Space Management Planner

Job Description: PETCO's vision is to best promote, through our people, the highest level of well-being for companion animals and to support the human-animal bond. Our vision is the driving force behind everything we do here at PETCO and is achieved through the contributions of every associate, every day. PETCO provides fun, challenging, and rewarding opportunities for associates to develop themselves and enjoy their place of work.

We have an opportunity for an Space Management Planner to create, edit and maintain PETCO's visual merchandising standards through the appropriate space allocation and placement of all current and potential products within PETCO's assortment, based on the analyses of sales, space-to-sales, projected and current inventory turn and customer decision tree standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Create planograms (POGs) for all new, remodel and relocated stores and/or for promotional planning to appropriately allocate product in conjunction with store design and merchandising presentation standards.

Analyze the need for POG changes and varying footages for category revisions according to an annual schedule utilizing historical data and current trends to create or change POGs. Analyze multiple Petco categories simultaneously, allocating fixture space based on current sales, inventory turn, sales potential, and customer friendliness.

Physically set the actual products within a category, prioritizing operations time, cost and simplicity to validate the computer model. Upon completion of a category review, write detailed implementation directives, including Action Memo's with accurate and complete directions and distribute to the field for implementation.

Create, publish and release to the Promotional Planning Group, the monthly mailer that defines secondary locations and display of product for promotional and advertised items.

Coordinate projects for implementation of new merchandise presentation. This includes all aspects of the deliverable package such as product, validation of merchandising strategy, distribution of goods, fixtures and/or signage for display, allocation of labor via ST*RS and PCC model, as well as the publication of Action Memo packets to field, NSC personnel, and to Store Management.

Analyze placement of all new products based on the sales potential, cost, inventory turn, profit margin, and total margin in comparison to the existing product. Assess the logical placement for the product based on the customer decision tree, merchandising strategy, assortment level, company code, adjacency, aesthetics and place the product in a computer model. Ensure all new products are allocated space in each store prior to addition to any assortment.

In conjunction with placement of new product, work with Merchandising to determine exit strategy of stock on-hand, cost, rate of turn, etc. for all discontinued products in order to preserve company assets, capital investments, and inventory. Create, publish and distribute to the field a bi-weekly list of discontinued products and exit strategy, placement direction.

Ensure that PETCO's visual strategies are met and understood by all departments involved in the presentation and purchasing of merchandise.

Support the stores and field personnel by responding to inquiries and needs on a priority basis. Troubleshoot problems that arise in the field not only for the store that communicates it, but for all stores affected.

Perform special projects as assigned such as training field associates on new sets or procedures.


Education/Experience:

High school diploma or the equivalent (GED) is required, while a Bachelor's Degree in Business or Marketing is preferred.

Solid understanding of merchandising principles and retail operations are necessary.

A minimum of 3 years experience in a store or operations role in a retail environment, demonstrating the ability to manage projects at multiple locations, accomplishing tasks/training through others, communicating directives and delivering results.

Product knowledge, understanding of inventory principles, interpersonal, analytical and project management skills are required.

Experience using Prospace or other space management software is strongly preferred.

Basic knowledge of any Inventory Management program (i.e., Polaris) along with a working knowledge of Microsoft products including Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, etc. is required.

The ability