Merchandise Assistant

• 6.5-month assignment, possibility extension and convert.
• Hybrid, 2 day per week on site.
• Assists and supports 2-4 Buyers and an AVP, Merchandise Manager on a variety of administrative and clerical functions.
• Communicates with approximately 50+ vendors between all merchants they support.
• Monitors and edits domestic and import purchase orders and follows up on allocations and late vendor shipments.
• Interfaces with all levels of management and communicates with multiple internal and external contacts on a routine basis.
• Coordinates all travel arrangements for assigned merchants and sets up vendor and agent visits in the home office.
• Creates and maintains spreadsheets to monitor weekly spend for merchants as necessary.
• Assists and supports Merchandise Assistants and merchants outside of own area to include corporate buying offices as needed.
• Prepares and writes domestic and import purchase orders. Enters and reviews electronic PO's via the Buyer Worksheet application. Revises purchase orders daily and follows the purchase order change process. Ensures all necessary signatures are obtained for a letter of credit PO.
• Partners with Planning & Allocation to expedite PO entry. Follows through with P&A to ensure electronic PO's are addressed in a timely and accurate manner.
  Communicates daily with vendors via telephone and email regarding purchase orders, allocations, problem solving, etc. Plays an integral role in enhancing and maintaining strong working relationships.
• Fields and screens telephone calls for PO and non-PO related matters to include prospective vendor inquiries, scheduling vendor appointments and allocation inquiries. Initiates calls to vendors to solicit contact and address information to ensure vendor databases are accurate and updated.
• General Office Duties, Vendor Samples and Special Projects
• Faxes, files and photocopies PO's and other departmental forms. Develops effective organizational techniques to support merchants and operations such as filing and binder systems.
• Organizes reports for Buyers on a weekly basis to include Buyer Control File and On Order Inquiry.
• Coordinates all travel arrangements weekly for 2-5 merchants and completes Merchandise Manager/Buyer itinerary paperwork including scheduling market appointments.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma is Required.  (Bachelor’s degree is preferred.)
• Must have a basic understanding of Excel (ex: manipulate spreadsheets by adding columns, deleting rows, etc. VLOOKUP and other more advanced skills can be taught but the individual must have the ability to learn and use Excel skills in this role.)
• 1 -5 years' work experience
• Retail (stores, merchandising) preferred.
• Customer Service
• Data Entry/Admin

The Fountain Group is a nationwide staffing firm with over 80 Fortune 100-500 clients. Since 2001, TFG has maintained a consistent standard of excellence, and our work is broadly recognized every year through numerous industry performance awards. Our success is a team effort.