Procurement & Pricing Data Analyst

Opportunity Snapshot

Whetstone Distribution is seeking a highly analytical and technically proficient Procurement & Pricing Data Analyst to join our team. This role is critical in optimizing procurement strategies and pricing models through detailed data analysis and visualization. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in data science, econometrics, or related fields, with the ability to independently build PowerBI dashboards and manage complex datasets.

About Whetstone Distribution

Whetstone Distribution is a platform of small to mid-sized food distributors in the Midwest, owned primarily by Shore Capital Partners. Currently, there are five distributors in the Whetstone platform: Moesle Meat Distribution (Chicago), Fulton Market (Chicago), Anmar Foods (Chicago), Queen Foods (Kansas City) and Pritzlaff Wholesale Meats (Milwaukee). The platform growth strategy is to complete add-on acquisitions to establish a complementary network of regional food distribution operations while also driving organic growth by acquiring new customers and expanding product line and processing capabilities. Our operating companies are the partner of choice for grocers and food service customers in the Midwest. Our comprehensive range of meat, seafood, and complementary products ensures that our customers have access to everything they need – on time, as ordered.

Job Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Forecasting:

• Conduct comprehensive demand planning and forecasting to support and enhance procurement strategies.
• Perform in-depth analysis of historical USDA prices and forecasts, deriving actionable insights to inform pricing decisions, leveraging DecisionNext and other forecasting tools.
• Continuously monitor supply and demand fluctuations, distilling market trends into actionable insights that drive better decision-making by the procurement department.
• Utilize econometric and statistical methods to interpret complex market data and indexes, enhancing the accuracy of forecasting models.

Dashboard Development and Data Visualization:

• Design, develop, and maintain interactive PowerBI dashboards for real-time procurement and pricing data visualization.
• Provide technical expertise in database management, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of market data and data across all Whetstone entities, performing data validation, and enhancing the quality and consistency of internal data points.

Collaboration and Reporting:

• Collaborate closely with procurement, pricing, sales, and finance teams to ensure data-driven decisions align with organizational goals.
• Prepare detailed reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to key stakeholders, including senior management.

Data Management and Technical Support:

• Execute data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) processes to ensure seamless data integration and management across multiple sources.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Econometrics, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in data analytics, procurement, pricing, or a related role.
• Proficiency in PowerBI, SQL, and other data visualization and database management tools.
• Strong technical skills in data science, with experience in financial trading or finance preferred.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and produce actionable insights.
• Familiarity with statistical models, moving averages, and demand planning methodologies.
• Experience in financial trading, statistics, sales & trading, or finance sectors.
• Knowledge of various market indexes and their implications on procurement and pricing.
• Background or interest in agricultural commodities a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, focusing on data processing and analysis without extensive interaction.
• Eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies and analytical techniques.
• This position will require local travel to different Chicago facilities on a weekly basis and quarterly travel to our locations outside of Chicago.