SUMMARY: The Merchandising Specialist position displays a high degree of professionalism in representing AWG to our membership in the Member Services Department. This position plays a role in educating the retailer on AWG programs that drive same store sales to attain maximum profitability within Hispanic Foods. The Merchandising Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing promotions and merchandising programs for long term success primarily for members and acts as a coordinator of the warehouse and the member’s operation. This Specialist advises and consults with members and the sales team within their group/district to help the Hispanic members become more effective and efficient operators within AWG.

This position supports AWG’s mission to remain firmly committed to our long-established mission statement:

“Our mission is to ensure the success of our member retailers and provide opportunities to our employees. This will be accomplished by satisfying the customers’, and our member retailers’, needs for quality supermarket merchandise and superior support services. We will do this with high quality employees whose mission is to provide the lowest possible cost of goods in order to ensure our members profitability, competiveness and continued growth.”

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The individual must have the ability to perform the responsibilities listed below. The list is not all inclusive of duties that may be requested by the department head or a member of upper management but are intended for an understanding of the purpose of the position. It is the responsibility of each individual at AWG to provide ultimate customer service to our members to support their efforts in increasing same store sales and profits.

• Work with all AWG support team to ensure the objectives of the Member store group’s senior management team are achieved.

• Coordinate and oversee with the member group’s senior management team all store resets, remodels, upgrades, new store builds and acquisitions.

• Responsible for making regular planned store visits/calls to support the growth of profitable sales while serving as a liaison and communicator between the customer and the company.

• Performs necessary analysis and planning to assure that goals, objectives and priorities for assigned members are established and met within time limits with a focus on Hispanic product growth.

• Responsible for market analysis of the competitor's merchandising strategies with the ability to analyze the impact and provide advice on countering measures.

• This position requires strong communication, training and computer skills with the ability to use and learn new technology.

• Responsible for making sure that assigned stores utilize AWG programs (Solos, Web Sales, Close Dated Report, Hot Sheets, Convergence and Value Proposition.

• Must be able to read and comprehend in English and translate in Spanish all essential documentation, AWG Programs, Policies, Sanitation, FDA, C.O.O.L. legislation, and other state and federal requirements.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. A reasonable accommodation will be considered according to the ADA if it would not impose an undue hardship on the operations of the business without significant difficulty or expense. The accommodation would permit a qualified employee the ability to perform all essential functions of the job within the safety and contractual guidelines of the position.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Retail grocery store or grocery wholesale experience preferred. Degree not required, but equivalent work experience in retail preferred; minimum of 5 years related experience in management in the preferred fields of Hispanic grocery retail or wholesale; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Proven track record of working independently.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and speak fluent English and Spanish, comprehend operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Possess the ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to make presentations effectively before small and large groups.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Possess the ability to read and interpret departmental financial and operating statements. Calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Posses the ability to reason with members and gain mutual respect with a common goal of increasing sales and profitability.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid Drivers License

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to drive, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. These skills are all used in servicing our member retail stores in promotional and merchandising events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. All visual skills are used in merchandising in promotional events and food shows.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions providing a hardship is not required of the company or membership.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud during remodeling, promotional activities and open house. This position works in or around freezer, coolers and refrigerated areas. This position works around meat cutting, packing and heavy machinery.

This position requires to travel to member stores, local and overnight at least 80% weekly.

This position's basic purpose is to use all available resources to assist AWG and its Members in continuous growth and financial success.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $63,327.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Payment frequency:

• Paid biweekly

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Travel requirement:

• Travel

Language:

• Spanish (Required)
• English (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Saint Cloud, MN 56301 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Saint Cloud, MN 56301: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Saint Cloud, MN 56301