Responsible for deriving data-driven, actionable insights that contribute to the overall productivity of Whole Foods stores. Supports Merchandising strategic planning and direction setting by ensuring the best analytical practices and techniques are used to provide recommendations that improve promotional performance at WFM. Drives sales and operational efficiencies through effective evaluation of promotion and merchandising performance. Contributes to analysis and development of improvement recommendations for space and assortment planning, space management, and related processes in support of various Merchandising and Marketing initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Engages with analytical Team Members in the development of category, merchandising, promotional, assortment, store space and pricing strategy, analysis, and execution.
• Develops analytical tools to better utilize promotion and other merchandising levers that drive top and bottom line, traffic, conversion, and loyalty.
• Performs routine data analyses, integrating and evaluating data to derive merchandising-related insights.
• Supports cross-functional project teams, providing analytical insight and recommendations to inform discussion and decision-making around promotional / merchandising / assortment analyses and processes.
• Plays a key role in developing standardized promotion, space planning, assortment, and other analytics through ad hoc tools and methodologies.
• Uses customer behavior and other data related to space and assortment performance to analyze product performance and make assortment recommendations.
• Engages with key internal stakeholders to ensure understanding of data-derived insights and adoption of recommended changes and enhancements.
• Integrates robust data analysis and variables as an input to merchandising strategies for product, price, placement, and promotions to reflect category strategic vision and performance metrics.
• Engages with category, merchandising and other stakeholders to develop change management objectives and train / develop Merchandising teams accordingly.
• Works collaboratively with category, merchandising and other leadership to ensure analyses are in alignment with strategic objectives and are successfully executed in stores.

Skills:

• Knowledge of retail business, including all aspects of pricing, merchandising, retail operations, space / assortment planning, and reporting.
• Solid change management skills, demonstrates flexibility to perform in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to translate complex analyses into actionable business insights.
• Well-versed in the implementation and use of various retail software solutions: POS, pricing, assortment, etc.
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills and high levels of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Tailors communication approach to specific situations and audiences.
• Able to draw conclusions from imperfect and incomplete data, apply various analytical techniques and develop overarching promotional and related merchandising strategies.
• Creates spreadsheets, charts and reports that contain relevant projections and performance data that can be clearly understood by diverse audiences.
• Possesses clear understanding of WFM’s and supported region / stores business objectives.
• Has passion for Organics, Fair Trade, and the Natural Foods industry.
• Applies a customer-focused sensibility when analyzing business prospects and / or performing ongoing work activities.
• Understands the WFM product mix, supply base, and retail operations.
• Team-player with a positive attitude and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Works effectively with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.
• Adheres to the WFM principles and core values.
• Displays strong levels of customer service.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree and 2-4 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.