Part-Time Ferris Outfitters Merchandise Associate

Location: Big Rapids, MI (Main Campus)

Temporary part-time position (12-month term) with a maximum of 28 hours per week. Must be available to work nights and weekends as needed. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire without employer assistance or sponsorship.

About the role

Manages the prepping and storing of incoming store merchandise. Replenishes the sales floor with products, maintains a clean, orderly sales floor, and creates merchandise displays as needed. Assists with customer questions and concerns about products on the sales floor and is proactive in theft situations. Helps oversee inventory counts, maintains records, and assists the eCommerce Associate as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manages the prepping and storing of incoming store merchandise.
• Manages receiving and processing merchandise for use in web orders and for sale in stores.
• Trains and supervises student employee store associates in proper receiving procedures and ensures compliance; coaches to improve performance.
• Participates in vendor visits for new and upcoming merchandise.
• Works with managers to choose new merchandise and develop quantities for selling periods.
• Provides feedback on customer needs to improve assortments of store merchandise.
• Trains, supervises, and coaches student employee associates on maintaining selling floor standards, sales floor merchandise replenishment, store maintenance, handling expired snacks and beverages, and floor moves to improve sales and merchandise visibility.
• Trains, supervises, and coaches student employee associates on customer service, addressing customer questions and concerns, and proactively handling theft situations.
• Ensures proper POS procedures are followed and maintained.
• Contacts vendors to handle issues with purchase orders, returns of defective or damaged merchandise, and ensures credits are processed accurately.
• Assists with managing vendor relationships and processing of web orders.
• Helps maintain accurate counts and locations for all merchandise on the floor and in back stock.
• Trains and supervises student employee associates on stockroom standards and proper handling of defective, damaged, or out-of-date merchandise.
• Assists with pulling shipments to wholesale vendors and shipping product returns to vendors.
• Assists with overstock management and departmental requests.
• Trains and supervises student employee associates with picking, fulfilling, processing, and shipping online orders; assists customers via phone with basic web order questions.
• Processes 30 to 50 web orders daily.
• Manages and maintains the eCommerce website, including creating catalogs, maintaining item accuracy, proper item placement, and weekly review of website operations.
• Manages and updates point-of-sale terminal for cash and charge sales and return transactions; trains student employee associates on POS functions.
• Assists with supervising student employee associates and daily assignments to ensure efficient store operations.
• Ensures excellent customer service through training and coaching of student employee associates.
• Monitors sales and inventory, seeking new merchandise opportunities, reordering merchandise as needed, and communicating challenges to management.
• Independently answers questions from internal and external sources in a timely manner.
• Communicates issues to management and helps develop strategies to address them.
• Assists in managing the Ferris Outfitters Inbox and responds as appropriate.
• Provides oversight of the store and operations in the absence of management.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with university policies and applicable laws.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences.
• Supports, promotes, and develops university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Performs any other duties assigned within the position classification area.

Requirements

• High School Diploma.
• One year of retail experience.

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Professional communication skills, both written and verbal, and ability to interact well with co-workers and the general public.
• Well-developed PC and MS Office skills; comfortable with use of email and Internet.
• Ability to work independently, organize own work, and coordinate work activities of others.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Willingness and ability to learn new areas and develop new skills, including a basic understanding of all areas and functions of Ferris Outfitters.
• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and life experiences.

Physical Demands

• Bending
• Carrying
• Reaching
• Twisting
• Balancing
• Working at heights
• Lifting
• Standing

Pay

$15–$16 per hour

Benefits

Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.