Associate Merchant, Product Development

Position Purpose:
Responsible for globally sourcing, purchasing and developing globally sourced merchandise for a specific department.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities:

• Identify and qualify international vendors to the HD standards
• Develop and purchase products
• Develop materials to sell the products developed, i.e., packaging, P.K. materials, P.O.P., etc.
• Understand impacts of products on sales and GMROI
• Creating specifications for products including, packaging, safety and environmental issues
• Selects, develops and motivates assigned staff
• Understanding of supply chain domestic and international
• Conduct presentations at product line reviews and marketing meetings

Nature and Scope:
Typically reports to Sr. Director
No direct responsibility for supervising others.

Environmental Job Requirements:
Environment:
Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
Travel:
Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

Additional Environmental Job Requirements:
Usually in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors causing moderate physical discomfort from such things as dust, fumes or odors.
Typically requires overnight travel 5% to 20% of the time.

Standard Minimum Qualifications:
Must be eighteen years of age or older.
Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

Education Required:
The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor’s degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Years of Relevant Work Experience:
5 years

Physical Requirements:
Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Preferred Qualifications:
High level of comfort with strong negotiations skills and communication skills.
Extensive travel – international and domestic. International experience 3-5 years.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Marketing background.
• Retail Merchandising background. Product knowledge category background in manufacturing and industry practices.