Assistant Merchant (Assistant Category Manager)

Clark Associates, Inc.; Lancaster (Lancaster County); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Clark Associates, Inc. is seeking an Assistant Merchant to support a product segment by executing operational and analytical tasks that enable effective category management.

You will maintain product data, support vendor coordination, and contribute to reporting and analysis to inform decisions. Working with Merchants and Senior Merchants, you will help ensure pricing strategies, assortment accuracy, and catalog updates are executed consistently across systems, helping improve product visibility

Responsibilities

• Support category management activities within assigned segments
• Bring attention to and assist in executing category and vendor gap-fill initiatives
• Maintain and execute on product data, pricing strategies and merchant plans
• Assist in program details: track program follow-through (signatures/uploads), rebate payments/follow-ups, and carrying percentages to ensure accuracy.
• Assist with vendor communications and documentation
• Compile and analyze basic reports on sales, margins, and inventory
• Coordinate item setup, samples, and catalog updates
• Monitor assigned categories and highlight risks, underperforming areas or opportunities for improvement.

Job description

Job Summary

The Assistant Merchant supports the performance of an assigned product segment or category by executing operational and analytical tasks that enable successful category management. This role assists merchant vertical leadership in the development and execution of category strategies by maintaining accurate product data, supporting vendor coordination/conversations, and contributing to reporting and analysis that inform decision-making.

Working closely with Merchants and Senior Merchants, the Assistant Merchant helps ensure that vendor programs, pricing strategy updates, and product assortments are executed effectively and aligned with overall catalog and category objectives. This role plays a critical part in maintaining operational excellence by identifying discrepancies, supporting process improvements, and ensuring consistency across systems and channels.

The Assistant Merchant contributes to delivering value to customers by supporting initiatives that improve product visibility, pricing accuracy, and overall category performance while building foundational knowledge of merchandising strategy and vendor management under the tutelage of the Sr. Merchandising Manager overseeing the vertical.

Responsibilities

• Support category management activities within assigned segments
• Bring attention to and assist in executing category and vendor gap-fill initiatives
• Maintain and execute on product data, pricing strategies and merchant plans
• Assist in program details: track program follow-through (signatures/uploads), rebate payments/follow-ups, and carrying percentages to ensure accuracy.
• Assist with vendor communications and documentation
• Compile and analyze basic reports on sales, margins, and inventory
• Coordinate item setup, samples, and catalog updates
• Monitor assigned categories and highlight risks, underperforming areas or opportunities for improvement.