Apply Job Type Full-time Description

Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our Category team in Bentonville, AR.

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft® Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, Siggi’s®, and Stonyfield Organic® in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE!  You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

From your PASSION to ours

The Category Advisor is a customer-facing position that supports the Walmart advisor team by developing and presenting strategic plans in collaboration with the customer, internal insights, and research resources. This position will leverage advanced technical skills and resources to unearth insights specific to the customer and category that provide the necessary building blocks to cultivate the modular relay strategy. This position also has ownership of the strategic thought leadership recommendations through optimized assortment for the modular relay processes. This role will straddle two Lactalis USA business units (Lactalis America Group & Lactalis Heritage Dairy) with visibility to both Dairy and Deli/Specialty Cheese, with the priority being the Specialty/Deli Entertaining Category Advisorship.

From your EXPERTISE to ours
Key responsibilities for this position include:

Become a trusted partner and expert for the buyer and act as advisor on key categories to create and implement strategic recommendations on improvements in selling strategies for the accountElevate best in class category management principles driving efficiency and effectivenessDeliver fully integrated consumer, category, and market insights to guide Walmart’s strategic choices and tactical actionsDevelop impactful customer-specific selling stories in support of category business building initiatives and resulting in market leading growthAnalyze syndicated data (scanner, HH panel, etc.) to identify key insights and business recommendations on distribution, assortment, pricing, and promotion.Develop and integrate consumer, shopper and retailer insights to better inform targeted strategies, plans and decisionsLeverage insight resources to prioritize consumer and shopper needs and opportunitiesLead broader space initiatives across aisle and storeAnalyze planograms to optimize assortment based on productivity, pricing, promotions, product, or placement Identify and measure promotional & competitive activitiesMaintain the confidentiality of Wal-Mart category and competitive data

WORK CONDITIONS

Travel may be required occasionally.Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needsTo fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) will be provided.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy. Requirements

From your STORY to ours
Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

Bachelor's degree is required

Experience

3+ years consumer package goods (CPG) experience is required.3+ years JDA/Blue Yonder or other Space Planning  experience is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

Strong capability in analyzing data, formulating recommendations, and developing presentationsStrong knowledge of consumer products and developing partnerships with national accountsStrong strategic planning, organizational, interpersonal skills; must be able to work effectively in teams with high customer focusAble to communicate effectively (verbal, written, and presentation skills), manage time effectively, build relationships across disciplines, and exercise varying degrees of judgment, independence, and discretionSelf-starter, motivated and intellectually curious with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneouslyStrong syndicated and panel data knowledgeSpace management software skills (JDA Space Planning)Ability to comprehend and sell space management concepts within the context of category managementWorking knowledge of computers and related systems including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI as well as Retail Link, Luminate, Madrid and Third-Party Syndicated Data such as IRIAbility to Travel (up to 10-15%)

#LI-Hybrid

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.