Merchandise Planning and Project Analyst

About us:

Vast-Auto Distribution, a subsidiary of O’Reilly Automotive Inc., is a leader in auto parts distribution and retail across Eastern Canada. It is part of O’Reilly Auto Parts that operates more than 6,000 stores, with more than 92,000 team members across the USA, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada under the Parts City Auto Parts and O’Reilly Auto Parts banners.

FUNCTIONAL SUMMARY:

As Merchandise Planning & Project Analyst, you will service as the operational engine of the Merchandising team enabling them to focus on strategy, vendor relationships, and financial performance. You will own the planning rhythm, project tracking, and process infrastructure that keeps the team moving forward efficiently and consistently.

MAIN DUTIES:

Project Management & Planning Support

• Own the Category Management team's project calendar, ensuring all active projects have clear owners, timelines, milestones, and status updates.
• Organize and lead Project Planning meetings that coordinate product related projects across the organization.
• Coordinate planning cycles including seasonal assortment reviews, planogram updates, changeovers, item disposition, promotional events, and Joint Business Planning schedules.
• Prepare and distribute pre-meeting materials, agendas, and post-meeting summaries for key category and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Follow up on action items with cross-functional partners to ensure commitments are tracked and delivered on time.
• Contribute to special projects and related tasks as identified and created to accomplish the goals of the Merchandising Department.

Process Documentation & Optimization

• Document current state processes across the Merchandising Department, identifying gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and maintain standardized templates, playbooks, and process guides that support consistency across the team.
• Partner with cross-functional team members to identify and implement process improvements that reduce administrative burden and improve execution quality.

Learning & Contribution

• Develop a working knowledge of Merchandising, including assortment strategy, financial performance metrics, and vendor management.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement — proactively identifying ways to make the team more effective.

Other:

• And any other related duties and responsibilities as assigned which may evolve to meet the changing needs and priorities of the business.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 2-3 years of experience in a project coordination, administrative, operations, or retail support role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and follow-through.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear, organized documentation and correspondence.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other MS Office applications; experience with project tracking tools (e.g., ClickUp, Asana, Monday.com, Smartsheet) is an asset.
• High learning agility and genuine curiosity about category management, retail operations, and merchandising.
• Experience in retail, wholesale, or a category management environment is preferred.

What Sets Us Apart

Grow and succeed in a value-driven workplace that supports your professional development, all within the stability of a Fortune 300 organization.

• Exposure to best practices and tools across a large North American organization, opening doors to diverse career pathways.
• Career growth opportunities through our Promote from Within philosophy.
• Competitive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance, RRSP, and additional employee benefits.
• Commitment to inclusion: We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We value different perspectives and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS:

We are ENTHUSIASTIC, HARDWORKING PROFESSIONALS, who are DEDICATED to TEAMWORK, SAFETY/WELLNESS, and EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. We practice EXPENSE CONTROL while setting an example of RESPECT, HONESTY, and a WIN-WIN ATTITUDE in everything we do.

If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to send us your resume. If your application is retained, we will contact you to schedule an interview.

Note: Vast Auto Distribution doesn’t use AI for job screening purposes