About the Merchandising Associate Role

Join a dynamic team in the heart of the retail food industry as a Merchandising Associate with our client through Robert Half in Old Bridge, New Jersey. This full-time position is perfect for analytical professionals passionate about category management, sales optimization, and vendor collaboration. You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless operations between merchandisers, vendors, stores, and warehouse teams, contributing to strategic planning and event coordination that drives business growth. With a competitive salary range of $55,000 - $60,000, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for impact in a fast-paced environment, this role offers stability and advancement in the merchandising field.

Old Bridge, NJ, provides an ideal location with easy access to major highways, vibrant communities, and proximity to New York City, making it a prime spot for retail careers. Robert Half specializes in connecting top talent like you with leading employers, ensuring a smooth hiring process and ongoing support.

Key Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Performance Tracking

Delve into sales data and market trends at both category and item levels. Your insights will empower merchandisers to make data-driven decisions, spotting trends that fuel revenue growth. Weekly department performance evaluations will be your domain, where you'll pinpoint growth opportunities and recommend improvements to elevate overall operations.

Meeting Preparation and Presentations

Prepare promotional details and competitor analyses for bi-weekly advertising committee meetings. Craft and proofread essential materials like projections, pricing strategies, and gross profit objectives. For quarterly profit steering meetings, develop compelling presentations that resonate with stakeholders, showcasing your ability to communicate complex data visually and persuasively.

Vendor and Event Coordination

Serve as the key liaison in vendor meetings, meticulously documenting discussions and driving follow-through on action items. Coordinate vendor participation in high-profile events including food shows, seminars, and golf outings. Manage all logistics, from stock items and shippers to event spaces, ensuring flawless execution. Handle ad hoc requests like store credits and new vendor setups with efficiency and precision.

Data Maintenance and Collaboration

Maintain accurate item hierarchies to support consistent data across teams. Collaborate closely with cross-functional groups to foster smooth communication and operational excellence in the retail food sector.

Required Qualifications

To excel as a Merchandising Associate, bring experience in retail merchandising, preferably in the food industry. Strong analytical prowess is essential for dissecting sales data and market insights. Proficiency in data management tools, organizational skills for event planning, and vendor relationship management are critical. Excellent written and verbal communication skills will shine in creating presentations and meeting materials. You should thrive in a collaborative environment, handling multiple priorities with a keen eye for detail. A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field is preferred, along with 2+ years of relevant experience. Familiarity with retail software, Excel, and presentation tools like PowerPoint is highly advantageous.

Key skills include sales data analysis, market trend evaluation, category management, promotional planning, competitor research, stakeholder presentations, vendor coordination, and event logistics.

Why Join Us?

Our client offers a supportive culture within the thriving retail food industry, where your contributions directly impact strategic success. Enjoy top-tier benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with matching, and generous PTO. Robert Half provides expert recruitment support, career coaching, and access to exclusive opportunities. Grow your merchandising career in Old Bridge, NJ, with a team that values innovation, teamwork, and results. Apply now through Robert Half for this Merchandising Associate role and elevate your professional journey in a role rich with analytical challenges and collaborative rewards. With SEO-optimized exposure on major job boards, your application stands out in the competitive New Jersey job market.

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