Category Designer

Title: Associate Category Designer

Rate: $28.84/hr

Location: Woonsocket, RI (Hybrid)

Schedule: Mon – Fri, 8:00AM – 5:00PM EST; weekend or evening on-call availability may be required

Note: This is a W2 contract position – C2C, 1099, and 3rd party candidates WILL NOT be considered

We are seeking an Associate Category Designer to partner with our Category Management group and other Category Designers to develop category merchandising plans. You will execute plans across all main and alternate versions of planograms. As an Associate Category Designer, you will be an expert on shopper insights and category performance metrics to entice customers to make purchases within our stores.

Additionally, you will develop and communicate merchandising solutions that drive profitable sales and orchestrate shopper behavior. You will analyze competitor's product display techniques and department layouts to benchmark best practices and bring new innovative display concepts and ideas to our company.

The Associate Category Designer will also support other Category Designers in the planogram process and aids in the development of merchandising solutions that help drive profitable sales and orchestrate shopper behavior. This role ensures communication accuracy, clarity, and consistency so that store teams can execute merchandising updates correctly and on time. Candidates must be able to hit the ground running with minimal ramp-up and have strong space management software or similar applications experience.

Key Responsibilities:

·         Partner with Category Management and other Category Designers to develop merchandising plans and execute the plans across all main and alternate versions of planograms

·         Create planogram versions, communications and bulletins

·         Creatively merchandise product and identify sales opportunities to maximize sales

·         Prepare planogram sections for review process

·         Review, proofread, and quality-check all planogram communication materials before distribution

·         Ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency in all store-facing directives

·         Coordinate and release planogram updates, new item notices, and discontinued item communications

·         Capture all images and product dimensions for communications

·         Check-in new item samples

·         Interpret planogram content and translate it into clear, actionable store instructions

·         Collaborate with Merchandising, Store Operations, and Marketing to validate content and timelines

·         Maintain strong version control and ensure stores receive the correct communication packets

·         Utilize Adobe tools to review, annotate, and support updates to communication materials

·         Manage multiple overlapping deadlines and prioritize workflow effectively

·         Use Microsoft Office (Excel, SharePoint, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) for tracking, reporting, and communication tasks

Key Qualifications:

·         3+ years of retail store management or merchandise display experience, preferably using a Space Management software or similar In-Design Software Application

·         Effective influencing and interaction skills with all levels within the organization

·         Ability to plan, coordinate, and set priorities on several projects simultaneously while meeting all deadlines

·         Experience with Adobe Suite (Acrobat; Illustrator or InDesign is a plus)

·         Strong oral and written communication skills, and attention to detail

·         Ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision

·         Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, SharePoint, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) and space management software applications

·         Ability to quickly learn processes and work efficiently with a short ramp-up period

·         A minimum of a High School Diploma or GED; Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Management, or other relevant field preferred