Associate Category Merchant at Framingham

Job Description

Position Summary

The Associate Category Merchant, reporting directly to Senior Category Merchant is responsible for managing a product line or group of product lines for sales, margin and supply chain including turns. This includes assortment planning, merchandise and vendor selection, negotiation, financial planning, inventory impact implications, advertising plans, merchandise presentation, distribution, vendor relations and administration for assigned lines. With guidance from Senior Category Merchant develop and execute strategies for driving sales and margin, and competitive differentiation for both US Retail and Staples.com business.

Primary Responsibilities

• With assistance from Senior Category Merchant, develop a realistic and effective business plan for each product line to achieve budgeted goals in sales, margin, supply chain impact (including turns), and drive execution of plan. Identify alternatives for driving sales in face of negative trends

• Develop and approve disposition plans

• Develop and execute written strategy for product lines taking into account cross-functional implications

• With support from Senior Category Merchant, choose items and vendors for assigned product line(s)

• Negotiate with vendors for lower total delivered cost, volume incentives, rebates, advertising and other applicable allowances. Meet with vendors in development of marketing plans

• With Support from Senior Category Merchant, merchandise assigned line(s) to ensure service levels with minimum inventory investment and maximum gross margin. Effectively manage impact on total supply chain by leveraging knowledge of inventory turns and logistics to secure best delivered costs

• With Senior Category Merchant, review and approve financial and item forecasts with Planners

• Manage adjusted margins working with manager

• Work with Marketing, POG, Inventory Management, Stores, Staples Advantage and other functional areas as needed to achieve corporate goals

• Develop ability to utilize appropriate resources to gather data

• Interpret basic financial statements, total costs to serve the product, financials levers and metrics used in Merchandising to understand current and future trends. Identify exceptions and seek additional information when data discrepancies are found

• Develop proactive communication; assess the need for immediate action

Job Requirements

Basic

• Bachelors Degree

• Minimum of 3 years total experience in buying related functions (buying-Merchandising, Planning, Inventory management)

Preferred

• MBA preferred

• Inventory and Store as well as Buying and Planning experience preferred

• General knowledge of industry trends, assortment planning, Planograms, customer buying patterns, inventory management, logistics and marketing techniques

• Knowledge and understanding of financial analysis and forecasting

• Negotiation skills

• Influencing skills, verbal and written communication skills

• PC literate with the ability to develop and manipulate spreadsheets

• Ability to drive sales and margin results

• Ability to build partnerships

Country: USA, State: Massachusetts, City: Framingham, Company: Staples.