<p>Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job</p> <p>Announcement</p> <p>Details</p> <p>Open Date 04/06/2026 Requisition Number PRN44661B Job Title Inventory Control Management Working Title Sr. Manager, Merchandising & Vendor Strategy Career Progression Track M00 Track Level M3 - Manager FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary</p> <p>M-F, 8a-5p, some weekends, holidays and late nights.</p> <p>VP Area President Department 00435 - University Campus Store Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range $80,000 - $90,000 DOE Close Date 07/06/2026 Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) Job Summary</p> <p>The Sr. Manager, Merchandising & Vendor Strategy leads category planning for the buying team, overseeing vendor coordination and assortment governance across retail product categories. This role translates strategic priorities into structured category plans, ensures consistency across product assortments, and drives cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, inventory planning, marketing, and eCommerce teams. The position reports to the Associate Director of Brand Merchandising & Integrated Commerce.</p> <p>This role is focused on strategic planning, coordination, and governance, rather than transactional buying or independent purchasing authority.</p> <p>Why Work at the University Campus Store?</p> <p>Employees at the University of Utah Campus Store enjoy a wide range of benefits that support both personal and professional well-being. These include:</p> <p>Employee discounts on Campus Store merchandise</p> <p>Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the store</p> <p>Flexible scheduling opportunities.</p> <p>The Campus Store is consistently ranked among the top 15 institutionally run stores in the nation and proudly serves over 40,000 students, faculty and staff, along with millions of visitors each year. Learn more about our mission and values here www.store.utah.edu</p> <p>Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu</p> <p>Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Lead category planning across all product areas, ensuring all categories have documented seasonal and annual plans aligned with institutional priorities and financial targets </li><li>Own assortment governance and SKU strategy, including SKU rationalization, optimized assortment structure, and consistent lifecycle management (new, active, clearance, discontinued) </li><li>Establish and manage category frameworks, including pricing guidelines, margin targets (for leadership approval), assortment architecture, and product mix strategies </li><li>Oversee vendor and licensing coordination, ensuring vendor performance meets expectations and all licensing and trademark requirements are enforced </li><li>Lead cross-functional alignment to ensure merchandising, inventory planning, marketing, and eCommerce teams operate from unified category plans and timelines </li><li>Partner with the Manager, Inventory Planning & Analytics to align assortment plans with forecasting and open-to-buy constraints, proactively addressing inventory risks </li><li>Direct product development and launch timelines, ensuring cross-functional readiness and early identification and mitigation of risks or delays </li><li>Monitor category performance at a portfolio level, reviewing sales, sell-through, and inventory health while identifying trends and recommending adjustments </li><li>Lead and develop Category Buyers by setting priorities, coaching on analysis and decision-making, and ensuring consistent use of tools and metrics </li><li>Own merchandising process governance by maintaining documented standard operating procedures and ensuring adherence to approved frameworks and workflows </li></ul> <p>Minimum Qualifications</p> <p>EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).</p> <p>Manager, Inventory Control Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.</p> <p>Preferences</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. </li><li>Experience in merchandising strategy, vendor coordination, or category planning. </li><li>Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to manage multiple categories and cross-functional priorities. </li><li>Experience working within institutional, regulated, or policy-driven environments preferred. </li><li>Familiarity with ERP systems and merchandising tools (NetSuite preferred). </li></ul> <p>Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information</p> <p>The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.</p> <p>This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.</p> <p>The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.</p> <p>Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.</p> <p>Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.</p> <p>To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.</p> <p>Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu</p> <p>https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.</p> <p>As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.</p> <p>Posting Specific Questions</p> <p>Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).</p> <ul> <li> <ul> <li>What is your highest level of completed education? </li></ul> </li><li> <p>None</p> </li><li> <p>High School Diploma or Equivalent</p> </li><li> <p>Associate Degree</p> </li><li> <p>Bachelor's Degree</p> </li><li> <p>Master's Degree</p> </li><li> <p>Doctorate Degree</p> </li><li> <ul> <li>How many years of related work experience do you have? </li></ul> </li><li> <p>Less than 2 years</p> </li><li> <p>2 years or more, but less than 4 years</p> </li><li> <p>4 years or more, but less than 6 years</p> </li><li> <p>6 years or more, but less than 8 years</p> </li><li> <p>8 years or more, but less than 10 years</p> </li><li> <p>10 years or more, but less than 12 years</p> </li><li> <p>12 years or more, but less than 14 years</p> </li><li> <p>14 years or more</p> </li></ul> <p>Applicant Documents</p> <p>Required Documents</p> <ul> <li>Resume </li></ul> <p>Optional Documents</p> <ul> <li>Cover Letter </li></ul>