Job Description

*This position is located at Love's corporate office in Oklahoma City*

BASIC PURPOSE : The Merchant is responsible for leading the selection and purchasing of products that align with the company’s sales strategy and customer preferences. This role involves analyzing market trends, forecasting demand, negotiating with suppliers, and managing inventory to ensure optimal stock levels and profitability. By reviewing and interpreting market and customer insight data, the Merchant builds strategic plans that enhance the department’s competitive advantages. This position is a mid-senior-level role designed for individuals with experience as a Merchant.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee assigned categories within the Merchandise Department.
• Full ownership to develop, plan, and implement multi-year strategic plans for given categories.
• Leverage data and resources to make informed product-level and category-level decisions. Regularly review data to measure impacts of implemented strategies.
• Deploy tests (product, fixture, vendor, distribution, etc.) and measure success metrics.
• Strategize, manage, support private brand consumable products. Work with Brand Managers to develop strategies for assortment, price, and promotion.
• Own the 4 P’s of Marketing for given categories (product, place, price, promotion).
• Develop & improve a set review process/Joint Business Planning Process (JBP)/LAB (yearly planning) for the merchandising department.
• Responsible for providing year-over-year growth and for exceeding budget and P&L goals.
• Build collaborative relationships with cross-functional team leaders. Partner with marketing, support, and operations teams to ensure seamless execution of merchandising strategies and campaigns.
• Evaluate and select vendors based on performance metrics, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness. Own relationships of higher volume vendors, keeping the Supervisor/Manager informed of recent developments, challenges, support needed.
• Prepare reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting key performance indicators, trends, and recommendations.
• Manage, train, and develop Merchandise Planners.
• Other duties as needed or assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education:
  • HS Diploma or equivalent required
  • Bachelors preferred
• Experience:
  • 2+ years in retail merchandise required.
  • Experience managing vendor relations, 3rd party suppliers, distributors required.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) required.
  • Personnel supervision preferred.
  • Accounts Receivable/Rebate experience a plus.
  • SAP, back office systems experience a plus.
  • C-Store experience a plus.
  • Product and brand development experience ideal.

SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Skills:
  • Hard skills: Knowledgeable and proficient within Microsoft Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint etc), Data Tools
  • Soft Skills: Stable work history, good written and verbal communications skills, team player, attention to detail, self-motivated and responsible, ability to work in a fast-paced changing environment and strong analytical skills
• Typical Physical Demands:
  • Scheduling flexibility and travel availability as role/projects require.
  • Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping. Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
  • Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator.
  • Requires normal range of hearing and vision.

Job Function(s): Corporate

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with more than 630 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

The Love’s Family of Companies includes:

• Gemini Motor Transport, one of the industry’s safest trucking fleets.
• Speedco and Love’s Truck Care, the largest oil change and preventive maintenance and total truck care network.
• Musket, a rapidly growing, Houston-based commodities supplier and trader.
• Trillium, a Houston-based alternative fuels expert.
• TVC Pro-driver, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) protection subscription service.

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