Associate Category Analyst

Req ID: 426985

BASIC PURPOSE: The Associate Category Analyst will support the category management team with an emphasis on pricing, promotion and sell through optimization. You will be responsible for learning and applying the data & analytics that support decision making and measurement of initiatives directly impacting revenue and profitability across the Merchandising and Operations Departments. As a member of the Merch Analytics team, you will focus on assisting price & promotion strategy and effectiveness as well as developing relationships with Category Managers. This individual will contribute to the vision, goal setting, implementation, and delivery of future pricing, promotion, and analytical functions. You will be supported along the way with robust coaching and development to help you grow as a strong Associate Category Analyst.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Learn the Love's business. Develop deep fluency in the composition, roles, and contributions of Love's products, strategy, and customers, as well as Love's business performance.
• Take an active role in the development and execution of the Love's pricing strategy.
• Use data science tools with oversight from team lead to forecast and recommend pricing and promotion strategies.
• Participate with lead analyst and Category Management to design pricing rules & strategies that will best support business objectives.
• Support the planning of pricing projects to Merchandising as well as other cross-functional teams.
• Assist with pricing audits to ensure accuracy across pricing strategies.
• Learn and apply performance analysis of pricing decisions and effectively communicate their impact.
• Participate in competitive benchmarking initiatives.
• Take part in field visits to understand internal and competitive pricing strategies and execution.
• Support future system integration projects as it pertains to pricing & promotion.
• Back any existing and future reporting or analytical needs.
• Other Duties as Assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:

• BA/BS minimum, Masters preferred, in a relevant field, such as mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, management information systems, business administration, engineering or other quantitative fields.

Experience:

• 0-2+ years' experience preferred in retail, sales, marketing or operations with exposure to pricing systems and methodologies
• Exposure to retail pricing systems helpful
• Familiarity with troubleshooting principles and issue resolution techniques

SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Skills:

• Ability to devise an analytical approach to solving business problems
• Understanding of statistical concepts and basic pricing principles such as price elasticities, promotional uplift, cannibalization and affinities
• General understanding of the retail business environment
• Highly motivated self-starter
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills
• Customer service driven
• Experience working in a team-oriented and collaborative environment

Typical Physical Demands:

• Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator
• Requires normal range of hearing and vision
• Travel required as needed
• On-call availability

Job Function(s): Corporate

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is the industry-leading travel stop network in the United States. For more than 55 years, we've provided customers with highway hospitality and "Clean Places, Friendly Faces." We're passionate about serving drivers with clean, modern facilities stocked with fuel, food and supplies. We offer meals from popular restaurant chains, trucking supplies, showers and everything needed to get back on the road quickly. The Love's Family of Companies includes:

• Gemini Motor Transport, one of the industry's safest trucking fleets
• Speedco, the light mechanical and trucking service specialists
• Musket, a rapidly growing, Houston-based commodities supplier and trader
• Trillium, a Houston-based alternative fuels expert

The Love's Experience

Love's was founded in 1964 on the values of integrity, customer focus, strong work ethic, innovation and perseverance. We are looking for these in every person we hire. No matter what job you do for Love's, your commitment to these values will not only continue our legacy of growth, it will also ensure your successful career.