Associate Category Merchandiser
About The Position
The Associate Category Merchandiser coordinates and executes strategic category plans across an assigned desk and categories. Working with the Category Manager, Promotional Planning Manager, Commercial team, and other cross-functional partners, the role uses margin targets, competitive intelligence, sales data, and syndicated data to recommend strategies and tactics that improve sales, execution, and profitability. It also prioritizes regional assortment and seasonal merchandising needs and coordinates products, costs, merchandising tactics, and activities for promotions, temporary price reductions (TPRs), and selling events. The position oversees assigned vendor programs, deal submissions, file maintenance, and category deliverables, ensuring programs are executed on time and reflect industry trends, regional needs, relevant products, and competitive costs. It supports category strategy and planning, demand planning, new-item introductions, SKU rationalization, and the management of vendor and commodity-related risks. The role monitors trade funds and related income and escalates variances to the Senior Category Merchandiser. This is a first-shift office role. Travel is not routinely required, though travel to at least two food shows per year is expected. The listed salary range is $51,720–$67,120.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or Marketing.
- Zero to two years of working knowledge or experience in retail/supermarket, wholesale, and/or consumer packaged goods (CPG).
- Solid analytical and quantitative skills, with comfort handling complex financial data.
- Experience in category planning.
- Understanding of financial methodology for determining costs, developing annual business plans, and overseeing daily metrics such as sales, volume, inventory, and costs.
- Ability to present analyses, data models, and project results concisely to management.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
- Strong planning and time-management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and adapt as needed.
- Ability to operate effectively in both tactical and strategic modes.
Responsibilities
- Support annual category strategy development through planning, competitive intelligence, sales data, and syndicated data analysis.
- Provide actionable insights, trends, and opportunities to drive incremental sales and margin.
- Oversee execution of assigned vendor programs, allowances, performance funds, incentives, forward buys, and direct-plan-ship options.
- Partner with the Commercial and Promotional Planning teams in the assigned region to implement sales programs and support local events.
- Oversee category tactics, milestones, and deliverables, including deal submissions, demand planning, new-item introductions, and key selling events.
- Perform SKU rationalization and work with suppliers to maintain an appropriate customer assortment and understand commodity market risk.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for assigned vendor and broker tactics and day-to-day planning, including deal submission and approval.
- Work with manufacturing, Buying, and Transportation to resolve out-of-stock issues for the assigned desk.
- Monitor and track trade fund planning and execution, flyer income, incentives, forward buys, truckload opportunities, and other income; escalate variances to the Senior Category Merchandiser.
- Participate in cross-functional planning to support corporate and regional growth strategies.
- Travel to a minimum of two food shows per year.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
