Pro Associate Merchant - Decking

About the role

The Pro Associate Merchant executes Pro Merchandising objectives for an assigned category, including creating and maintaining vendor relationships and developing the overall strategy to drive business by providing the right products to Pro customers. This role drives The Home Depot's growth in the wholesale distribution channel through understanding customer requirements across the category's full value chain, ensuring the company has the necessary sales process, assortment, fulfillment, and value-added services to compete. The position builds strong relationships with the core merchandising team and the outside salesforce to provide product options for customers in order to win the category and gain wallet share of the complex project. This role leads the Senior Analyst, Pro Merchandising to drive merchandising strategy and business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Pro Merchandising Strategy (20%): Implement strategy for assigned category in partnership with Pro Merchandising leadership to best sell, source, and deliver the whole project for Pro customers.
• Vendor Relationship Management (25%): Create and maintain supplier relationships for an assigned category to provide the outside sales team with best-in-class product offerings for Pro customers. Negotiate with suppliers to optimize product selection and pricing.
• Cross-Functional Communication and Support (15%): Partner with core merchandising to ensure assortment, inventory, and pricing strategies are aligned to support the complex Pro purchase. Provide excellent customer service by responding to outside salesforce with a sense of urgency. Collaborate with the outside sales team to understand Pro customer needs and provide tailored product solutions.
• People Leadership (15%): Lead and mentor Senior Analyst, Pro Merchandising, providing guidance and support for their development to drive results for the organization.
• Assortment Selection (10%): Partner with IPR and core merchandising to ensure product is available to support Outside Sales initiatives. Execute business review of category on a regular basis to determine changes to product mix and better optimize Pro assortment within Flatbed Distribution Centers and Direct Fulfillment Centers.
• Financial Planning & Management (10%): Implement financial strategy and cost structure for assigned Pro category and sets pricing.
• Special Projects (5%): Lead creation of new capabilities for assigned category through coordination across cross-functional partners and suppliers. Ensure implementation of key special projects including product knowledge training and supply chain initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Eighteen years of age or older
• Legally permitted to work in the United States
• High school diploma and/or GED
• 4 years of work experience

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job
• 5 years of work experience
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to draw accurate conclusions from financial documentation
• Ability to negotiate, handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances with both internal and external customers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in merchandising, retail planning, and inventory management
• Experience managing a large number of regional and national suppliers simultaneously
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant products to make purchasing decisions
• Proven analytical and execution skills in a merchandising or retail environment
• Proven people management skills and leadership ability

Competencies

• Action Oriented
• Collaborates
• Ensure Accountability
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Develops Talent
• Drives Results
• Financial Acumen
• Strategic Mindset

Work Environment

• Travel: Typically requires overnight travel 5% to 20% of the time
• Physical Requirements: Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions, there may be a need to move or lift light articles.
• Working Conditions: Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Reporting Structure

This position typically reports to Pro Divisional Merchandise Manager and has 1-2 direct reports.