Merchandising Specialist

**Primary Function**:
This role supports the Supplier & Merchandising Operations Manager to achieve sales, profits and customer acquisition goals across multiple product categories which range from $50M-$100M in revenue. The analyst is responsible for supporting coordination and communication with all internal stakeholders for any assortment, category, or merchandising discussions on a periodic (monthly/qtrly) cadence. This role will also collaborate with the supplier management to drive best in class supplier relationships.

**Principal Duties & Responsibilities**:
Ensure Grainger has the best product assortment for our customers at the best cost.

Implement assortment and merchandising changes in Grainger systems. Provide analytical support as needed (category performance, returns analysis, VOC reporting, etc.)
- Work with the Merchandising Managers to manage category maintenance activities such as discontinuations, replacements, linking alternates, responding to service opportunities
- Collaborate with business partners in Product Information, Search, and Publishing to optimize online content
- Establish and track category performance analysis and identifying trends and keeping merchandising manager informed of any developments
- Leverage analytics and technical product knowledge to recommend assortment changes and execute the addition of new items to e-commerce publications.
- Participate on cross-functional teams and projects where appropriate to ensure Merchandising processes, concerns, and business issues are properly addressed for increased productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction/service.
- Coordinate needed communications with internal stakeholder regarding portfolio changes.
- Collaborate with partners in Product Information, Search, and Publishing to optimize online content.
- Establish and track category performance analysis and identifying trends and keeping merchandising manager informed of any developments.
- Perform to operational maintenance processes and support continuous improvement initiatives that are designed to keep our assortment and merchandised presentation relevant, accurate, and up to date.
- Support efforts to help improve supplier relationships with Grainger and make it easier for suppliers to do business with Grainger
- Participate on cross-functional teams and projects where appropriate to ensure Merchandising processes, concerns, and business issues are properly addressed for increased productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction/service

Job Requirements:
**JOB REQUIREMENTS**

Preferred Education & Experience:

- Bachelor’s degree in business management (preferred)
- 3+ years business experience years of related ecommerce, product merchandising, or product management experience
- Advance Excel, power point, project management knowledge
- Critical thinking, receptive, adaptable, curious, and passionate
- Must understand Company’s business direction, customer requirements, supply management-marketing strategy, and demand generation fulfillment process.
- Proven ability to drive and demonstrate results financially, strategically, and managerially.
- Experience analyzing large amounts of data to determine insights and facilitate decision-making.
- Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
- Strong systemic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Strong communication skills, detail orientation, and business acumen

**Work Environment**:
Hybrid Model with 3 days a week in person in office. Travel both domestically and internationally is required. Up to 10% of the time can be dedicated to travel.

**Working Relationships**:
**Impact**:

- Responsible to support the merchandising manager in delivering business goals across the category portfolio of Grainger’s
- Responsible to support the improvement of the Graigner.ca website
- Responsible for working with product information team to improve customer buying experience

**External**:

- Suppliers: Promote Grainger, share direction, manage assets, and determine levels of supplier’s commitment to secure and/or advance our position in the market.
- Industry peers: to ensure best in class processes and digital practices are introduced across Grainger

**Internal**:

- Product Information: collaborate to establish a clear product information needs to support digital strategy
- Sales and Services and branch: Supports selling efforts of the sales and branch organizations through existing and new products.
- Finance: Conducts profitability of product lines using financial tools. Participates with Accounts Payable and Cost Accounting in managing and improving transactions with suppliers.

**Rewards and Benefits**:
Our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet your individual needs. Check out some of the benefits available to you with Grainger (may vary based on hours worked):

- Medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
-