Company Description

At Farm Boy, it is our mission to create a fun, fresh experience for all! Whether you are a team member or a customer, Farm Boy is passionate about creating a unique fresh food shopping experience and ensuring that we deliver on our commitments.

As we continue to grow within Ontario, Farm Boy is excited to welcome new team members that share our passion for providing the best fresh shopping experience!

Job Description

The Merchandising Specialist is responsible for supporting and assisting the Store Managers in achieving Farm Boy’s vision and maximizing sales and profitability. This is accomplished primarily through the coaching and training of both Store and Department Managers to ensure operational excellence in financial management, merchandising, inventory management and follow-through on Farm Boy’s readiness-for-customers standard. The performance of the duties must ensure a quality service approach to all employees, customers and suppliers. All responsibilities must be performed in a manner consistent with the Farm Boy Way.

Major Responsibilities:

Store and Department Manager Development:

• Support the training of new managers, as well as the continued development of tenured team members.
• Support succession planning to help identify strong performers and those with leadership potential.
• Work with store leadership to help identify skill gaps or staffing opportunities on the team.
• Guide store leadership through the “why” and “how” of department operations.
• Provide a weekly recap to Store Management to celebrate “wins” and identify opportunities.
• Provide end-to-end support for new store openings.

Store Standards and Readiness for Business:

• Ensure standards for cleanliness and proper sanitation procedures are understood and upheld by all team members in all areas of the department, including back room and coolers.
• Continuous coaching on customer experience standards, such as product quality, price accuracy, inventory, etc.
• Regular follow-ups to ensure all team members are well versed in our customer service standards and are executing them.

Merchandising:

• Coach the department on how to create and maintain appealing and impactful displays.
• Ensure adherence to planograms and work with leadership to identify any operational concerns.
• Support team members in creating a merchandising plan that aligns with sales volume.
• Safeguard the customer experience through regular signage audits.
• Support the strategic goals and vision of the Merchandising team by working with our Retail Operations to execute new initiatives and product launches.
• Make suggestions on customizing planograms by leveraging sales and profitability data.

Financials

• Weekly review of key financial results and coach department and store leadership on missed opportunities.
• Provide continuous support on the use of our order and inventory programs and follow-up regularly to ensure the systems are being properly utilized.
• Closely monitor sales floor and cooler inventory levels to ensure system is working as accurately as possible.
• Work as a liaison between Merchandising and Retail stakeholders to establish desirable minimum shelf quantities, commensurate with store volume.
• Weekly status reporting to Merchandising and Procurement leadership.
• May be requested to undertake other related duties on a periodic basis.

Qualifications

• Typically requires completion of a post-secondary Business Administration program plus a minimum of 5 years of experience in a store leadership capacity with Farm Boy or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A passion for food retailing and people.
• High energy with the ability to engage and motivate others.
• Clear and effective communication style, both written and oral.
• Friendly yet firm with program expectations and execution.
• Demonstrated financial and merchandising success: including: budgeting, inventory and margins.
• Impeccable organizational skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Skilled at working in a fast-paced environment while maintaining priorities and a high level of performance.
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays as required.
• Must have a valid provincial drivers license that is in good standing and insurable.
• Fluency in English and French shall be considered an asset.

Work & Sensory Effort:

• Required to travel extensively between Farm Boy stores, Home Office and/or Central Operations (must be flexible in terms of work schedule and location).
• Required to stand and walk for long periods of time during shift.
• Required to lift, carry or handle heavy objects.
• Required to adapt to temperature changes on occasion (working on the retail floor as well as in coolers and freezers).

Additional Information

DCTOR

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants and employees with disabilities.