NJR Recruitment
Manchester, Lancashire
Apr 07, 2026
Full time
NJR Recruitment are currently working with a well-established Wholesaler, who are now seeking an experienced Category Data Analyst to join their team in Manchester. This is a great opportunity to join a growing business that can offer long term career progression. Our client will consider experienced Category Analysts, Merchandising Analysts, Demand Planners, etc. Role Purpose: The Category Data Analyst is the analytical engine of the product/buying teams. You will be the crucial link between sales data and product, stock and purchasing decisions, responsible for turning raw numbers into actionable commercial insights. Your forecasts will determine what our client buys, your analysis will guide the category product strategy, and your financial models will help them place smart bets on the next big thing. This role is perfect for a commercially minded individual who loves digging into data to uncover trends, predict performance, and have a direct impact on the company's profitability. Key Responsibilities: Product Sales Data Analysis Track sales performance vs forecast weekly and monthly, flagging risks and opportunities. Create sales performance reporting by category, product ROS/Sell through/Margin. Analyse historical sales data and market trends to develop accurate sales forecasts for key product categories and lines. Conduct detailed seasonal analysis to identify key trading periods, forecasting uplifts for events like Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine's Day to inform purchasing decisions. Identify category growth opportunities. Identify gaps, risks, and opportunities; recommend corrective actions. Own and deliver annual post-season and category performance reviews to drive performance & optimise outcomes. Purchase Forecasting/Planning Right product, right place, right time Identify slow movers and overstocks, flagging action for clearance /markdowns or marketing support. Build out our weekly sales, stock and intake (WSSI) and support intake planning for key seasons and new launches Develop weekly/monthly replenishment forecasts/plans to support core Every Day and seasonal ranges (WSSI). Manage budget intake and OTB escalating required changed to purchasing. Replenishment Review daily and weekly sales performance, using data to ensure timely replenishment before runout/OOS occurs Manage regular maintenance of replenishment parameters of ERP system in line with sales/stock demand movements. Forecast, monitor and manage inventory levels across all business to prevent stock issues. Identify regional variations, relocating inventory to match demand. New Product Intro Analysis (NPI) Build robust financial models to evaluate the commercial viability of new product ideas. Calculate key metrics including potential sales, gross margin, rate of sale, and Return on Investment (ROI) for all proposed new products. Category Performance & Reporting Conduct regular deep-dive analysis to identify opportunities for growth, areas of underperformance, and potential pricing adjustments. Support the Category team during range reviews with comprehensive data and insights to inform decisions on product continuation or delisting. Help build better tools, dashboards and processes to make planning smarter, faster and easier Skills, Knowledge & Experience Strong experience in an analytical role such as category analyst, merchandise analyst, demand planner, ideally in FMCG, retail or consumer goods Strong analytical skills and Power BI, Microsoft Excel wizardry, bonus points for experience with demand forecasting tools. Strong analytical and numerical skills with a proven ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights. A clear communicator who can turn data into insight. Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile, deadline-driven environment with seasonal peaks. Highly organised, detail-driven and proactive, you notice the 1% that others miss Able to balance commercial instinct with data-led thinking Comfortable working with ambiguity and solving problems as they come A commercial mindset with a solid understanding of retail/wholesale metrics (margin, ROI, stock turn). Apply online or for further information contact one of our specialist consultants quoting reference number: NJR16518
