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Merchandising Operations & Process Associate at Ace Hardware Corporation
Ace Hardware Corporation
Oak Brook, IL
$42 - $53/hour
Sales
Posted 2 hours ago
JOB DESCRIPTION
About This Role
This position is responsible for driving merchandising performance through the application of analytics, systems, and standardized processes, with a primary and ongoing focus on SKU productivity, markdown strategy, and overstock management. The role leverages core MOPA capabilities-project execution, process improvement, and cross functional influence-to optimize inventory performance, reduce financial exposure, and improve overall merchandising outcomes.
What You'll Do
Drive SKU productivity, markdown optimization, and overstock management
The ideal candidate is a strategic problem-solver who thrives at the intersection of data-driven insights and cross-functional leadership. You possess a rare blend of strong analytical rigor and the interpersonal influence required to drive change. You don't just find the "why" in the data; you have the business acumen to navigate our systems, understand the merchant mindset, and implement inventory management strategies that deliver bottom-line results.
Required Skills
$88400 - $110700 Per Year
Why should you join our team?
We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.
In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:
Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:
Create Job Alert
We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
Disclaimer
The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed . click apply for full job details
This position is responsible for driving merchandising performance through the application of analytics, systems, and standardized processes, with a primary and ongoing focus on SKU productivity, markdown strategy, and overstock management. The role leverages core MOPA capabilities-project execution, process improvement, and cross functional influence-to optimize inventory performance, reduce financial exposure, and improve overall merchandising outcomes.
What You'll Do
Drive SKU productivity, markdown optimization, and overstock management
- Strategically optimize markdown cadence variations through monthly/quarterly reviews to improve sell through while minimizing total markdown expense.
- Identify underperforming, aged, or excess SKUs using analytics; maintain "top-of-mind" awareness within Merchandising to drive strategic assortment decisions.
- Partner with Merchants and Finance to recommend markdown actions aligned with cost-control initiatives and inventory holding cost targets.
- Influence execution to improve sell through, reduce markdown expense, and optimize inventory productivity
- Maintain ongoing visibility and reporting on unproductive inventory risks
- Leverage Ace systems and tools to surface performance gaps related to SKU productivity, markdown, and overstock
- Conduct root cause analysis tied to inventory, markdown, and overstock drivers
- Partner with IT business partners to improve automation, controls, validation rules, and data quality
- Develop overall project timelines and identify required participants, and milestones.
- Clearly define team member responsibilities for each project.
- Drive execution of initiatives tied to inventory productivity and markdown outcomes
- Document Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) for the merchants, vendors and any additional stakeholders.
- Develop and deliver instructor lead training on the new/improved processes
- Serve as an active member on any IT project that involves Merch systems, provide input and help test, train and implement such projects
- Stay engaged in project or process rollouts until the end users are proficient with the new tools provided
- Collaborate and develop mitigations when issues or defects arise
- Take ownership and lead the resolution to business interruptions due to failed Merch systems or processes
The ideal candidate is a strategic problem-solver who thrives at the intersection of data-driven insights and cross-functional leadership. You possess a rare blend of strong analytical rigor and the interpersonal influence required to drive change. You don't just find the "why" in the data; you have the business acumen to navigate our systems, understand the merchant mindset, and implement inventory management strategies that deliver bottom-line results.
Required Skills
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 3 years of related work experience
- Proven ability as a strong communicator
- Independent, self-motivating skills to confidently manage project work and performance analysis (SKU productivity / markdown / overstock)
- Demonstrated successful project management experience
- Ability to effectively collaborate cross-functionally among multiple departments
- Investigative mind set - to review and locate sources of data issues
- SAP knowledge and/or familiarity with Master Data processes
- Inventory management, markdown, clearance, or product disposition experience
$88400 - $110700 Per Year
Why should you join our team?
We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.
In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:
- Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)
- Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation
- Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability - up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
- 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
- Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
- Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It's a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities - and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
- Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
- We know the work environment matters. That's why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
- We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
- Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
- Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
- Adoption cost reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
- Identity theft protection
Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:
Create Job Alert
We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
Disclaimer
The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed . click apply for full job details