Associate Manager, Merchandising Data Operations

Job Summary

The Associate Manager, Merchandising Data Operations leads a high-performing team responsible for the accurate and timely setup, maintenance, governance, and operational execution of item and vendor information, invoicing support, pricing, and promotions. This role ensures that merchandising data and transactions are complete, compliant, and ready for downstream retail, finance, supply chain, digital, and store operations. The Associate Manager owns service delivery, data quality, controls, issue resolution, stakeholder communication, and continuous improvement across the merchandising data lifecycle

Job Description

Experience Required: 5 to 7 years of experience in retail merchandising operations, master data, shared services, or a related operations environment, including 2 or more years of people leadership or team-lead experience.
Experience Desired: Experience with item and vendor master data, invoice exception management, pricing and promotion setup, data governance, ERP or merchandising systems, service-level management, root-cause analysis, process improvement, and cross-functional stakeholder management. Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting/dashboard experience preferred; exposure to workflow automation, Power BI, SQL, or data-quality tools is an advantage.
Education Desired: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, Supply Chain, Retail Management, Information Systems, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day merchandising data operations covering item setup and maintenance, vendor onboarding and changes, invoicing support and exception resolution, regular and promotional pricing, and promotion or deal setup and validation.
• Plan, prioritize, and allocate work to meet service-level agreements, business calendars, cut-off times, and production and quality key performance indicators.
• Establish and monitor data-quality controls for completeness, accuracy, consistency, timeliness, and compliance across merchandising systems and downstream integrations.
• Oversee invoice-related operational support, including vendor and item validation, cost discrepancies, matching exceptions, root-cause analysis, and coordination with Merchandising, Accounts Payable, Finance, and vendors for resolution.
• Ensure promotions are configured accurately and on time, including offer details, dates, pricing, item and location eligibility, funding or allowances, and validation of downstream execution.
• Own operational reporting and dashboards for volume, productivity, accuracy, aging, backlog, SLA performance, recurring defects, and business impact; translate insights into corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage escalations and high-impact issues, communicate risks and recovery plans, and ensure timely closure with clear ownership and documentation.
• Partner with Category Management, Merchandising, Finance, Accounts Payable, Supply Chain, Digital, Stores, vendors, and technology teams to align data requirements and improve end-to-end execution.
• Drive standard operating procedures, governance, audit readiness, access controls, and adherence to company policies for sensitive business and vendor data.
• Identify automation and process-improvement opportunities, define business requirements, support testing and implementation, and measure realized benefits.
• Support ERP and merchandising-platform transitions through process design, data validation, user acceptance testing, training, change management, and post-implementation stabilization.
• Coach and develop team members through regular feedback, performance management, cross-training, succession planning, engagement, and capability building.
• Support workforce planning, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training while fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and customer focus.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of retail merchandising processes, master data governance, pricing, promotions, vendor administration, and invoice exception workflows.
• Demonstrated people leadership, operational planning, coaching, and performance-management capability.
• Analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a time-sensitive environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication with the ability to influence partners, present operational insights, and manage escalations.