Assistant Merchandiser

Create a healthier, brighter future for pets, pet parents and people!

If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets, people and our planet.

• We love all pets like our own
• We’re the future of the pet industry
• We’re here to improve lives
• We drive outstanding results together
• We’re welcome as we are

Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and Petco partners. We are 29,000 strong and operate 1,500+ pet care centers in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. We’re focused on purpose-driven work, and strongly believe what’s good for pets, people and our planet is good for Petco.

Job Summary 

The Merchandise Assistant supports the Merchant team in executing category strategies that deliver sales, margin, and inventory goals. This role provides critical administrative and analytical support, ensuring accurate item setup, pricing, promotional execution, and reporting. The Merchandise Assistant partners cross-functionally with planning, inventory, space, and vendor teams to drive operational excellence and on-time execution of initiatives across stores and online. 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Financial Targets and Strategic Planning 

• Assist in tasks to meet or exceed category financial targets aligned with the strategic plan. 

• Ensure goals and priorities align with the category strategy and merchant objectives. 

2. Team Coordination and Relationships 

• Coordinate with team members to ensure deadlines are met for resets, launches, and promotions. 

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal partners and external vendors. 

3. Category Management and Analysis 

• Support the category review process through reporting and analysis. 

• Monitor sales, receipts, and inventory to maintain appropriate profit margins. 

• Provide ad-hoc analysis on SKU and attribute performance as requested by the merchant. 

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Collaborate with planning, inventory, space, and marketing partners to execute assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies. 

• Communicate updates and deliverables to cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and execution of readiness. 

5. Administrative and Communication Tasks 

• Maintain accuracy of item setup, cost and retail changes, and promotional pricing across systems. 

• Prepare and distribute key communications to field and store operations. 

• Assist with project tracking, buy plan updates, and documentation management. 

6. Owned Brand & Vendor Support 

• Support-owned brand and exclusive product timelines, including sample procurement, packaging reviews, and proof approvals. 

• Partner with vendors to ensure timely delivery of samples, content, and documentation for product launches. 

7. Compliance and Professional Conduct 

• Ensure