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 Lisburn
Lisburn is a city whose centre is 7.5 miles (12 km) south west of the centre of Belfast. It is Northern Ireland’s newest city, gaining city status in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The city is historically noted for its links with the linen industry, and now has a museum dedicated to the craft. To Lisburn’s north west are the banks of Lough Neagh, which at 151 square miles (392 sq km) is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles by surface area (Lake Windermere, England’s largest, is only about 5.5 square miles in area!). The city is connected to Belfast by the M1 motorway. It is also on the railway line from Belfast to Dublin, and trains can be taken from the city centre to both capitals.
Although the population of Lisburn is roughly 70,000, it is part of The Dublin-Belfast Corridor, which is home to 3 million people. The population of the whole of Northern Ireland is just under 2 million. Close to three quarters of a million people live in the Belfast area, which means that about a third of the population is concentrated in this small area on the country’s east. The city’s population is growing steadily, and indeed the local government is attempting to boost Lisburn’s population with a set of schemes it is putting in place.
With its growing population and excellent links to Belfast and Dublin, Category Analyst positions do come up in Lisburn or its neighbouring areas relatively frequently. Northern Ireland as a whole has seen more prosperity over the past decade or so, and it’s now considered a good place to invest, which can only be good news for the logistics, supply chain and procurement industries.
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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.
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