Merchandising & Brand Specialist

Purpose: The Merchandising & Brand Specialist at Newark Liberty International Airport, executes category/concept or brand-specific operational tasks and maintains brand standards for assigned product categories/concepts/brands within retail operations. This role ensures consistent implementation of merchandising directives, supports category presentation standards, and assists with day-to-day category execution under management guidance.  

Essential Functions: 

• Performs daily category maintenance tasks including product placement, visual merchandising updates, and inventory organization according to corporate planograms and brand standards for assigned categories 

• Conducts and oversees regular category inspections to ensure proper stock levels, product presentation, and compliance with merchandising specifications, working with retail associates and/or booksellers to maintain standards; reports discrepancies and execution issues to immediate supervisor 

• Implements and coordinates promotional displays, seasonal transitions, and new product launches within assigned categories, working with retail associates and/or booksellers and logistics teams; follows corporate directives and merchandising guidelines to ensure consistent execution 

• Supports operational management in maintaining customer service standards specific to brand requirements; provides coaching support, brand expertise, and product knowledge to enhance customer experiences while educating customers on product features and benefits to support sales goals through active engagement and product demonstration 

• Assists with and coordinates category-specific ordering, receiving, return and markdown activities including product placement, price verification, and inventory accuracy, working with retail associates and/or booksellers and logistics teams; processes category-related documentation and communicates issues to management 

• Maintains proficiency in inventory management systems and manages category reporting; updates product information and tracks category performance metrics; conducts category assessments, inventory counts, and promotional setup while providing feedback on execution challenges and customer response to category initiatives to immediate supervisor or corporate merchandising team 

• Assists in delivering training to new associates on category-specific procedures, product knowledge, and brand standards following established training protocols; provides hands-on support and guidance during category-related tasks 

• Monitors category compliance with safety and operational standards; ensures proper handling, storage, and presentation of category products according to established procedures 

Reporting Relationship & Role Information: 

• The Merchandising & Brand Specialist position as described falls under the Fair Labor Standards Act as a Non-Exempt position 

• In locations with a Merchandising & Brand Manager, this role operates under their guidance; in smaller revenue locations, this role functions independently under the Director of Operations 

• The Merchandising & Brand Specialist position requires flexible scheduling across various operational periods including peak sales times, inventory periods, and promotional events to provide category expertise and support 

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment: 

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 3 years: 

• •  In a specialist role: Requires 2 years of experience in product merchandising, category management, or specialty retail with focus on specific product categories 

• •  In a technical role: Requires 3-4 years of experience in retail operations, visual merchandising, or product management with demonstrated category expertise  

• • A high school diploma or equivalent is required; an associate degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, or related field can count for 1 of the 3-year requirement 

• Specialized Training: 

• • Knowledge of category management principles, visual merchandising techniques, and retail analytics 

• • Understanding of brand standards, product positioning, and inventory management systems 

• • Experience managing the type of category/concept/brand to which the role is assigned 

• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits: 

• • Strong attention to detail with ability to follow merchandising directives and maintain consistent product presentation standards while identifying and reporting execution issues 

• • Good organizational and time management skills with ability to prioritize category tasks and coordinate with team members to ensure operational efficiency 

• • Effective communication skills with ability to assist customers, work collaboratively with associates, and provide clear feedback to management on category-related matters 

• • Demonstrated reliability in executing routine tasks with proven ability to learn product knowledge and maintain category standards consistently 

• • Basic understanding of visual merchandising principles with capability to implement merchandising updates and maintain appealing product displays according to corporate guidelines