Category Analyst, Non-Food

Job Summary

GoTo Foods is seeking a Category Analyst to support multiple Procurement categories across their 7 restaurant brands. The primary focus is on Packaging & Disposables, with flexibility to support other categories as needed.

About the Role

The Category Analyst will drive product setup processes, analyze the business, and collaborate with suppliers to implement supply chain solutions that improve pricing, item specification, logistics, inventory, and distribution.

Responsibilities

• Pricing & Contract Management:
  • Lead the monthly pricing and contract update process, including requesting updates from suppliers, reviewing data, working to fix errors, and providing a summary of cost change impacts
  • Ensure all agreements are fully executed and loaded into Focus Brands contract management systems
  • Work collaboratively with Category Manager and legal to execute agreements
  • Maintain and improve data accuracy in our pricing systems
  • Carefully coordinate accurate data entry and maintenance into Focus Brands supply chain systems including suppliers, new prices, new price effective dates, part # IDs, etc.
  • Ensure continued data integrity maintenance for all Focus Brands systems
  • Maintain information tracking tools for supplier contacts, conference, & item fees
  • Work with suppliers and cross-functional team to optimize line-of-supply and freight costs within the distribution network
• Category Analysis & Reporting:
  • Develop process improvements, dashboards, analytical methods, and reporting tools that provide clear business value for, and insights into, the identified category
  • Identify and recommend cost savings and value opportunities
  • Proactively identify improvement opportunities and create innovative win-win customer and supplier strategies that are regularly shared with Procurement leadership
  • Utilize existing reporting functions to gather cost/spend information, and summarize for impactful decision making
  • Manage and monitor supplier inventory and production, coordinate response to supply issues, and engage supplier and cross-functional team on solutions
  • Monitor value creation across the supply chain network
  • Track and report on key supplier KPI metrics
• New Product Development & Innovation:
  • Work directly with the Category Manager to launch new products and innovations with our suppliers, as well as Brand Marketing and Operations teams
  • Manage new item information collection, pricing, contract management & approval for new item setup within internal and external systems
  • Manage and track commercialization projects through the onboarding process
  • Identify, recommend, and commercialize product solutions that contribute to company-wide sustainability, cost-savings, and/or value creation goals
• Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management:
  • Interact with suppliers and internal groups to collect data and improve our understanding of the identified category
  • Lead communications to suppliers for pricing renewals, procurement/transition updates, forecasts, and other widespread GoTo Foods initiatives
  • Communicate & help resolve supply security escalations, collaborating with internal teams to avoid product outages
  • Analyze supplier reporting to help make category decisions, allocate inventory, etc.
  • Provide recommendations on how to optimize our supplier partnerships/SKUs across all 7 brands
  • Aid in the negotiation of new business awards and contracts with vendors

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting or related field, Preferred
• 1-2 years of experience in the procurement/sourcing, foodservice, packaging, supply chain, or equivalent industry (logistics, planning, food & beverage, etc)
• Experience with vendor management, sales, and/or customer service – any role that builds the communication and relational skills necessary for managing relationships with outside organizations, clients, and/or internal stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to navigate through the strategic sourcing process
• Knowledge of Supply Chain/Category Management/Foodservice Pricing
• Understanding of purchasing, accounts payable, work management and financial systems applications including a strong understanding of financial information, budgets, and program performance
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, including data analysis, dashboards, and critical thinking (pivot tables, vlookup, formulas, graphing, modeling, index (match), goal seek)
• Proven proficiency with PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, ArrowStream, Jira, and/or other foodservice contract management technology
• Experience with large data sets to yield information that supports business needs/questions, even better if experience with pulling & formatting data from large ERP systems
• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to exercise judgment, manage complexity and ambiguity
• Independently motivated and autonomous
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Qualifications

• Independent and self-motivated
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (modeling, goal seek, vlookup, index (match), pivot tables, formulas, graphing)
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, including data analysis, dashboards, and critical thinking (pivot tables, vlookup, formulas, graphing, modeling, index (match), goal seek)
• Proven proficiency with PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, ArrowStream, Jira, and/or other foodservice contract management technology
• Experience with large data sets to yield information that supports business needs/questions, even better if experience with pulling & formatting data from large ERP systems
• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to exercise judgment, manage complexity and ambiguity
• Independently motivated and autonomous
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Benefits

GoTo Foods offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and more.

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Hybrid work model with flexible hours to accommodate your needs.