Senior Manager, Merchant
About The Position
The Senior Manager, Merchant is responsible for the strategy and performance of assigned product categories, connecting customer needs with the right assortment and merchandising solutions. The role develops and executes category strategies that drive profitable growth, improve the customer experience, and strengthen category performance through collaboration with cross-functional partners. The role leads and develops team members responsible for executing category priorities and drives coordinated delivery across merchandising partners. This is a hybrid position that is based in Lake Forest or Chicago 3 days a week.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, technology, science, marketing, logistics, business or relevant field. required
- 7+ years of experience in industrial product management, merchandising, marketing, new product development, or technical sales. required
- Experience developing and executing merchandising, assortment, or go-to-market strategies that drive measurable business results.
- Experience applying analytical and financial information, including customer, market, and performance data, to merchandising and assortment decisions.
- Experience leading team members and influencing cross-functional partners to execute category strategies and business priorities.
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes, MRO products, customers, and industry trends.
Responsibilities
- Start with the voice of the customer by leveraging customer insights, market trends, competitive intelligence, and Grainger data to identify assortment opportunities and improve the customer experience.
- Develop and execute category strategies that optimize assortment, product presentation, and customer experience while delivering revenue, profitability, and growth objectives.
- Own assortment decisions, including product additions, product discontinuations, supplier selection, and branding strategy.
- Lead and develop team members responsible for category and merchandising work by establishing priorities, providing coaching and feedback, and driving accountability for business results.
- Prioritize and lead work across Product Information, Publishing, Search, Content Strategy, Supplier Management, Marketing, and other partners to execute category priorities, including product groupings, taxonomy, filters, attributes, and content strategies that improve product selection and customer confidence.
- Leverage analytics, customer insights, market information, and technology tools to evaluate category performance, identify growth opportunities, simplify processes, and make data-driven merchandising decisions.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment
- 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
- 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date)
- 6 company holidays per year.
- 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
- Employee discounts
- Tuition reimbursement
- Student loan refinancing
- Free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
- Maternity support programs
- Nursing benefits
- up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents
- up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
