Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator

Brattleboro Food Co-op; Brattleboro (VT); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Brattleboro Food Co-op is seeking a Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator to support the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager with store presentation, promotional execution, and data-driven product management. You will help maintain shelves, assist with pricing, planograms, and reporting using POS data and SPINS, collaborating across departments to optimize sales and customer experience.

This role requires attention to detail, reliability, and the ability to work both independently and as part of

Qualifications

• 1+ year of service industry experience, ideally in retail.
• Experience with POS systems.
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) for reports and data tracking.
• Meticulous attention to detail, especially pricing, signage and merchandising.
• Reliable, punctual and able to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across departments.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Support all departments with merchandising guidelines set by the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager.
• Keep departments looking full, fresh and well faced throughout the day - fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf-display condition.
• Assist the PMM and Department Managers with department layouts and product placement to achieve optimal sales volume and aesthetics.
• Support Department Managers and staff storewide on merchandising best practices and standards.
• Assist retail teams with upkeep of department fullness, fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf/display conditions.
• Ensure that all products always have pricing on them, price sticker, shelf tag, or sale sign, per merchandising guidelines.
• Assist with developing future SOPs and other organizational documents for a more efficient workflow storewide.
• Ability to use POS system to support all departments including Retail Technology.
• Installing new items and conduct general POS maintenance as required.
• Movement of backstock product and merchandising fixtures to and from offsite location.
• Using POS data, SPINS and other tools, work with PMM to generate reports and identify opportunities in the product mix.
• Assist PMM with pricing strategy, projects and promotional pricing per guidelines.
• Flag pricing or margin issues and implement corrections.
• Pull and organize a wide range of sales reports as directed.
• Review Top Sellers Weekly to stay current on movers across departments.
• Track performance against promotional sales goals with PMM.
• Facilitate detailed communication with Department Managers regarding deadlines for promotions.
• Build planograms for the store on a regular cadence and ensure promotional signage fits guidelines.
• Maintain abundant, organized off-shelf displays and coordinate cross-merchandising displays.
• Coordinate with Marketing on in-store signage and promotional materials.
• Restock high-moving products and balance promotional inventory across displays.
• Maintain safe and clean work areas; report hazards and repair needs.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Flexible schedule

Independent & collaborative

Tools

POS systems

Excel/Google Sheets

Planograms

Job description

Description

Purpose: The Purchasing & Merchandising Coordinator role is to assist the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager with optimal store presentation, clear promotional execution, and data-driven product management.

Our Ends, as articulated by our Board of Directors are:

1. An open, inclusive and welcoming marketplace
2. Access to and education about goods and nutritious food that are ecologically sound and responsibly sourced
3. An organization that contributes to a just and resilient local economy
4. An enterprise that engages in sustainable and regenerative environmental practices

The Cooperative Principles are:

• Open and Voluntary Membership.
• Democratic Member Control.
• Members' Economic Participation.
• Autonomy and Independence.
• Education, Training, and Information.
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
• Concern for Community

The BFC believes in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Cooperative Values are:

• Self-help
• Self-responsibility
• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Solidarity

Duties & Responsibilities:

Everyday Merchandising

• Support all departments with following merchandising guidelines set by the Purchasing & Merchandising Manager
• Keep departments looking full, fresh and well faced throughout the day - fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf-display condition
• Assist the PMM and Department Managers with department layouts and product placement in every category set to achieve optimal sales volume, aesthetics and shopping behavior.
• Support Department Managers and staff storewide on merchandising best practices and standards
• Assist retail teams with upkeep of department fullness, fronting and facing, cleanliness, sign quality and shelf/display conditions.
• Ensure that all products always have pricing on them, price sticker, shelf tag, or sale sign, per merchandising guidelines set by the PMM
• Assist with developing future SOPs and other organizational documents for a more efficient, collaborative and enjoyable workflow storewide
• Ability to use POS system to support all departments including Retail Technology
• Installing new items and conduct general POS maintenance as required
• Movement of backstock product and merchandising fixtures to and from offsite location

Category Management & Pricing

• Using POS data, SPINS, and other tools and publications, work with the PMM to generate reports and identify opportunities in BFC’s product mix, on a regular calendar schedule developed together.
• Assist PMM with pricing strategy, projects and promotional pricing, according to the guidelines set by the PMM.
• Flag pricing or margin issues to the PMM and implement corrections
• Pull and organize a wide range of sales reports as directed
• Review the Top Sellers Weekly report to stay current on movers across departments
• Review and measure promotional results with the PMM, comparing current promotional periods to the same period in the prior year as well as adjacent previous periods.
• Track with PMM the performance and against promotional sales goals set by the PMM (e.g. category-specific share of total store or department sales)

Promotional Merchandising

• Facilitate detailed communication with Department Managers regarding deadlines and timing for promotional product orders
• Assist PMM in building planograms for the store on a regular cadence
• Ensure promotional signage is up and fits guidelines set by the PMM
• Build and maintain abundant, organized and aesthetically pleasing off-shelf displays
• Coordinate with Marketing and Community Relations on in-store signage and promotional materials
• Restock highmoving products and balance promotional inventory between off shelf displays and in-line (aka regular shelf) placement to maintain a consistently full, abundant store wherever possible.
• Coordinate with clear communication for strong execution of cross-merchandising displays.

Maintenance and Conditioning:

• Treat equipment with care and respect. Communicate about any needed repairs or equipment problems to the Manager
• Keep work area neat and organized

Safety:

• Handle hazardous equipment carefully. Aware of the presence of others when using such equipment.
• Use proper lifting techniques. Wear appropriate shoes.
• Mindful of potential hazards to customers and other employees and takes actions to correct hazards.
• Use ergonomic equipment and best practices

Teamwork:

• Always conscientious about co-workers and works with the team for department efficiency.
• Give verbal communication to next shift if necessary
• Start work on time, finish work on time.
• Take breaks when appropriate and come back from break on time.

Accountability:

• Accept responsibility for your actions. Exemplify honesty, integrity and ethics

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• 1+ Year of service industry experience, ideally in retail
• Experience with POS systems
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel/Google sheets) for reports and data tracking
• Meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding pricing, signage and merchandising
• -Reliable, punctual and able to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for coordinating across departments
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with category management, merchandising or pricing/margin analysis
• Familiarity with SPINS or similar retail/category data tools
• Experience building merchandising planograms and displays
• Prior experience in a grocery environment
• Experience training or supporting staff on merchandising standards
• Basic understanding of cooperative principles and values