Executive Distribution Controller Jobs in Minnesota

*This role is hybrid in Stillwater, MN and requires working 3 days per week in office.
Job Overview:
The Senior Manager of Merchandising Analytics is responsible for leading and advancing pricing strategy, category analytics, and margin management across the enterprise. This role operates at the intersection of Merchandising, Pricing, Finance, and eCommerce, providing analytical leadership and insights that support data-informed decision-making to enhance customer value, strengthen competitive positioning, and improve financial performance.
This position oversees the end-to-end merchandising analytics function, including leadership and development of the analytics team, while partnering closely with senior leadership to inform pricing philosophy, promotional effectiveness, and vendor investment strategies. The Senior Manager translates complex data into actionable business insights, supports strategic and operational decision-making, and drives alignment and accountability across cross-functional partners.
The role requires a balance of strategic leadership and hands-on analytical expertise to identify opportunities, influence business outcomes, and enable continuous improvement in merchandising and financial performance.
Job Responsibilities:

• Own and evolve Cub's pricing frameworks, competitive indexing, price zone architecture, and promotional guardrails
• Develop and refine elasticity models to quantify the impact of pricing and promotional decisions on units, sales, and margin
• Drive price execution across systems and processes, ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Partner with Merchandising to align pricing decisions to customer value and competitive dynamics
• Track and evaluate price investments, cost escalations, vendor-funded reductions, and ROI - delivering clear recommendations to leadership
• Analyze category performance across sales, margin, mix, and units to identify risks and opportunities
• Deliver actionable insights to support category strategy and execution
• Support forecasting, variance analysis, and planning with Finance and Merchandising
• Lead promotional analysis including pre- and post-event reviews
• Evaluate effectiveness using lift, elasticity, funding, and margin impact
• Identify opportunities to optimize promotional strategy and vendor investment
• Identify drivers of margin pressure, including mix shift and funding gaps
• Partner cross-functionally to improve margin rates
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 2-3 analysts
• Establish best practices and elevate analytics quality
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Data Analytics, or related field; MBA or Master's degree preferred

Experience:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in retail analytics, pricing, merchandising, or finance, with a strong track record of driving business outcomes through data.
• Prior people leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with pricing strategies such as price zones and elasticity modeling.
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams including Merchandising, Finance, Operations, and eCommerce.

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Proven leadership experience managing teams and cross-functional initiatives
• Strong understanding of retail P&L drivers, including pricing, promotions, funding, and margin
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Track record of building scalable processes and driving continuous improvement
• Ability to translate data into clear, executive-ready insights
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau) and SQL a plus
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:
Hybrid Role:
This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office three (3) days per week. The acceptable split between onsite and remote work is determined by the manager. Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.
Travel (minor):
This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.
Physical Environment/Demands:
Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

About UNFI: We are North America's premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more: Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI
Benefits: Competitive 401k, Flexible PTO plan, Hybrid, Health benefits - first of the month following 30 days of employment, mentorship program/developmental opportunities.
UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Compensation:
UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
Benefits:
For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.
Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
UNFI's compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company's sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act .