Assistant Manager, Essentials | Food and General Merchandise

Princeton University Retail; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Princeton University Retail seeks an Assistant Category Manager to oversee the Essentials portfolio across multiple categories, including food & beverage, health & beauty, home & dorm products, stationery, and tech accessories. The role supports purchasing, replenishment, inventory control, product information, vendor communication, reporting, and product readiness.

The successful candidate will bring proven knowledge of general merchandise, strong attention to detail, and the initiative to

Qualifications

• 3+ years of merchandising, buying, purchasing, inventory management, retail operations, or related field.
• Experience with food, grocery, convenience, or general merchandise; nonfood knowledge.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Proficiency with Excel and ERP/retail systems; NetSuite preferred.
• Clear communication, sound judgment, initiative, and self-motivation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain purchase orders, item records, pricing, costs, product information, and vendor documentation.
• Monitor inventory, replenishment, open orders, delivery dates, stockouts, overstocks, aging products, and other exceptions.
• Follow up with vendors regarding orders, shortages, substitutions, discrepancies, samples, and product information.
• Support the daily requirements of the food business, including availability, freshness information, delivery commitments, and vendor issues.
• Research and recommend products and vendors for health and beauty, home and dorm, stationery and supplies, technology accessories, and other general merchandise categories.
• Assist with assortment planning, markdowns, product transitions, returns to vendors, and seasonal execution.
• Work with receiving, store operations, ecommerce, marketing, and finance to ensure products are accurately set up and ready for sale.
• Use NetSuite, Excel, and related tools to maintain information, prepare reports, and identify issues requiring attention.
• Regularly review the selling floors for product availability, pricing, presentation, and customer response.

Skills

Merchandising

Buying

Purchasing

Inventory management

Retail operations

Communication

Attention to detail

Independent motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

NetSuite

Job description

The Assistant Category Manager supports the daily management of the full Essentials portfolio, including food and beverage, prepared food, health and beauty, home and dorm products, stationery and supplies, and technology accessories.

The role assists with purchasing, replenishment, inventory control, product information, vendor communication, reporting, and product readiness. While supporting all categories, the successful candidate will bring particular knowledge of general merchandise to complement the Category Manager’s food expertise.

This position requires accuracy, initiative, accountability, and consistent follow-through.

What You Will Do

• Prepare and maintain purchase orders, item records, pricing, costs, product information, and vendor documentation.
• Monitor inventory, replenishment, open orders, delivery dates, stockouts, overstocks, aging products, and other exceptions.
• Follow up with vendors regarding orders, shortages, substitutions, discrepancies, samples, and product information.
• Support the daily requirements of the food business, including availability, freshness information, delivery commitments, and vendor issues.
• Research and recommend products and vendors for health and beauty, home and dorm, stationery and supplies, technology accessories, and other general merchandise categories.
• Assist with assortment planning, markdowns, product transitions, returns to vendors, and seasonal execution.
• Work with receiving, store operations, ecommerce, marketing, and finance to ensure products are accurately set up and ready for sale.
• Use NetSuite, Excel, and related tools to maintain information, prepare reports, and identify issues requiring attention.
• Regularly review the selling floors for product availability, pricing, presentation, and customer response.

What You Bring

• Three or more years of experience in merchandising, buying, purchasing, inventory management, retail operations, or a related field.
• Experience with food, grocery, convenience, or general merchandise, with particular knowledge of nonfood categories.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Excel and experience using retail, inventory, or ERP systems; NetSuite experience is preferred.
• Clear communication, sound judgment, initiative, and independent motivation.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.