Data Analyst

Position Summary:

The Data Analyst will deliver critical analytical insights to support business decisions, drive operational efficiencies, and ensure timely availability of products for major retail customers. This role involves closely monitoring and interpreting sales data, forecasting trends, and providing actionable insights to key stakeholders across sales, marketing, operations, and supply chain functions.

Responsibilities:

• Develop accurate forecasting models to support inventory management and reduce product waste.

• Prepare and distribute insightful weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.

• Identify market opportunities through analysis of category performance, promotional effectiveness, and competitor benchmarking.

• Support inventory control and logistics teams by providing timely and accurate demand forecasting and replenishment analytics.

• Continuously enhance data collection, reporting tools, and dashboards using advanced analytical software and techniques.

• Provide periodical in depth analysis about sales trends (Actual and Forecast) using key demand planning metrics (WMAPE, BIAS, MAD)

• Identify and address root causes of key forecast misses and variances on a daily and weekly basis.

• Provide strategic insights into customer trends, product performance, and supply chain variables that influence demand.

• Leverage data analytics to provide strategic recommendations to commercial and operational teams, supporting sales growth and operational efficiency in a highly dynamic fresh produce environment.

• Back up to Demand Planner.

• Provide ad hoc analytical support for strategic projects and customer negotiations.

• Extract, analyse, and interpret complex sales and operational data from diverse sources.

• Collaborate closely with sales and category management teams to understand customer purchasing behaviour and demand patterns.

• Develop deep-dive reports on sales trends, product seasonality, and customer purchasing behaviors.

• Collaborate closely with commercial teams to translate data into actionable sales and marketing strategies.

• Collaborate with Commercial team and National Planning manager to improve forecast accuracy, understand customer buying behaviors and ensure promotional execution aligns with demand expectations

• Coordinate and deliver demand planning activities related to the delivery of NPD & Product change through vigorous monthly, weekly and daily demand planning review process.

• All modifications to the New Product Development (NPD) timeline included in the forecast are communicated to key stakeholder groups.

• Monitoring activities of NPD once they have launched and highlighting variances where they differ from the forecast and identifying potential service issues.

• Challenge the sales forecast with the sales team especially if they differ from previous promotions with the same mechanical distribution.

• Analysis of event demand in daily buckets.

• Propose daily demand to commercial & national planning manager for approval (using historical information)

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Data Analyst, preferably in FMCG / manufacturing operation (preferably short shelf life)

• Strong analytical skills and experience with statistical analysis, forecasting methods, and predictive analytics.

• Proficient in SQL, Excel, Power BI/Tableau, or similar data analytics and visualisation tools.

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in high-volume, fast-paced environments.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to convey complex data clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to thrive under pressure and manage competing priorities effectively.

• Knowledge of FMCG industry dynamics, supermarket retail landscape, and short shelf-life product challenges is highly advantageous.

• Comprehensive understanding of what drives supply chain performance and ability to execute.

• Experience in delivering commercial results in an operation environment.

• Experience using planning and scheduling tools and ERP software Including John Galt

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working with remote manufacturing sites.

• Previous experience using John Galt Demand Planning systems