Assistant Merchant

acehardware; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 76,300 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive opportunities

401(k) retirement plan with company

Health coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

Company car, phone and fuel card

Job summary

Ace Hardware Corporation in Oak Brook, IL is seeking an Assistant Merchant to support a product category across analytics, promotions, retailer communication, and onboarding. This role is designed as a development path toward Merchant I, covering category reviews, promo planning, show prep, and SKU maintenance.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive results. Ideal candidates bring 2+ years in business, retail exposure, strong problem solving, and solid communication.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of business experience
• Retail experience preferred
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Understand financial measures that impact corporation
• Demonstrate strong decision-making skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint
• Knowledge of PCM, SAP and guided Ad-hoc reporting tools
• Ability to travel 15%

Responsibilities

• Support category reviews and promotional planning processes
• Assist with retailer communication and SKU onboarding/maintenance
• Lead show preparation and vendor meeting support
• Manage inventory planning for promotional items
• Lead department and cross-functional projects as assigned
• Coordinate item master data changes with content teams

Skills

Product passion

Strategic thinking

Relationship Builder

Results-oriented

Presentation skills

Tools

SAP

PCM

Ad-hoc reporting tools

Job description

The Job

As an Assistant Merchant, you are responsible for all aspects of support for a product category, including but not limited to category review support, promotional planning, show prep, retailer communication, SKU onboarding, and maintenance and special projects as assigned.

The position is designed as a support role and a development step in all aspects of the buying department to prepare a candidate for full category responsibility as a Merchant I.

The Assistant Merchant:

• Executes the current year plan that has been laid out by the Merchant
• Is responsible for all aspects of support for a product category
• Assists with teams’ responsibilities and projects, including category reviews, promotional planning processes, show preparation, retailer communication, SKU onboarding and maintenance, and special projects as assigned.
• Is expected to consider enterprise (retail, EJD, international) impact with all decisions.

Responsibilities

Category Review Support

• Support merchant in all phases of category review process
• Request and prepare all category analytics
• Participate in all aspects of vendor meeting prep, meetings, item selection, plan‑o‑gram build, marketing and execution to retailers

Promotional Planning Support

• Support in organizing and securing all vendor marketing assessments
• Assist in solicitation of monthly promotional items from vendors
• Assist with promotional item submission forms, target pricing, correction notices and AD proofing

Retailer Communication

• Support with daily retailer customer service
• Assist with communication via ACENET to relay new programs, changes or issues
• Assist with Merch CARE to prep Ace Care Center for calls and e‑mails related to respective category

Convention Planning Support

• Assist in selecting and inviting vendors to attend semi‑annual convention
• Lead prep of show materials including drop ship forms, as well as submission for Power Buys, Saving Showcase and New Arrivals
• Assist in planning merchant area theme and execution for respective category

Inventory/Supply Chain Support

• Assist in diagnosing and resolving vendor service issues
• Assist in inventory planning for promotional items

Systems Support

• Lead SKU onboarding for department with respective merchandising system coordinator
• Lead processing of department SAP price changes with respective merchandising system coordinator
• Lead all item master data changes with article content team

Special Projects

• Lead department and cross‑functional projects as assigned by DMM and merchant

What you will need:

Knowledge, Experience, and Competencies:

Ace Assistant Merchant Competencies

• Product passion – Natural and fanatical curiosity around product and retail marketplace, demonstrated and put into action.
• Strategic thinking – has advanced business acumen to draw insights from gathered data.
• Relationship Builder – Builds and leverages internal / external network (vendors, retailers, cross‑functional team members, etc.) to drive results and improve processes.
• Results‑oriented – Ability to drive results to and above plan with full accountability, proactively shifting efforts as trends and business variables change.
• Presentation skills – Ability to plan, assemble and present with excellence strategy, execution and updates to leadership, across the organization, vendors and retailers.

Experience and Technical Requirements:

• 2+ years of business experience
• Retail experience preferred
• Strong problem‑solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Understand financial measures that impact corporation
• Demonstrate strong decision‑making skills
• Highly creative, flexible and adaptable with good follow‑through
• Proven ability to multi‑task projects and meet deadlines
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, Power Point
• Knowledge of PCM, SAP and guided Ad‑hoc reporting tools
• Ability to travel 15%

Compensation Details

$76,300 - $90,000 Per Year

Benefits

• 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.

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. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.