ACE Hardware→
International Merchant I at ACE Hardware in Panama - Panama City
Job Description
International Merchant I
Location: Panama - Panama City
About This Role
At Ace International, we are seeking a highly motivated, analytical merchant to drive category growth across international markets. The International Merchant I is responsible for developing and executing assortment, pricing, promotional, vendor, and category strategies that deliver profitable growth while meeting the unique needs of retailers and consumers around the world.
This role combines category management, product selection, vendor development, financial analysis, and strategic planning to create differentiated assortments that improve retailer profitability, grow wholesale sales, and strengthen competitive positioning across multiple international markets.
Reporting to the International Department Merchandise Manager, you will collaborate with retailers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to bring innovative products and programs to market.
What You'll Do
Category Strategy & Business Planning
- Develop and execute annual and multi-year category strategies and growth plans.
- Analyze consumer trends, market opportunities, competitive activity, and financial performance to identify growth opportunities.
- Establish category objectives and monitor progress against sales, profit, margin, and productivity goals.
Assortment & Category Management
- Build, localize, launch, and optimize product assortments for international markets.
- Evaluate product opportunities, brand positioning, assortment breadth, and SKU productivity.
- Drive differentiated assortment strategies, including private label and global brand opportunities.
Vendor Management & Negotiation
- Identify, evaluate, and manage supplier relationships.
- Negotiate product costs, commercial terms, promotional funding, marketing programs, and distribution rights.
- Partner with sourcing and merchandising teams to leverage global scale and improve competitiveness.
Financial & Commercial Management
- Manage category performance across sales, gross profit, margins, cost of goods, pricing, and inventory productivity.
- Analyze business results and implement corrective actions to achieve category objectives.
- Build financial recommendations supporting promotions, imports, and growth initiatives.
Promotions & Retail Execution
- Develop promotional programs and marketing strategies that drive retailer sales and profitability.
- Coordinate offers, pricing, merchandising plans, catalogs, and sales materials.
- Partner with Marketing, Sales, and retailers to ensure successful execution.
Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Inventory and Supply Chain teams on forecasting, service levels, inventory management, and product flow.
- Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Product Data, Compliance, Customer Service, and other stakeholders to drive execution and resolve issues.
- Translate retailer and market needs into actionable category recommendations.
Conventions & Trade Shows
- Lead category planning and execution for conventions and trade shows.
- Coordinate vendor participation, product presentations, promotional offers, and sponsorship opportunities.
- Capture retailer insights and translate feedback into future category actions.
Who You Are
You are a strategic and results-oriented merchant who combines strong business acumen with product curiosity and customer focus. You enjoy turning data into action, building productive vendor relationships, identifying new growth opportunities, and influencing cross-functional teams to achieve business results.
You thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and can successfully manage multiple priorities while delivering measurable outcomes for retailers, consumers, and the business.
Required Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in merchandising, buying, category management, sourcing, retail, or a related business function.
- Experience managing product assortments, vendors, pricing, promotions, and business performance.
- Strong analytical and financial skills with the ability to evaluate sales, margins, profitability, inventory, and SKU productivity.
- Demonstrated negotiation and vendor relationship management skills.
- Strong communication, project management, prioritization, and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to travel approximately 10–25% based on business needs.
Preferred Skills
- International business experience. Bilingual English and Spanish proficiency.
- Knowledge of Business reporting tools. Experience in home improvement, hardware, consumer products, or related industries.
- Understanding of category planning, assortment optimization, consumer insights, pricing strategy, and retail execution.
WORK AUTHORIZATION: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.
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