Inventory and Merchandise Manager

Strategic Franchising Systems; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Strategic Franchising Systems is seeking an Inventory and Merchandise Manager to lead standardized inventory programs for a nationwide franchise system. You will own product assortment strategy, vendor relationships, SKU governance, forecasting, and franchise inventory support.

Partner with Operations, Marketing, Nutrition, and Technology to strengthen unit economics and franchisee success, while driving profitability and a consistent brand experience.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of multi-unit retail operations experience (franchise or corporate retail strongly preferred).
• Prior pet industry and/or pet retail experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a standardized core product assortment across franchise locations.
• Build and manage forecasting models to optimize availability and minimize overstock.
• Evaluate new products and discontinue in partnership with Operations and Marketing.
• Support store openings with initial assortments and inventory planning.
• Own relationships with vendors, distributors, and manufacturers.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, shipping, rebates, and discounts.
• Monitor vendor performance on cost, fulfillment, quality, and service.
• Create scalable processes for SKU management and catalog maintenance.
• Partner with Tech/POS teams to ensure reporting accuracy and margin visibility.
• Guide franchise owners on inventory best practices and turnover.
• Develop training materials and webinars to support execution.

Skills

Merchandising

Inventory management

Forecasting

Vendor management

Franchise operations

Training materials

Job description

We’re seeking an experienced Inventory and Merchandise Manager with pet retail or pet industry expertise to lead inventory strategies across a growing nationwide franchise system.

This is a highly visible, cross-functional leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a standardized inventory program across all retail locations ensuring the right products are available at the right time while driving consistency, profitability, and an elevated brand experience.

You’ll own product assortment strategy, vendor relationships, SKU governance, forecasting, and franchise inventory support. Partnering closely with Operations, Marketing, Nutrition, and Technology teams to strengthen unit-level economics and franchisee success.

What You’ll Do

Inventory Strategy & Planning

• Develop and maintain a standardized core product assortment across franchise locations
• Build and manage forecasting models to ensure availability while minimizing overstock and shrink
• Evaluate new products and manage discontinuations in partnership with Operations and Marketing
• Support store openings with initial assortments and inventory planning
• Own relationships with vendors, distributors, and manufacturers
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, shipping arrangements, rebates, and volume discounts
• Monitor vendor performance related to cost, fulfillment speed, quality, and service
• Create scalable processes for adding, modifying, and retiring SKUs
• Partner with Technology and POS teams to support reporting accuracy, margin visibility, and system integration, maintaining a centralized SKU catalog,
• Guide franchise owners on inventory best practices (ordering, receiving, shrink reduction, turnover)
• Develop training materials, guides, and webinars to support consistent execution
• Act as a trusted resource for owners to improve inventory performance and profitability

Operations, Reporting & Margin Management

• Analyze product performance, inventory turnover, and margin trends system-wide
• Recommend category, pricing, and assortment adjustments to improve profitability
• Provide leadership reporting on product movement, availability risks, forecasting, and vendor performance
• Collaborate cross-functionally on promotions, cost changes, and store launches

What We’re Looking For:

• 7+ years of multi-unit retail operations experience (franchise or corporate retail strongly preferred)
• Prior pet industry and/or pet retail experience
• Deep expertise in merchandising, inventory management, and store operations
• Proven experience supporting store openings, remodels, or large-scale retail initiatives
• Strong background in training, curriculum development, or operational content creation
• Experience working in franchise or multi-location environments

Why Join Us?

You’ll play a key role in shaping retail inventory strategy across a growing franchise system—directly impacting franchisee success, customer experience, and profitability.