The Merchant Assistant has responsibility for the tactical execution of the strategic category business plan. Review and collaborate with the Merchant, the 360 business team & vendor partners during product line reviews. Maintains and manages data accuracy as it relates to article listings, supplier base and marketing activity. Provide a high level of service to internal and external stakeholders.                                                                                                                                     

Key Responsibilities:                                                                                                                                      

• Works closely with Merchant and the cross functional 360 business team, focused on implementing the business unit plan to attain category and corporate goals. 

• Foster an effective team environment of knowledge sharing and collaboration. 

• Develops and maintains effective relationships, while acting as the key point of contact between the Merchant and a variety of internal and external business partners to ensure the resolution of store and vendor issues, aligning with service level agreements 

• Supports the departmental financial targets including sales, gross margin (profitability), and inventory for multiple multi-million dollar business categories. Supports decisions on assortment and pricing that will drive these 3 key metrics through coordination and execution. 

• Maintains and executes retail pricing in alignment with business strategies, the pricing strategy and the clearance process 

• Accountable for effective internal and external department specific communications and problem solving, utilizing the warehouse, My Apron and Canada Communications 

• Performing administrative support for Sr. Merchants and Merchants, including scheduling meetings, coordination of reports and responding to correspondence, and provides intermediate functional support to Associate Merchants 

• Coordination of special order programs including data validation, book creation, ongoing maintenance and communication between stakeholders (SSC, stores and vendors) 

• Coordination of Supplier Partnership Meeting scheduling and financial contracts 

• Responsible for article submissions & PIS forms to Advertising and Off Shelf; and downstream approvals of data and imagery accuracy. 

• Identify process improvement opportunities and help facilitate solution with cross functional teams. 

• Fundamental ability to have strong time management and organizational skills to prioritize work flow. 

• Partners with cross functional team on best in class execution and risk identification on core and special programs 
   

Competencies:                                                                                                                                     

• Action Oriented   

• Manages Conflict   

• Drives Engagement   

• Collaborates   

• Customer Focus   

• Drives Results   

• Communicates Effectively

Skills:                                                                                                                                    

• Understanding of Consolidated Reset process 

• Understanding of the implication of seasonal cycles 

• Partnership with vendors to learn about products 

• Marketplace Dynamics – understanding the role of new suppliers and products 

• Knowledge of article site assortments based on region, store and POG size. 

• Understanding of competitor practices and brands 

• Understanding of the competition and how they affect the business 

• Understanding of THD Strategies, Brand positioning, consumer segments, and differentiators 

• Understanding of merchandising impacts on store metrics (labour; safety; sales; GM; inventory; and customer experience 

• Excel Intermediate 

• SAP Intermediate 

• Word, PowerPoint Intermediate 

• My Store Tools Intermediate 

• Extracts and verifies data 

• BI/DSS reporting capability 

• Working knowledge of processes and procedures in Marketing, Finance, Forecast/Replenishment, Advertising, Operations, Visual and Merchandise Planning 

• Facilitation of multiple projects at one time with each cross functional team 

• Assist in Consolidated Reset process with Merchant and vendors 

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:                                                                                                                                               

• Reports to Sr Merchant/ Divisional Product Merchant

Travel Requirements:                                                                                                                                     

• None

Physical Requirements:                                                                                                                                 

• Sedentary

Hybrid Work:                                                                                                                                     

• Flex                                                                                                                                        

Working Conditions:                                                                                                                                      

• Office

Minimum Education:                                                                                                                                     

• Not applicable

Minimum Years of Work Experience:                                                                                                         

• Experience        

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• Not applicable                                                            

Certifications:                                                                                                                                    

• Not applicable

Other Requirements/Assets:                                                                                                                                       

• Excel Intermediate
• SAP Intermediate
• Word, PowerPoint Intermediate