Associate Merchant [AQ-18826]

Aquent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a retail merchandising professional to shape brand presentation across a broad retail network in San Francisco. You will connect external brand management with internal teams to ensure successful launches and ongoing assortment optimization.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Planning, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, and Marketing to drive category growth and enhance customer engagement. A strong analytical mindset and Excel expertise are essential for success.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in retail merchandising, buying, or category management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including vlookups and pivot tables) and ERP/merchandise management databases.
• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage complex timelines and multiple deliverables.
• Strong analytical mindset with eye for visual trends and product presentation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison between external brand partners and internal cross-functional teams to foster collaboration.
• Oversee day-to-day operations for flagship brand portfolio within the retail partnership ecosystem to drive category growth.
• Collaborate with Planning, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, and Marketing to execute launch strategies and product rollouts.
• Assist in creating and executing brand and product strategies across hundreds of retail doors.
• Directly manage assortments and optimize space productivity for diverse store footprints.
• Coordinate visual merchandising updates, fixture layouts, and launch timelines for consistent in-store execution.
• Lead merchant and marketing submissions, collateral approvals, and promotional asset tracking.
• Maintain product data, pricing, and attributes in internal merchandising systems.
• Handle ad-hoc projects, seasonal transitions, and systemic assortment updates.
• Prepare weekly/monthly/seasonal performance reports tracking sell-through and inventory health.

Skills

Excel

Stakeholder management

Organizational skills

Analytical mindset

Visual merchandising

ERP platforms

Job description

Join a leading force in the retail industry, a company dedicated to shaping the future of beauty and customer experience through innovative partnerships and expansive reach. This organization thrives on creating premier brand portfolios and delivering exceptional in-store experiences across hundreds of locations. We are seeking a dynamic professional to join our team, where your expertise will directly influence the success and growth of a flagship brand within a significant retail partnership.

This pivotal role offers an exciting opportunity to drive strategy and execution for a premier brand portfolio across a vast network of retail locations. You will be the central liaison, connecting external brand management with internal retail partners, ensuring seamless product launches and operational excellence. Your contributions will directly impact category growth, customer engagement, and the overall success of our shop-in-shop initiatives. If you are passionate about merchandising, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are eager to make a tangible difference, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact and communication bridge between external brand partners and internal cross-functional teams, fostering strong, collaborative relationships.
• Oversee day-to-day operations for the flagship brand portfolio within the retail partnership ecosystem to drive significant category growth.
• Partner closely with internal teams (Planning, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, and Marketing) to execute seamless launch strategies and product rollouts, ensuring timely and impactful market entry.
• Assist in creating and executing brand and product strategies, meticulously managing the product pipeline across hundreds of retail doors.
• Directly manage specialized brand assortments, tailoring product mix and optimizing space productivity for unique store footprints.
• Coordinate visual merchandising updates, fixture layouts, and launch timelines to ensure flawless and consistent in-store execution.
• Lead and manage merchant and marketing network submissions, collateral approvals, and promotional asset tracking for the brand portfolio, ensuring compliance and effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate product data, pricing, attributes, and system updates within internal merchandising databases, upholding data integrity.
• Manage ad-hoc projects, seasonal transitions, and systemic assortment updates as business needs evolve, demonstrating adaptability and proactive problem-solving.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and seasonal performance reports to track sell-through, inventory health, and revenue drivers for assigned categories, providing actionable insights.
• Stay continuously informed on retail industry trends, competitive product landscapes, and consumer behavior to identify new growth opportunities and maintain a competitive edge.

Qualifications

Must-Have Qualifications:

• 2–4 years of experience in retail merchandising, buying, or category management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including vlookups and pivot tables) and enterprise merchandise management databases/ERP platforms.
• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to act as a clear liaison between corporate partners.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage complex timelines, nuanced project details, and multiple deliverables simultaneously.
• Strong analytical mindset combined with a keen eye for visual presentation and product trends.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with shop-in-shop models, store-within-a-store formats, or multi-store retail environments.

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.