Walmart Category Advisor Jobs

Do you love Toys? Do you have a desire to bring creative ideas to life and a sharp eye for evaluating what’s effective? Then join ZURU whilst we are going through substantial growth, and become a valuable member of our team as a Category Advisor for Walmart.

We reimagine play, every day. At ZURU, we are designing iconic toys for the next generation. We are the ‘big kids', creative forces, dedicated specialists, those passionate about innovation and lovers of life, creating magic for kids all over the world.

The Walmart Category Advisor will be responsible for leading Category Advisor responsibilities within a defined Category at Walmart. This individual will be responsible for analyzing various data sources, identifying business insights, recommending solutions that drive profitable category growth, and executing POG building with Walmart. The Category Manager will work closely with the Buyer on key initiatives such as planning cycles, line reviews, key season execution to develop and grow total category sales. Leveraging syndicated data, shopper and consumer insights, category and industry trends, Category Manager will develop comprehensive category growth strategies focused around shopper centricity, enabling greater sell-thru and market share gains. This position works as a strategic thought leader, imparting knowledge of the category to drive productivity business results.

Duties and Responsibilities: 



• Shopper Understanding: Ability to synthesize large amounts of data (e.g. Shopper Research, POS) into actionable insights. Build in-store category innovation into all category leadership discussions (e.g. aisle reinvention, store of the future, disruptive merchandising strategies).
• Extensive Category Understanding: Act as subject matter expert in assigned category and provide thought leadership to Walmart Buyer, Planner, Replenishment. Leverage learnings from cross functional counterparts (e.g. Category Strategy, Consumer & Shopper Insights, Trade Marketing, etc.) and use to deliver impactful recommendations to Buyer. Knowledgeable about Market, Channel & Customer performance at the Category, Manufacturer, Brand and Product Line level. Understand category purchase drivers, trip missions, shopper needs.
• Multi-channel Experience: Provide insight and perspective of the various channel dynamics. Monitor channel shifting and the associated trends reflected in the marketplace. Understand how online purchase behaviors differ from those in-store and how to capitalize on the differences.
• Reporting and Data Analysis: Generate reporting/scorecards and provide insights, identify actionable opportunities and deliver solutions that drive productivity category growth. Direct and perform ad-hoc analysis across a wide variety of retail business development issues and make recommendations to Buyer. Contribute to the line review process, make recommendations on range, category space allocations and develop POGs using space planning software.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines. Manage flow of information and requests from Buyer, Sales and Trade teams, Business Segments. Ability to prioritize and resource projects effectively.

Additional Skills

• Ability to build strong sustainable business relationships at all levels and functions of the organization and with customers and customer teams
• Strong familiarity with Walmart Retail Link preferred
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Direct and perform analysis across a wide variety of category business issues and make fact based recommendations

Qualifications Required

• Advanced analytical skills and computer software proficiency (e.g. Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strategic thinking, self-starter with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with aggressive deadlines
• Proficiency with space management principles and software (e.g. JDA, Prospace, Spaceman, etc.)
• Bachelor's degree (emphasis in business/marketing or related field)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Category Management philosophies, tools and processes and proven record of success.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience working with a leading CPG company in Category Management, preferably as Category Advisor on major retailer

ZURU is a disruptive and award-winning company that designs, manufactures and markets innovative toys and consumer products. Inspired by kids and imaginative play, ZURU is one of the fastest growing toy companies in the world and is known for their agility, creativity and new-age manufacturing techniques. The company that started in New Zealand and is now headquartered in Hong Kong, now directly or indirectly employs more than 5,000 staff across 10 countries and distributes to most major retailers in over 120 countries. ZURU has delighted millions of families all over the world with brands such as Bunch O Balloons™, X-Shot™, Rainbocorns™, Robo Alive™, Smashers™, 5 Surprise™, Pets Alive™ and Metal Machines™ as well as through partnerships with entertainment properties, including Nickelodeon, Disney, Universal Studios and DreamWorks.