Analyst, Price and Markdown Optimization

Job Summary

Responsible for analyzing and creating data-driven recommendations to Category Managers for omnichannel retail prices or markdown (exit) strategies for items, categories, and markets/stores to optimize profit, drive sales and sell-through, and increase market share while improving consumer value image. Forecasts and evaluates the impact of pricing decisions and balance of sales using variables like elasticity, competitive data and indexing, and category role. Communicates price and/or markdown recommendations to Category Managers, Category Insights, Store Operations, and/or other cross-functional teams and seeks approval from key clients in Merchandising. May help with strategic project-based initiatives or ad hoc analyses to recommend innovation options to drive business strategy, including key value item identification and analysis and calibration of pricing tools to achieve company financial goals.

• Forecasts the impact of price changes (at category, item, and/or store/zone level/channel) to make sure they align with category strategy and recommends price or pricing strategy adjustments.
• Performs ad hoc reporting as needed on price changes, markdown performance, and competitive indexing with the support of the Category Insights team.
• Analyze competitive activity to create strategic omnichannnel pricing initiatives and presents results to gain knowledge and understanding of our competitors’ pricing activity.
• May identify distressed inventory and delivers omnichannel markdown scenarios that drive increased profitable sell through, including managing lifecycle of items as they are discontinued to ensure proper exit path. Monitors and adjusts plans that are in flight to reach optimal profit and inventory targets. May lead cross-functional work across Merchandising, Store Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to deliver optimal solutions for discontinued and distressed inventory.
• Develops standard pricing or markdown report templates, presentations, methodologies, and processes.
• Identifies and analyzes pricing for special groups of items (e.g. Known Value Items, National Brand/Private Brand relationship items) and stores (e.g. different regions) to align with corporate strategy and category role.
• Understands modeling behind pricing/markdown modeling tools and helps ensure these tools are working optimally.
• Presents recommendations to key internal clients and management, including Pricing managers, Category Managers, and store operations. Attends client meetings to understand business needs and objectives.
• Identifies and determines likely root causes for problems or issues. Prepares accurate documentation and communication to facilitate elimination of problems / roadblocks as they occur and create efficient fixes.
• Collaborates cross-functionally to accomplish activities. Interacts with internal and external peers and/or managers to exchange semi-complex information related to assigned activities.
• Constructively challenges current methods to identify areas of improvement and deliver improved results.
• Participates in and contributes to departmental meetings by adding relevant input to assist in driving program results.
• Works on small projects, as necessary. Gathers and updates necessary information and communicates to appropriate parties. Ensures assigned initiatives are completed within budget and on time to meet business units’ needs.
• Works to develop knowledge and understanding for area of responsibility.

About Walgreens
Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for pharmacy, retail and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.

• Bachelor’s degree or High School/GED and at least 3 years of experience in promotions, marketing, retail, analytics, pricing, consumer packaged goods, insights, vendor collaboration, consumer research, inventory, category management and/or business analysis.
• Experience with MS Office Suite.
• Experience using time management skills such as prioritizing/organizing and tracking details and meeting deadlines of multiple projects with varying completion dates.
• Experience analyzing and reporting data in order to identify issues, trends, or exceptions to drive improvement of results and find solutions.
• Experience collaborating with internal and external resources to develop strategies that meet department goals within budget and established timelines.

• Master's degree OR MBA
• Experience with Revenue management or Pricing analysis, inventory management, and/or reviewing and analyzing retail data (such as Nielsen, IRI, etc.).
• Intermediate level skill in SQL (create complex queries using nested SELECT statements, simplify queries by creating new views, deleting and altering tables, using Boolean logic, working with NULL values, constructing queries, etc.)
• Experience writing macros.
• Experience with price or markdown optimization software.
• Experience developing and delivering presentations to various audience levels within an organization.
• Experience leading strategic projects and proactively coming up with process improvements.
• Experience with project management (for example: planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives).
• Experience establishing & maintaining relationships with individuals at all levels of the organization, in the business community & with vendors.

We will consider employment of qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.