Category Strategy Advisor, Walmart

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

JOB PURPOSE

The Category Strategy Advisor plays a key role in strengthening the partnership with Walmart by delivering strategic, consultative category guidance to support growth in a priority category. This role focuses on analyzing and synthesizing data from multiple sources to generate actionable insights. It also requires strong communication and influencing skills to drive alignment and action within Walmart’s operating environment.

WHAT YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE

• Deliver fully integrated consumer, category and market insight to guide Walmart’s strategic choices and tactical actions, contributing to market leading growth.
• Proactively leverage all Category Management capabilities including Scintilla Channel Performance, Shopper Behavior, and Digital Landscapes, along with syndicated data, panel data, and industry research sources, to identify opportunities and deliver actionable recommendations.
• Provide guidance in the digital space, translating foundational category management principles from offline to online, including optimizing assortment and visual merchandising.
• Translate complex data into compelling narratives and actionable recommendations, demonstrating thought leadership in category management.
• Proactively provide strategic omnichannel category guidance, including health assessments and deep dives into most valuable shoppers, need states, and shifting demand, to help shape Walmart’s future strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key Walmart contacts through timely, professional communication, positioning Unilever as a trusted partner for category strategy.
• Provide Category reporting, trend analysis, customized customer reports, strategy blueprints, and special project work directly to Walmart Merchandising.
• Understand how modular design, category space and cluster decisions shape both the in-store shopping experience and online fulfillment. Build and maintain modulars that are shoppable, operationally sound and aligned to how the category actually sells. Demonstrate proficiency in space planning software such as Blue Yonder and ShelfIQ to produce accurate, execution ready outputs.
• Exemplify strong attention to detail and process discipline.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

• You’re a born leader: You will become the ‘go-to’ Category Strategy resource for Walmart by providing insight-led, actionable recommendations.
• You’re a storyteller: You will use data and category management capabilities to create compelling presentations to showcase and gain acceptance of category growth opportunities.
• You’re a strategy specialist: You’ll bring together insights from multiple sources to clearly define the right opportunities and the best path to win, both now and over time. You’re able to develop clear execution plans and engagement strategies by identifying the right customer touchpoints, timing, and messaging, informed by industry research and Unilever insights.
• You’re a visionary: Figuring out problems with limited direction doesn’t faze you. You have the intuition to anticipate issues and opportunities by elevating analyses beyond reporting to develop and translate insight into retail action.
• You’re a dot connector: You will work across cross-functional teams and with the customer to connect business opportunities and proactively recommend both strategic and tactical actions.
• You’re naturally curious: You follow the thread when something in the category requires further analysis rather than waiting to be handed the question. You’re excited about new methodologies and tools, and look for better ways to work rather than defaulting to how it has always been done.

Experiences & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, MBA preferred
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Category Management or Customer Management Insights
• CPG experience required; Walmart experience strongly preferred
• Expertise in linking analytics via traditional data sources with cutting edge capabilities and tools to develop insights into action
• Capability to develop and influence strategy at both retailer and manufacturer, at management level positions
• Excellent planning, analytical, and communication skills required
• Extensive knowledge of Walmart data sources and applications (Scintilla, Retail Link, Quickbase)
• Strong PowerPoint, Excel, PowerBI and presentation skills
• Proficiency in syndicated data sources (Nielsen, Circana, Numerator)
• Space Management Software Experience

Pay: The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.  
Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.  
Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.  
Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.  

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

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Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.

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