Director of Data and Category Insights

Who We Are:

Mid-States Distributing ("Mid-States") is the leading Farm, Ranch, and Home Retail Cooperative. Our company is owned by 29 independent Farm, Ranch & Home retailers ( Members ) who operate over 700 stores in 33 states with combined annual sales in excess of 7 billion dollars. Our member/owners retail items such as agriculture parts & supplies, petroleum products, hardware & tools, pet food, lawn & garden, animal health supplies, apparel & footwear, sporting goods, and various other products for the Farm, Ranch, and Home.

We are looking for competitive people who like to win big and have fun doing it. We place a tremendous amount of emphasis on creating a unique and positive company culture. Most of our employees will tell you this is the best place they ve ever worked. We value high-energy people who like to work hard and play hard. Our consumers are primarily rural people raising kids, pets, cows, and crops so traditional values like God, family, and patriotism are important virtues around here. So, if you are enthusiastic and competitive, have a great attitude, have good communication skills, build relationships, love to win, and like ice cream Mid-States is the place for you! If you are not, please apply with our competitors!

POSITION OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic Director of Data and Category Insights to lead the development of consumer, category, and market insights that drive informed business decisions. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in data analysis, market research, and category strategy, and will work cross-functionally to deliver actionable insights that support growth, product development, and marketing initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Category Strategy Development:
• Lead the creation and execution of category insights strategies to drive business growth and enhance product positioning.
• Provide thought leadership on emerging trends, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior within key categories.
• Develop and implement frameworks for tracking category performance, growth opportunities, and market dynamics.
• Consumer & Market Research:
• Design and manage comprehensive research studies, both qualitative and quantitative, to gather critical insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and buying patterns.
• Analyze and synthesize data from various sources (e.g., sales data, market research, consumer surveys) to deliver actionable insights.
• Identify key drivers of consumer demand and preferences, translating findings into strategic recommendations.
• Competitive Analysis:
• Monitor and assess competitive activity within key categories, providing recommendations to leadership for maintaining a competitive edge.
• Conduct SWOT analysis, market share analysis, and performance tracking to understand competitor positioning and anticipate market shifts.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and other key departments to ensure category insights align with business goals and product strategies.
• Provide insights to guide marketing campaigns, promotional activities, and innovation efforts.
• Support category managers and brand teams by providing actionable insights for pricing strategies, assortments, and go-to-market approaches.
• Reporting & Communication:
• Deliver clear and impactful presentations of category insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
• Create regular reports that monitor key category metrics, market trends, and performance benchmarks.
• Develop and manage dashboards to track category performance over time and ensure data accessibility for decision-making.
• Innovation & Trends:
• Stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovations that could impact category performance.
• Lead the identification of new growth opportunities and emerging consumer behaviors within the category.
• Leverage advanced analytics and digital tools to extract insights from large datasets and improve forecasting accuracy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Statistics, or related field (Master s degree or MBA preferred).
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools, including Excel, Power BI, and advanced analytics software, DOMO.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., surveys, focus groups, observational studies).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to apply insights to drive category growth and strategic decisions.
• Proven track record of driving successful consumer and market insight initiatives within a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• A genuine passion for and love of discovery and innate curiosity to mine complex data and create valuable and actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Strong analytical mindset and ability to draw conclusions from large data sets.
• Strategic thinker with a passion for identifying growth opportunities and developing innovative solutions.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach to working cross-functionally.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Advanced knowledge of category dynamics, consumer behavior, and industry best practices.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on delivering high-quality, actionable insights.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to stand, walk, reach, climb, bend and kneel
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds frequently and 50 pounds+ occasionally
• Ability to reach above and below the shoulders
• Ability to use hands and fingers to grasp, twist, and pull
• Ability to withstand external weather conditions (rain, cold, heat or other adverse weather) to perform tasks as assigned

TRAVEL:

There is minimal travel required for this position.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

A few words from our COO:

Mid-States is truly the best company I have ever worked for. We strive to provide a unique, exciting, fulfilling work environment for our staff. We are cautious when we hire because we want to protect that environment. Drama, laziness, and entitlement have no place in Mid-States. Our company is very financially sound and growing like crazy. If you are an enthusiastic, high-energy person with a positive attitude and the skills described above, you may have just found the last job you will ever apply for. I look forward to meeting you. Jeff