Merchandising Presentation Planner

At Whole Foods Market, we are committed to delivering an extraordinary shopping experience by offering high-quality products in a visually appealing, organized, and efficient way. As a Merchandising Presentation Planner (MPP), you will play a crucial role in supporting the development, implementation, and maintenance of planograms and space planning for both global and regional procurement teams. You will ensure that all merchandising diagrams, images, and materials are accurately organized and up-to-date for the GSP team library, helping to create beautiful, efficient spaces for our products.Your expertise will empower our Merchandising Presentation and allied teams to execute space planning strategies effectively and ensure our stores continue to provide an exceptional experience for customers. You’ll also be responsible for driving training and education to elevate team knowledge and streamline the space planning process across the organization.This role is based in Austin, TX, with an expectation of being in the Store Support office five days a week.

Responsibilities:

• Works with business partners to ensure necessary systems and tools are developed and delivered to enable timely and accurate space planning, planograms, reporting, and analysis.
• Works with purchasing teams to create various iterations of space planning diagrams.
• Provides Team Member training on tools, systems, and analysis to increase overall space planning team knowledge.
• Develops and maintains databases and systems for accurate data management in support of space planning software.
• Creates, documents, and manages visual merchandising programs and planograms for multiple categories, optimizing the visual aspects of each product and, at the same time, maintaining space efficiency.
• Facilitates development and direction of departmental flow, adjacencies, and product display with buying teams.
• Participates in development of team space planning strategies and priorities.
• Communicates plans and details to regions and stores to facilitate execution and ensure optimal customer service and profitability.
• Networks with other business groups to identify gaps and synergies and suggest process and communication improvements.
• Collects, coordinates, and verifies all required data for planogram production.
• Critiques planograms based on visual merchandising standards, customer shopability, space efficiency, and store execution; effects necessary adjustments.
• Responds and reacts to store implementation questions / problems and makes actionable recommendations for future improvement.
• Leverages vendor relationships to support planogram development.
• Ensures planogram development and implementation meets company business standards.

Skills:

• Advanced understanding of WFM purchasing and merchandising processes.
• Advanced space management software experience, including Intactix Space Planning, ProSpace, Apollo, Spaceman, Pegman, and/or Intercept.
• In-depth knowledge of the space planning process, with ability to analyze and decipher performance data.
• Advanced levels in Excel, Word, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Internet Explorer product movement software, report writing, and query software.
• Performs tasks in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner.
• Responds quickly and effectively to routine and exceptional situations.
• Builds a solid rapport and earns trust of work colleagues.
• Works collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effectively presents information and responds to questions in one-on-one and group meetings involving Team Members, Team Leaders, Regional Leadership, National / Global leadership, vendors, and service providers.
• Applies basic research, information gathering, and analytical skills to:
  • Select the appropriate alternatives from defined options,
  • Collect required information,
  • Assess accuracy of detailed information.

• Handles detailed, structured problems; identifying roadblocks to task completion.
• Develops solutions to process and system problems; recognizes and acts on inconsistencies in data and information.
• Understands the company, organization, and/or project strategy, goals, and objectives.
• Able to identify alignment / misalignment of the team’s project goals with larger organizational strategy, goals, and objectives.
• Understands the WFM product mix, supply base, and retail operations.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree and 2-4 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.Whole Foods Market works with job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter to promote opportunities at our company. Please be aware that other career sites may not be accurate or up to date and may even be fraudulent. We encourage and recommend all candidates to apply via our site.