Mexico Assistant Merchant/Buyer

at  Ace Hardware

The Job
The International Assistant Merchant is responsible for all aspects of support for a product category, including but not limited to category review support, promotional planning, show prep, retailer communication, SKU on-boarding, and maintenance and special projects as assigned.
The position is designed as a support role, as well as development step in all aspects of the buying department to prepare a candidate for full category responsibility as a International Associate Merchant.

The International Assistant Merchant:

• Executes the current year plan that has been laid out by the Merchant.
• Responsible for all aspects of support for a product category
• Assists with teams’ responsibilities and projects, including category reviews, promotional planning processes, show preparation, retailer communication, SKU onboarding and maintenance, and special projects as assigned.
• I expected to consider enterprise (International, Mexico and Leveraging ACE USA) impact with all decisions.

What you’ll do:

Category Review Support

• Support merchant in all phases of category review process.
• Request and prepare all category analytics.
• Participate in all aspects of vendor meeting prep, meetings, item selection, plan-o-gram build, marketing, and execution to retailers.
• Maximize category wholesale margin.

Promotional Planning Support

• Support in organizing and securing all vendor marketing assessments.
• Assist in solicitation of promotional items from vendors.
• Assist with promotional item submission forms, target pricing, correction notices and AD proofing

Retailer Communication

• Support with daily retailer customer service.
• Assist with communication to relay new programs, changes, or issues.

Convention Planning Support

• Assist in selecting and inviting vendors to attend semi-annual convention.
• Lead prep of show materials including drop ship forms, as well as submission for convention promotional Skus.
• Assist in planning merchant area theme and execution for respective category

Inventory/Supply Chain Support

• Assist in diagnosing and resolving vendor service issues.
• Assist in inventory planning for promotional items.
• Lead processing of initial orders for new programs.

Systems Support

• Lead SKU on-boarding for department.
• Lead all item master data and price changes.

Product Development

• Assist in solicitation of information, test reports and general information for new items.
• Assist in the creation of packaging for new items.
• Work with vendors and cross functional teams on new product development.

Special Projects

• Lead department and cross-functional projects as assigned.
• Lead category refreshes (L1) guided by the International Merchant.

What you will need:
Competencies:

Ace International Assistant Merchant Competencies

• Product passion – Natural and fanatical curiosity around product and retail marketplace, demonstrated and put into action.
• Strategic thinking – has advanced business acumen to draw insights from gathered data.
• Influencing – Builds and leverages internal / external network (vendors, retailers, cross functional team members, etc.) to drive results and improve processes.
• Results-oriented – Ability to drive results to and above plan with full accountability, proactively shifting efforts as trends and business variables change.
• Communication – Demonstrates clear, concise, and relevant communication skills (written/verbal), ability to plan, assemble and present with excellence strategy, execution, and updates to leadership, across the organization, vendors, and retailers.
• Problem Solving – Analyzes issues and makes suggestions for solving problems.
• Results-oriented – Ability to make decisions, take appropriate risk, and drive results.

Experience and Technical Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred (Merchandising or Business degrees a plus) OR comparable work experience.
• A minimum of 2 years of retail buying experience
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Strong problem-solving & interpersonal skills
• Strong corporate financial acumen and analytical ability
• Demonstrate strong decision-making skills.
• Highly creative, flexible, and adaptable with good follow-through
• Proven ability to multi-task projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point,
• Strong negotiation skills
• Knowledge of SAP, SAP B1, and guided Ad-hoc reporting tools
• Ability to travel 15%.

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Please refer the Job description for details