Category Assistant

In your role as a Category Assistant - Sewing & Fur at The North West Company (TNWC); you will assist in participating in the development and execution of purchase plans, forecasting, shipping of goods to support sales, marketing plans and initiatives based on consumer, demographic, and sales market data along with feedback from the field.

Joining TNWC gives you the opportunity for development throughout the company, a competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.

TNWC is a leading retailer to under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out northwest.ca for more information.

**Your Role**:

- Participate with the Category Manager in the management of fur and sewing assortment, pricing, markdowns, communications, selling channels, and the interpretation of customer research.
- Provide recommendations and feedback on store inventory levels to fulfill sales.
- Receive store purchase orders or create purchase orders of sewing and fur items for stores and adjust as required to meet sales plan.
- Work with team members to pick, pack, and prepare fur, fabric, and sewing orders to our stores.
- Receive orders from vendors and place inventory into warehouse racking to maintain adequate supply and accurate inventory.
- Work in cooperation with internal and external customers to ensure a high level of continued commitment is achieved with an emphasis on the relationship between stores and vendors.
- Travel to store communities to support local tradeshow and selling events.
- Input data into Excel spreadsheets for departmental processes.
- Assist in the execution of category marketing strategies.
- Provide support to attain financial performance goals related to sales, gross margin, and inventory productivity.
- Demonstrated ability to use internal processes and programs.

**Desired Skills & Experience**:

- Ability to work alone or independently.
- Strong Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint Skills.
- Knowledge of, or have experience in the fur and sewing industry.
- Category management experience, and/ or sales experience, and/ or warehouse experience.
- Must be detail conscious and demonstrate a high level of accuracy.
- Strong analytical abilities and problem solving skills.
- Proven organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills.
- Must be self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative.
- Must possess effective communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to provide superior customer service.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, and assignments under strict timelines and within a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge of how marketing, supply and logistics, and store operations optimally work together to form a value chain in a retail environment.
- Post-secondary degree or diploma in a related field is an asset.

**Location**:

- Fur Marketing Branch - 1000 King Edward Street, Winnipeg, MB
- Gibraltar House - 77 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB

**Reports to**: Category Manager - Housewares

We create a collaborative and constructive culture by:
Being Enterprising - Committing to our Customer - Working with Passion - Leading and Developing Others - Demonstrating Respect and Inclusivity - Building Trust

**A competitive salary is being offered along with opportunities to learn, develop and advance throughout the organization. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.**

This is an active job opening for a position that is currently available and we are actively seeking to fill.

**For Internal Applicants Only**:
Salary Grade: C0R006