Merchandising Planner

Req ID: 421050 

BASIC PURPOSE: The Merchandising Planner position is responsible for every aspect of the product management process for all items within their given categories for all 600+ Love’s Travel Stop Locations. This position directly supports our store locations, our primary customer, and the category management teams in ensuring planning to the execution phase is efficient for all involved.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Category Manager of your areas, they strategize the plan, you build the functional plan
• Build and maintain relationships with internal teams to enhance collaboration
• Support Operations at all costs and resolve site level opportunities
• Vendor functions: Developing Relationships, Planning, Store Level Needs, Rebates, Accountability
• Analyze financials, define key performance indicators to support decisions and determine success metrics
• Communication including but not limited to: Projects, New Initiatives, Field Directives, Stores, Internal Depts 
• Management of Product, all aspects; Inventory, Placement, Promotions, Price
• Item maintenance, set up and maintain items, communications internally and externally

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education:
  • Bachelors or higher preferred
  • HS Diploma or equivalent required
• Experience:
  • 1-3 years’ experience in retail management required, Alcohol/Beverage experience preferred 
  • Experience managing vendor relations is preferred
  • Proven track record of establishing and developing business relationships
  • Accounts Payable and experience with technical developments or implementation is preferred

SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Skills:
  • Hard skills: Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Robust MS Excel Capabilities
  • Soft Skills: Stable work history, good oral and verbal communications skills, team player, keen attention to detail, self-motivated, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and strong analytical skills, ability to identify relevant data sources and extract insights from data
• Typical Physical Demands:
  • Scheduling flexibility.
  • Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping.
  • Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.
  • Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator

Job Function(s): Corporate 

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the industry-leading travel stop network in the United States. For more than 55 years, we’ve provided customers with highway hospitality and “Clean Places, Friendly Faces.” We’re passionate about serving drivers with clean, modern facilities stocked with fuel, food and supplies. We offer meals from popular restaurant chains, trucking supplies, showers and everything needed to get back on the road quickly. The Love’s Family of Companies includes:

• Gemini Motor Transport, one of the industry’s safest trucking fleets
• Speedco, the light mechanical and trucking service specialists
• Musket, a rapidly growing, Houston-based commodities supplier and trader
• Trillium, a Houston-based alternative fuels expert