Data Analyst (Buyers) at The People Practice

The People Practice is a People, Culture and Tech-focused HR solutions company which helps startups and small businesses scale, and accelerate impact by providing bespoke people-centred solutions. The People Practice is simultaneously bridging the talent gap in Nigeria by up-skilling graduates and job seekers; and through its online platform, creating an avenue for them to gain relevant, practical experience.

Our client, a premium retail gifting business is looking to hire a highly motivated and detail-oriented Buyer Data Analyst to join our merchandising team. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of retail data, and the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.

Responsibilities

Data Collection and Analysis:

• Gather, clean, and analyze diverse data sets including sales records, market reports, and customer feedback.
• Conduct thorough market research to identify trends, consumer behavior patterns, and competitor activities.

Demand Forecasting and Assortment Planning:

• Utilize statistical models and historical data to forecast demand for products/categories.
• Collaborate with the buying team to assist in assortment planning based on data-driven insights.

Supplier Evaluation and Inventory Optimization:

• Evaluate supplier performance metrics, analyze delivery times, and assess quality standards.
• Monitor inventory levels, turnover rates, and sell-through to optimize stock levels efficiently.

Reporting and Visualization:

• Develop and maintain reporting dashboards to visualize key metrics and trends.
• Prepare regular reports summarizing sales performance, inventory status, and market trends.

Insights and Strategy Development:

• Provide actionable insights and recommendations derived from data analysis to improve buying strategies, pricing, product assortment and inventory distribution.
• Assist in the development of merchandising strategies aligned with data-driven insights.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including buyers, assistant buyers, marketing, and sales to align strategies and goals.
• Effectively present data-driven insights to stakeholders through reports and presentations.

What does the role mean in simple terms?

• You will be joining a new team called the merchandising department .
• The role is new to the business and will need and experienced person.
• You will be responsible for analyzing trends in number of product categories, product sales behaviour, supplier performance, store-specific performance and customer buying behaviour.
• You have to enjoy numbers and visualising trends in a very simplified manner.
• One of your first tasks will include designing and creating a company specific Order Management System and Demand Forecasting System

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Statistics, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 4 years of proven experience in a data analysis role, preferably in retail or merchandising.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau) and statistical methodologies.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex data sets and trends.
• Excellent communication skills to convey insights effectively to diverse stakeholders.

Must have skills

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Method of Application