What are the responsibilities and job description for the Inventory and Merchandise Manager position at Strategic Franchising Systems?
We’re seeking an experienced Inventory and Merchandise Manager with pet retail or pet industry expertise to lead inventory strategies across a growing nationwide franchise system.
This is a highly visible, cross-functional leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a standardized inventory program across all retail locations ensuring the right products are available at the right time while driving consistency, profitability, and an elevated brand experience.
You’ll own product assortment strategy, vendor relationships, SKU governance, forecasting, and franchise inventory support. Partnering closely with Operations, Marketing, Nutrition, and Technology teams to strengthen unit-level economics and franchisee success.
What You’ll Do
Inventory Strategy & Planning
- Develop and maintain a standardized core product assortment across franchise locations
- Build and manage forecasting models to ensure availability while minimizing overstock and shrink
- Evaluate new products and manage discontinuations in partnership with Operations and Marketing
- Support store openings with initial assortments and inventory planning
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Own relationships with vendors, distributors, and manufacturers
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, shipping arrangements, rebates, and volume discounts
- Monitor vendor performance related to cost, fulfillment speed, quality, and service
Product Data & SKU Governance
- Create scalable processes for adding, modifying, and retiring SKUs
- Partner with Technology and POS teams to support reporting accuracy, margin visibility, and system integration, maintaining a centralized SKU catalog,
Franchise Support & Training
- Guide franchise owners on inventory best practices (ordering, receiving, shrink reduction, turnover)
- Develop training materials, guides, and webinars to support consistent execution
- Act as a trusted resource for owners to improve inventory performance and profitability
Operations, Reporting & Margin Management
- Analyze product performance, inventory turnover, and margin trends system-wide
- Recommend category, pricing, and assortment adjustments to improve profitability
- Provide leadership reporting on product movement, availability risks, forecasting, and vendor performance
- Collaborate cross-functionally on promotions, cost changes, and store launches
What We’re Looking For:
- 7 years of multi-unit retail operations experience (franchise or corporate retail strongly preferred)
- Prior pet industry and/or pet retail experience
- Deep expertise in merchandising, inventory management, and store operations
- Proven experience supporting store openings, remodels, or large-scale retail initiatives
- Strong background in training, curriculum development, or operational content creation
- Experience working in franchise or multi-location environments
Why Join Us?
You’ll play a key role in shaping retail inventory strategy across a growing franchise system—directly impacting franchisee success, customer experience, and profitability.