Principal Analyst - Retail Pricing Strategy

The Role:

The Principal Analyst - Pricing and Promo Strategy is a pivotal role within Whole Foods Market (WFM), crucial to shaping and executing our strategic initiatives in pricing and promotions. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with various teams to define and advance the company’s strategic roadmap and future capabilities. You will be responsible for refining our strategic approaches to pricing and promotions, contributing to long-term planning, and leading critical short-term projects. The ideal candidate will excel in translating complex business questions into clear, actionable recommendations and will frequently engage with senior leadership.  "This role is based in Austin, TX, with an expectation of being in the Store Support office five days a week."

The Team:
Imagine being part of the team that shapes the strategic pricing architecture for one of the world's leading natural and organic grocery retailers. At Whole Foods Market, the Pricing Strategy team plays a pivotal role in maintaining an optimal and consistent approach to pricing that directly impacts our total store performance. This tight-knit team of analytical experts partners cross-functionally with stakeholders from Category Analytics, Finance, Pricing Science, Product, Business Strategy, and executive leadership. As a member of this high-visibility team, you'll have the opportunity to materially influence Whole Foods' future through a blend of long-term strategic projects and rapid-response initiatives. From building algorithms that power our large-scale competitive price matching to conducting deep dives on competitor trends, you'll be at the forefront of driving topline growth. If you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your work translates into tangible business impact, join us in revolutionizing the grocery experience through intelligent pricing strategies.

Key Responsibilities 

• Pricing and Promo Strategy: 

• Lead the development, communication, and implementation of WFM’s pricing and promotion strategies. 

• Manage and update strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with overall company goals. 

• Act as the subject matter expert for all pricing and promotion strategic initiatives, driving successful execution across various stakeholder teams. 

• Strategic Partnership: 

• Collaborate with the Category Pricing team to provide insights and support, ensuring consistent application of pricing strategies across Merchandising teams. 

• Work closely with the Pricing Science team to align model recommendations with broader strategic goals. 

• Partner with Finance to accurately assess the impact of strategic pricing and promotion initiatives on the overall business. 

• Align with Promotion Planning and Execution to effectively integrate pricing and promotional decisions into strategic initiatives. 

• Pricing Projects, Initiatives, and Analysis: 

• Work with pricing and merchandising leadership to recommend and implement pricing and promotional investments that grow the business. 

• Take ownership of both ad-hoc and long-term strategic pricing initiatives. 

• Conduct analysis to address key strategy questions for Pricing and Merchandising leadership. 

• Tools and Reporting Development: 

• Create impactful and scalable tools and reports to enhance recommendations and measurement for pricing and promotional projects. 

• Communication: 

• Lead the creation of Amazon white papers to communicate strategic vision to executive leaders. 

• Present complex ideas in a clear, concise, and easily digestible manner. 

• Training and Mentoring: 

• Coach other analysts in best practices for financial modeling, price/promo recommendations, and insights delivery. 

• Provide constructive feedback to team members to support their growth and development. 

Qualifications 

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills with experience securing alignment on new initiatives from executive leadership. 

• In-depth knowledge of industry best practices in pricing and promotion strategies, frameworks, and tactics. 

• Ability to assess the impact of pricing and promotion strategies on both top and bottom line business performance. 

• Proven track record of managing complex strategic analyses and projects, often involving multiple business teams and senior leadership. 

• Ambition to evolve into a strategic thought leader in retail pricing and promotions. 

• Self-directed, innovative thinker with a strong attention to detail and a commitment to meeting deadlines with a sense of urgency. 

• Effective at building relationships with Merchandising leadership and business partners. 

• Creative problem-solving skills, maturity to handle ambiguity, flexibility to perform in dynamic environments, and capability to multitask across projects. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience with visual analytics platforms and business intelligence tools is a plus. 

• Experience with third-party pricing software (e.g., PriceStrat, Revionics, DemandTec) is preferred. 

• Familiarity with querying data from large enterprise databases; SQL proficiency is a plus but not required. 

• Positive attitude, ability to work efficiently under pressure, and exceptional customer service skills. 

• Strong judgment, decision-making ability, and change management skills. 

Education and Experiences 

• Bachelor’s degree with 6-8 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• At least 5 years of full-time experience in pricing, promotions, or revenue management roles. 

• Preferred degrees: Bachelor's in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, Finance, Analytical Business Specialty, Marketing Research, or equivalent retail experience. Experience in assortment planning, field retail, merchandising, and inventory management is a plus. 

• Master’s degree or MBA preferred.