Associate Project Manager, Merchandising Strategy - Remote at Harbor Freight Tools

Job Description

The Associate Project Manager, Merchandising Strategy will support and accelerate a portfolio of key strategic initiatives for the Merchandising organization.
The Associate Project Manager, Merchandising Strategy will need to be strategic, analytical, and an excellent communicator. This role will support the Manager, Merch Strategy in project planning and on-time execution for key initiatives and will also own responsibility for managing a portfolio of their own projects. This role will partner closely with stakeholders to drive project next steps, deliverables, timelines, and timely follow-up to ensure that all opportunities are uncovered and all issues are resolved or escalated. This role is expected to become a subject matter expert in their portfolio of projects, as well as Harbor Freight’s overall Merchandising processes and priorities.
The Associate Project Manager, Merchandising Strategy will report out on their initiatives by crafting presentations with clear storylines. This role must also be able to build and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholder groups, including Strategic Finance, Inventory, Store Ops, Store Environment, Sourcing, Marketing, and E-Commerce.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage strategic initiatives that support the Merchandising organization, including initiatives such as: (i) cross-functional strategy development and implementation, (ii) financial problem solving and analysis, and (iii) implementation and change management
• Oversee project timelines and provide regular reporting on key milestones to keep projects on track; ensure that those assigned to each task in a project are pushing the task forward at the appropriate pace
• Build and present compelling presentations with clear storylines and insights that influence the strategic direction of the organization
• Partner closely with Merchants and other departments to brainstorm, design, and test creative solutions to challenges faced by the team
• Build partnerships with leaders in Merchandising as well as other departments including Finance, Store Ops, Store Environment, Supply Chain, Marketing & eCommerce
• Communicate department strategies to relevant departments and executive teams on a regular basis and consider all feedback
• Provide strategic and tactical leadership in Merchandising that ensure financial goals and department strategic priorities are achieved
• Conduct financial data analysis as needed to solve problems and uncover insights: SKU price performance analysis, margin and cost analysis, forecasting, customer data analysis, competitor analysis, etc.
• Lead project post-mortems and track learnings as future enhancements

Scope

• Staff supervision and development: No
• Decision making:
• Perform analytics, communicate with stakeholders, manage projects
• Travel: Up to 5%
• Flex Designation: Remote from anywhere within the continental U.S.

Requirements

Education and Experience
Education Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree

Years of Experience

• 3+ years of progressive work responsibility
• Prior merchandising/category management, management consulting, or investment banking experience preferred
• Financial analysis experience is a plus

Skills

• Self-starter; ability to move projects forward with minimal direction
• Must be able to perform under pressure, short deadlines and in high visibility settings
• Accustomed to working efficiently; expert in assessing a situation, making a decision, and filtering ambiguity into actionable key next steps and decisions that need to be taken
• Dedicated to the success of HFT with a high level of interest in making a significant impact on the growth of the company
• Project management skills – detail-oriented with ability to manage a large volume of project tasks and keep a project on track to achieve objectives on time
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Strong understanding of financial data, problem-solving and analytical skills; comfortable working with ambiguity
• Ability to effectively build relationships with internal partners, peers, and leadership
• Change management skills
• Ability to design and implement cross-functional processes that fulfill business and functional requirements
• Experience working in a high growth environment, with consistently shifting priorities
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

Physical Requirements
Corporate - Remote - General office environment requiring ability to: *Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time . *Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone and video conferencing. *Use keyboard and read from computer screen and reports. *The ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
Safety
Must be able to perform this job safely in accordance with standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, without endangering the health or safety of self or others.

About Harbor Freight Tools

We’re a 45 year-old, $8 billion national tool retailer with the energy, enthusiasm, and growth potential of a start-up. We have over 1,500 stores in 48 states across the country and are opening several new locations every week. We offer our customers more than 7,000 tools and accessories, from hand tools and generators to air and power tools, from shop equipment to automotive tools. We provide our customers with the right tool for the right job at the right price, always delivering quality and value.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $71,800 - $107,700 depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to Associates (and their families) such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Eligible Associates are able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Associates will accrue paid time off up to 236 hours per year (inclusive of PTO, floating holidays, and paid holidays). Paid sick time up to 80 hours per year unless otherwise required by law.