Senior Merchandising Analyst

Hybrid role 3 days in Stillwater, MN office.

As a critical capability-builder for Cub, the Senior Merchandising Analyst brings rigor to promotional planning, vendor funding management, category performance tracking, and margin investment decisions. Sitting at the center of Merchandising and Pricing, this role provides the insights our teams rely on to make timely, confident, and profitable decisions.

Whether it’s overseeing produce, bakery/deli, meat, center store, general merchandise, health, and beauty, this team manages and drives a category for the organization. A role in category merchandising involves business planning, financial analysis, pricing, participating in the review of assortment, shelf management, advertising promotions, negotiations with suppliers, and sourcing. A 100% unique approach, proven to increase sales and profitability. It’s having the right assortment of products, based on your customers’ demographics and lifestyle.

Solid category strategies. Better customer satisfaction. More efficiency.

• Analyze vendor funding, trade spend, and markdown activity to maximize ROI and margin rate.
• Provide category leaders with actionable visibility into funding performance, gaps, and opportunities.
• Support promo and pricing decisions using elasticity insights, competitive analysis, and historical performance.
• Build and maintain reporting that tracks sales, margin, units, mix, traffic drivers, and category trends.
• Convert complex data into clear, executive-ready recommendations.
• Lead post-mortem analysis on promotions and major merchandising events and provide concise summaries of what worked, what didn’t, and what actions we should take next.
• Partner closely with Finance to support forecast accuracy, period planning, and risk/opportunity assessments.
• Lead or support cross-functional projects that strengthen Cub’s merchandising processes, tools, and analytical capabilities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/

Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Data Analytics, or related field.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of retail analytics, merchandising finance, pricing, or vendor funding experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and a bias for action in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong knowledge of retail P&L levers, including margin, mix, markdowns, and funding.
• Experience working with Nielsen/NIQ syndicated data and/or merchandising and promo-planning tools, such as Cognira is strongly preferred.
• Advanced Excel; experience with Power BI/Tableau and SQL is a strong plus.
• Good judgment is required for this position, as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

• This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office (3) days per week. The acceptable split between onsite and remote work is determined by the manager. Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.

• This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during the normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

We are North America’s premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more:
Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI

Competitive 401k, Flexible PTO plan, Remote or Hybrid, Health benefits – first of the month following 30 days of employment, mileage reimbursement, cell phone, LTI, mentorship program/developmental opportunities, other benefits applicable to specific role.