Category​/Trade Analyst

The Category / Trade Analyst supports the development and execution of commercial strategies by providing analytical insights, project coordination, and cross-functional support. This role helps drive business performance through data-driven decision making, commercialization support, and retailer-focused initiatives while building the skills necessary to assume greater ownership of strategic projects and customer accounts over time.

• Support Category Management:
  Develop fact-based category reviews, assortment recommendations, retailer presentations, and business planning materials.
• Support Trade & Shopper Marketing Programs:
  Assist with promotional planning, shopper marketing initiatives, retail activation, and performance measurement.
• Execute Go-To-Market Initiatives:
  Support coordination of product launches, commercialization activities, and customer activation programs to ensure successful market execution.
• Deliver Commercial Insights:
  Analyze sales, shopper, customer, and category data to identify growth opportunities, business risks, and actionable recommendations.
• Maintain Commercial Processes & Tools:
  Manage reporting systems, commercial databases, retailer information, budget tracking, and sales enablement resources to support efficient business operations.
• Support Business Execution:
  Assist with customer meetings, trade shows, broker partner requests, retailer inquiries, and other administrative or operational activities that support commercial objectives.
• Drive Cross-Functional Coordination:
  Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and external partners to manage projects, track deliverables, and support commercial planning activities.
• Lead Special Projects & Development Opportunities:
  Conduct ad hoc analyses, support strategic initiatives, and gradually assume ownership of smaller customer accounts and cross-functional projects as experience grows.

• Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Local with the ability to work a hybrid schedule, 3 days/week on-site in Aurora, IL.
• 2+ years of experience in CPG, Retail, Sales, Marketing, Category Management, Shopper Marketing, Trade Marketing, or related business functions, including relevant internship or co-op experience (within CPG, retail, analytics, or commercialization functions).
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and reporting tools, with experience analyzing sales, shopper, category, market, or retailer data to generate actionable business insights. Experience with syndicated/retailer data sources (e.g., Circana/Nielsen, POS data) and space planning software is a plus.
• Knowledge of Trade Marketing, Shopper Marketing, Go-To-Market Strategy, and Category Management, including promotions, retail activation, assortment optimization, and commercialization preferred.
• Strong project management, communication, organizational, and business planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and collaborate across functions.
• Strong business acumen, problem-solving skills, initiative, and leadership potential.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Freudenberg Group is a privately held global organization headquartered in Germany. With a presence in 60 countries and a workforce exceeding 50,000 employees, the Freudenberg Group operates across 40 distinct market segments and generates annual sales of more than €11 billion. Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions (FHCS), also known as Freudenberg Household Products (FHP) in North America, is a company of the Freudenberg Group and consists of two business areas: the consumer business and the professional applications business.

In both segments, we drive innovation for cleaning systems, household and laundry care products. In fiscal year 2024, we achieved sales of more than 1.3 billion euros. As part of a family-run group of companies with a history spanning over 175 years, at FHCS we develop products…