Associate Vendor Manager

Ashley Furniture Industries•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The Associate Vendor Manager (AVM) owns an assigned portfolio of vendors and categories in support of the Vendor Management organization. Specific category assignments may change based on business needs. The role manages vendor relationships, supports assortment planning and product setup, analyzes business performance, sources promotional funding, negotiates commercial terms, and coordinates cross-functional execution. The position also supports preparation for major home furnishings and furniture markets, with travel expected approximately 4 to 6 times annually. The ideal candidate is a persistent self-starter who works effectively with a high degree of autonomy. They demonstrate strong ownership and follow-through, are comfortable handling both strategic and detailed work, and actively seek better ways to deliver results.

Requirements

3 to 5 years of experience in vendor management, category management, merchandising, retail buying, or a related role.
Strong attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
Ability to synthesize distinct analyses and data sources into actionable business insights.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel.
Ability to travel approximately 4 to 6 times annually.

Nice To Haves

E-commerce experience.
Bachelor's degree in business administration, merchandising, marketing, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Own relationships with an assigned portion of the third-party vendor base; collaborate with vendor sales counterparts, source strategic product selection, monitor performance, and help resolve operational issues.
Review vendor product proposals and select products that support curation and merchandising strategy.
Coordinate product setup with offshore and cross-functional partners, ensuring accurate and timely execution.
Contribute to Weekly Business Reviews and evaluate week-over-week, year-over-year, and seasonal performance; translate multiple data sources into clear recommendations and actions.
Source vendor funding for Ashley promotional events, document commitments, and ensure agreed-upon support is collected in a timely manner.
Own contract and commercial negotiations for assigned vendors, including initial marketing, damage, and payment terms, as well as ongoing agreement maintenance and renegotiation.
Support preparation for major home furnishings and furniture markets attended by the Vendor Management team.
Partner with Site Merchandising, Product Enablement, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and other teams to launch products, resolve issues, and deliver category and vendor plans.
Identify opportunities to simplify work, improve processes, strengthen vendor self-service, and enable appropriate automation while maintaining ownership of required manual work.
Travel approximately 4 to 6 times annually.