Associate Category Merchant-Framingham, MA

Responsibilities

• Develop deep understanding of customer needs and shopping behavior as well as upcoming trends and brands in the marketplace.
• With support from leadership team, develop and execute strategy to drive business utilizing vendor and industry share information.
• Select items that represent both core and trend product lines, and present to manager for approval.
• Negotiate with vendors for lower total delivered cost, volume incentives, rebates, advertising, funding, and other applicable allowances.
• Meet with vendors in development of marketing plans.
• Mercandise 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.
• Review and approve financial and item forecasts with Planners.
• Work with Marketing, POG, Promo, Inventory Management, Stores Operations, Portfolio Team, and other functional areas as needed to achieve corporate goals.
• Partner with private label team to manage transitions and develop new on trend product at utmost quality.
• Interpret financial statements, NPD Market data and other financials metrics used in Merchandising to understand current and future trends.
• Manage and develop one Merchandise Specialist.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum of 3 years of total experience in buying related functions (Buying-Merchandising, Planning, Inventory Management).
• 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.

Essential Skills And Experience

• Intermediate to advance Microsoft and Excel skills a must.
• Ability to drive sales and margin results.
• Ability to build partnerships.

Benefits

• Great perks including a bonus plan and generous amount of paid time off, including one Floating Holiday each year.
• Flexible work arrangements, including flexible work hours.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance.
• Many optional benefits including associate store discount and more perks (discounts on mobile plans, movie tickets, etc.).