Merchandising Planner

Req ID: 445649 

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

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 the category management team(s) in ensuring projects and initiatives are thoroughly executed.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Category Manager of your area(s) with everything from strategy building to execution planning.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal teams to enhance collaboration.
• Support field merchandising, also known as Area Merchandise Managers, with any opportunities or challenges.
• Vendor functions: Developing relationships, planning, store-level needs, rebates, communication, follow up.
• Analyze financials, speak to performance, identify trends, make decisions that positively impact the P&L and budgets.
• Communication including but not limited to: Projects, new initiatives/rollouts, field directives, stores, internal departments. 
• Product management: Product lifecycle, 4Ps, item setup and maintenance within various systems.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education:
  • Bachelors or higher preferred
  • HS Diploma or equivalent required
• Experience:
  • 1-3 years of experience in retail required.
  • Beverage experience preferred, either on supplier side or buyer side.
  • Experience managing vendor relations is preferred.
  • Track record of establishing and developing positive and productive 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 Excel capabilities.
  • Soft Skills: Stable work history, good written and verbal communications skills, team player, attention to detail, self-motivated, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, strong analytical skills, ability to identify relevant data sources and extract insights from data.
• Typical Physical Demands:
  • Scheduling flexibility. Occasional travel may be required.
  • 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 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.