Director of Merchandising - Convenience

Onvo; Scranton (Lackawanna County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Onvo, based in Scranton, PA, seeks a Director of Merchandising – Travel Plazas to lead the development and execution of the merchandising strategy across all product categories. You will guide a team of buyers and planners, ensure availability at right price and timing, and align assortment decisions with brand goals.

The role requires strong analytical, negotiation, and leadership skills, with travel 30-40% to stores and industry events, collaborating with marketing and operations to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, merchandising, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in retail merchandising, with at least 5 years in a management role.
• Proven track record of successful merchandising planning and execution.
• Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Willingness to travel 30–40% to store locations and industry events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the merchandise vision aligned with brand strategy.
• Lead buyers and planners to create assortments that meet financial objectives.
• Analyze performance and forecasts to adjust plans as needed.
• Monitor in-season performance and manage markdowns and inventory levels.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on promotions, pricing, and clearance strategies.
• Build and manage supplier relationships, including price and service negotiations.
• Oversee private label programs from concept to commercialization.
• Maintain deep product knowledge across categories and mentor staff.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Data-driven decisions

Negotiation

Project management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/merchandising

Tools

NetSuite

JDA

Gilbarco Passport

SSCS

PDI

Job description

Job Description:

The Director of Merchandising – Travel Plazas works closely with the Vice President of Operations – Travel Plazas, the Marketing Manager, and other members of Onvo’s leadership team to develop and execute the company’s merchandising strategy. The Director of Merchandising at Onvo is responsible for the planning and execution of all aspects of the merchandise assortment for the company. This role is critical in ensuring that the company has the right product, in the right quantities, at the right time and at price points to meet the needs of our customers. This role will also be responsible for leading and developing the merchandising & price book staff.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and execute the merchandise vision for the company, in alignment with the Onvo brand strategy.
• Lead a team of buyers and planners in the development of assortments that are customer focused and meet financial objectives.
• Analyze past performance, trends, and forecasts to identify opportunities and risks; make recommendations to adjust plans accordingly.
• Monitor in-season performance and react quickly to changes in customer demand, markdowns, and inventory levels.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop promotional, pricing, and clearance strategies.
• Establish, build, and manage supplier relationships, including ownership of all financial & service level negotiations.
• Stay abreast of c-store industry trends and emerging brands to ensure the company is offering the latest products that appeal to our target customer.
• Manage the development and execution of Onvo private label programs from concept to commercialization.
• Develop and maintain strong product knowledge across all categories under management; serve as the leadership team’s “subject matter expert” regarding product/category intelligence.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to direct reports, fostering an environment of collaboration and professional growth.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven track record of successful merchandise planning and execution.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to make decisions.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong project management skills.
• Ability to travel to store locations and industry trade events as needed (Expected travel 30-40%).

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with NetSuite.
• In-depth knowledge of c-store retail software systems, including JDA, Gilbarco Passport, SSCS, PDI.
• RAMP Certification, familiarity with state alcohol regulations.
• ServSafe compliance.
• NACS Category Management Certification.

Credentials and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, merchandising, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in retail merchandising, with at least 5 years in a management role.

Physical Requirements:

• This position may require the lifting of boxes that weigh from 10lbs to 20lbs

Disclaimer:

The list of Principal Duties, Essential Functions, and Basic Qualifications is illustrative but not exhaustive. Management reserves the right to revise the job description and to require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change without notice.

Onvo is an equal opportunity employer. Onvo maintains a work environment in which Team Members are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Team Members without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, and sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.