looking for promotion or moving home or just feel the need to try something different, please give us a call.
Because of the calibre of talent we provide, employers consider us a vital part in their recruitment process. Many employers trust us to provide a shortlist for interview, saving them time and money and ensuring the candidates we suggest are best suited to the roles.
We are always welcoming new candidates, so do get in touch and get yourself on our books, even if you’re not looking for work right now; you never know what opportunities will arise in the near future!
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Category Analyst for your business or find you a job as a Category Analyst then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
Contact us