Merchandising Manager:

Job Code: 2100
 
Classification: Operations
 
Reports To: General Manager
 
A. Position Purpose:

As a member of the management team, play a critical role in achieving the store's budgeted sales goals and payroll hours. Supervise and develop store personnel with regard to management of the store's appearance and in-stock position through oversight and implementation of merchandise receipt, inventory controls, back-stock maintenance and visual presentation standards. The Merchandising Manager will make or participate in making decisions on store inventory and prepare and release purchasing orders through Polaris. This position supervises product delivery, unloading, stocking and checking quality of merchandise and livestock, and verifies, reviews and approves invoices. This position also involves monitoring and investigating inventory discrepancies and responsibility for visual presentation of merchandise, including store layout and displays. Ensure adherence to loss prevention procedures and supply ordering. This job is composed of a variety of different tasks that are covered by general operating procedures, but also require extensive individual judgment to complete assigned tasks and meet objectives within the context of the Merchandising Manager's assigned store. Responsibilities will vary depending on the store size and location, the departments, the type of sales, number of employees and the management structure in the Region. However, it is expected that every Merchandising Manager will:

1. Hire or make effective recommendations to hire employees. The Merchandising Manager will have sufficient authority so that his or her recommendations for hiring will be given serious consideration.
2. Separate or make effective recommendations to separate employees. The Merchandising Manager will have sufficient authority so that his or her recommendations regarding employee discipline (including termination) will command particularly serious attention.
3. Customarily and regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment. Customarily and regularly indicates a frequency which is greater than occasional, but which may be less than constant. The Merchandising Manager will have authority to make some independent decisions on matters of consequence to the business and/or its customers free from immediate supervision and will also make recommendations that are subject to final authority of a superior.
4. Customarily and regularly direct two or more people, typically in the following positions: Sales Associate, Stock Person, and Cashier, including hiring, training and development, assignment delegation, scheduling and follow-through, performance reviews and disciplinary action including separation when necessary.

This is a salaried exempt position. It is expected that the Merchandising Manager will spend more than 51 percent of his or her time performing exempt level, management functions, such as those described in the "Duties and Responsibilities" section below.

The following is a guideline to duties and reflects minimum requirements for the position.

Essential Job Functions: The candidate must demonstrate, with or without an accommodation, the ability to...

• Interact professionally and effectively through verbal and written communication with all professional contacts with emphasis on company interests.
• Exercise good business management and personnel management skills and the ability to exercise appropriate discretion.
• Independently prioritize and accomplish multiple management tasks within established timeframes by effectively planning and managing workload, delegating work, and supervising, monitoring and directing other employees.
• Have an interest in animal welfare.
• Move merchandise up to 50 pounds.
• Operate an electronic/manual pallet jack.

B. Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Management of Employees. This includes reviewing job applications and interviewing job applicants, hiring, training and development of associates, planning work assignments, prioritizing tasks to be completed in the store and assigning those tasks to associates, determining the techniques to be used to accomplish the task and ensuring the satisfactory completion of the assigned work. Management of employees also includes discipline and counseling of associates on company policies and on performance issues and preparation of related paperwork, terminating employees including consultation with superiors and/or corporate human resources regarding appropriate discipline/termination decisions and completion of termination-related paperwork and meeting with terminated associate. This also includes scheduling of associates and coordination of meal periods and breaks for hourly associates. It also includes associate record keeping and tracking such as maintaining confidential employee files, making notes on employee performance, maintaining and preparing EPNs and PANs, tracking employee attendance points, tardiness and absences, preparation of confidential new hire paperwork, day-to-day evaluation for purposes of supervising, directing and providing feedback as well as writing and delivering or contributing to formal performance evaluations.
2. Complaint Resolution. The Merchandising Manager will be expected to hear and resolve all manner of complaint including employee complaints (such as those regarding scheduling, co-worker disputes or disagreements, store merchandise or facilities, problems with customers and allegations of harassment, discrimination or other perceived unfair treatment) and non-routine customer complaints, including complaints about associates.
3. Inventory Control and Management. This includes directing and supporting the ordering, loading, unloading, pricing, SKUing and stocking of merchandise according to operational procedures. It also includes investigation of inventory discrepancies and approving payment of invoices. Ensure proper maintenance of back-stock area to acceptable standards and communication of incorrect stock levels to District and NSC Staff. Assist in coordination and completion of all periodic physical inventory counts.
4. Store Merchandising. Oversee visual presentation of merchandise and make decisions regarding store layout and displays and ensure conformance to Plan-o-grams. Determine better-selling merchandise and make changes or recommendations to General Manager or Regional Inventory Manager about increasing orders of more popular items and/or decreasing ordering of less popular products. Ensure that merchandise pricing is consistent with established standards.
5. Customer Service Oversight. Ensure quick and courteous service to all PETCO customers by helping associates determine the customer's needs and by sharing product knowledge with associates to enable them to suggest the appropriate merchandise to meet the customer's needs. Demonstrate effective suggestive selling techniques for associates to use to increase sales.
6. Reporting. Accurate completion of receiving documentation relating to merchandise including inter-store transfers, warehouse transfers, vendor direct purchase orders and return-to-vendor transfers.
7. Cash Handling. This includes cash counting, supervision of cashiers and cash register service to maximize customer service and minimize loss of assets. This will also include ensuring cashier drawers balance at the end of the shift, investigation of any shortages/overages, voiding and correcting cash register transactions and ensuring that bank deposits of store funds are completed accurately and in a timely manner and that all required paperwork has been correctly completed. May occasionally include cash register operation in order to relieve cashiers during breaks and/or to ensure prompt customer service during busy sales periods or in the event of a shortage of cashiers on duty.
8. Store Opening/Closing. This includes ensuring that the store is opened/closed in accordance with policies and procedures, especially those relating to safety and security. It also includes opening and closing the safe and accessing high-level security information. When opening, the manager will assign work tasks to sales associates, oversee opening of cash registers, and troubleshoot problems with the store, equipment and employees. When closing, completing or ensuring the completion of deposit worksheets, store sales logs, supply orders and overseeing security of property before leaving store. Secure bank deposits and ensure that related paperwork is completed in an accurate and timely manner. Employ loss prevention strategies to ensure deposits arrive safely at the bank.
9. Providing for Safety of Customers, Employees, Merchandising and Property. This includes providing direction for changes needed in store set up and/or required clean-up to correct hazardous situations. It also includes responsibility for training on, oversight of and implementation of safety procedures and safety awareness program, safety monitoring and conducting safety meetings. This also includes conducting safety inspections and preparing monthly safety inspection reports.
10. Housekeeping oversight. Coordinate and assign routine housekeeping tasks as required to maintain the professional image, appearance and cleanliness of the store, to include sweeping/mopping the floors, dusting, washing the windows, facing the merchandise on the shelves, etc.
11. Animal care. All PETCO managers are responsible for the health and well-being of animals, birds, reptiles and fish offered for sale in the store. Every manager is expected to take immediate action if an animal or its habitat is in need of care or maintenance.

C. Nature of Supervision:

General instruction is provided on some, but not all tasks to be performed. In addition, non-routine management tasks may be assigned which may last from one to several days in length without supervisory direction or guidance. There is frequent opportunity due to the nature of this position to make mistakes in completing paperwork or ordering merchandise that could disrupt regular store operations.

D. Supervisory Responsibility:

In addition to the supervisory responsibilities described in Section A4, in the absence of the General Manager, directly responsible for all areas of associate management.

E. Educational Background:

In addition to a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED), an applicant must be able to demonstrate advanced mathematics proficiency and exceptional communication skills. Completion of specific PETCO Management Achievement Program modules may also be required for internal candidates.

F. Prior Experience:

Prior retail management experience is generally preferred for this position, as are strong organizational skills. A qualified applicant will possess a working knowledge of basic merchandising techniques and the ability to instruct others regarding their application. In addition to having a professional appearance and demeanor, the applicant must also demonstrate a keen and genuine interest in animals.

G. Work Environment:

The majority of job duties are conducted indoors, although occasional customer carry-outs, and bank deposits will require that an employee leave the store briefly. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license and access to a reliable source of transportation to complete the task of bank deposits. Because this position requires bending, kneeling, moving merchandise (up to 50 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time, injury may result if appropriate safety procedures are not followed.

H. Contacts:

This position has continuous contact with the general public at the store and at store-related events, and regular contact with other departments both in the field and at the National Support Center. Contact outside of PETCO may be required in order to coordinate merchandise returns, ordering parts, store repairs, etc.

Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing.

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