Merchant - Candy

Walmart • Bentonville, AR

1d • $90,000 - $180,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Merchant leads category strategy and financial management for the moderately complex candy category. The role drives pricing, promotion, and channel decisions to meet business objectives, and involves supplier negotiation, assortment planning, and customer-focused execution across multiple channels. The Merchant uses data analysis to guide decisions, manages team performance, and supports operational initiatives that improve profitability and customer experience. The role collaborates with cross-functional partners to align category activity with company goals and foster continuous improvement and innovation.

The candy team focuses on enhancing the Member experience and delivering value through strategic vendor partnerships. It leads category strategy, financial management, and supplier relationships; uses data-driven decision-making; and collaborates across functions to optimize pricing, promotions, and assortment. The team supports operational excellence and continuous improvement, while enabling members to manage priorities in a results-oriented environment.

The position requires experience developing and executing category strategy, strong financial management and supplier negotiation skills, the ability to analyze market and customer data, team management capabilities, and proficiency with data analytics and digital tools. A bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field and three years of relevant experience, or five years of relevant experience without the degree, is required.

Requirements

• Proven experience developing and executing category strategy for moderately complex categories.
• Strong financial management skills, including profit and loss ownership and budget forecasting.
• Expertise in supplier management, negotiation, and performance tracking.
• Ability to analyze market trends, customer behavior, and the competitive landscape to inform decisions.
• Demonstrated team management capabilities, including coaching, performance evaluation, and engagement.
• Proficiency in leveraging data analytics and digital tools to drive strategic insights and operational improvements.
• Effective decision-making skills with a focus on customer-centric and omni-channel strategies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field and 3 years’ experience in merchandising, buying, financial planning, operations, or a related area; or 5 years’ experience in those areas.

Nice To Haves

• Microsoft Office.
• Negotiating with third-party suppliers.
• Supervisory experience.
• Master’s degree in Business.
• Master’s degree in Merchandising.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with long-term business objectives.
• Manage pricing, promotion, and channel strategies to optimize profitability and market position.
• Analyze the competitive landscape, customer behavior, and industry trends to inform decisions.
• Oversee supplier negotiations, performance tracking, and terms management to ensure value and compliance.
• Lead and develop team members, set priorities, and foster a high-performance environment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on inventory, assortment, and modular planning initiatives.
• Use data analysis tools to generate insights and drive strategic business improvements.
• Support financial planning, budgeting, and profit and loss management for assigned categories.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k), stock purchase, and company-paid life insurance.
• Paid time off and/or PPTO, parental leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, and voting leave.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Company discounts.
• Military Leave Pay.
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
• Live Better U company-paid education benefit, including tuition, books, and fees for eligible programs.
• Performance-based bonus awards; additional compensation may include annual or quarterly performance bonuses and Regional Pay Zone pay based on location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager