Category Analyst

Category Analyst Location: Midtown Atlanta, GA (Hybrid – 4 days onsite per week) Employment Type: Contract Position Overview We are seeking a highly analytical Category Analyst to support our client's Category Management and Strategic Sourcing team. This role will be responsible for transforming complex spend, supplier, and market data into actionable insights that drive category strategies, sourcing decisions, supplier performance, and cost optimization initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical background in Engineering, Finance, Economics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative discipline, along with experience leveraging data visualization and analytics tools to support strategic business decisions. Key Responsibilities • Analyze enterprise spend data to identify sourcing opportunities, cost-saving initiatives, and category optimization strategies. • Conduct detailed category analyses to evaluate market trends, supplier landscapes, pricing benchmarks, cost drivers, industry indices, and best practices. • Perform periodic spend criticality assessments across categories and business units to support strategic sourcing priorities. • Develop category baselines, total cost of ownership (TCO) models, sourcing evaluation frameworks, and negotiation models. • Research supply markets and assess competitive dynamics, industry structures, emerging suppliers, substitute products, and market risks. • Gather and analyze external market intelligence to identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, contract compliance, and spend optimization. • Build and maintain supplier databases and sourcing intelligence repositories. • Support sourcing strategy development by providing data-driven recommendations and business cases. • Develop supplier scorecards and performance measurement tools, including KPI and service-level reporting. • Monitor supplier performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities. • Assist with documenting current-state processes, future-state workflows, and technology requirements to support sourcing and procurement initiatives. • Partner with Category Managers and cross-functional stakeholders to support strategic sourcing projects and supplier management activities. Experience • 3–5 years of experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Analytics, Procurement Analytics, Financial Analysis, or a related analytical role. • Strong experience analyzing large datasets and developing business insights to support strategic decision-making. • Experience creating dashboards, reports, and visualizations using analytics platforms such as: • Power BI • Tableau • QlikView • Alteryx • SQL • Python Technical & Professional Skills • Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities. • Strong financial modeling and quantitative analysis skills. • Experience developing spend analyses, supplier evaluations, sourcing models, and performance metrics. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present insights to business stakeholders. • Strong project management and organizational skills. • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Qualifications • Experience within the rail, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, or other complex supply chain industries. • Knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies and category management best practices. • Professional certifications such as: • Project Management Professional (PMP) • Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) • Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) • Experience supporting enterprise procurement or supply chain transformation initiatives. About GSquared Group: Shouldn’t your recruiting partner put as much effort and value into your career as you do? With GSquared Group, we take the time to understand where you would like to take your career and what is important to you. GSquared Group is a woman-owned boutique technology services company in the Atlanta area. Founded in 2010, we are a premier provider of IT talent search, management consulting, and software development services. We support a diverse client base that spans all industries and includes Fortune 100 to mid-market companies. We offer direct hire placement, contract, and contract-to-hire positions. We are proud to be known by our community for putting relationships at the core of everything we do. GSquared Benefits: • Competitive & Comprehensive Healthcare Package (available only for W2 hourly consultants) • Simple IRA with company match (available only for W2 hourly consultants) • Professional development & networking opportunities • A family-friendly environment • Nice bonuses for referrals • A culture that supports you and your career Hear what others are saying on Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/GSquared-Group-Reviews-E651488.htm?filter.iso3Language=eng