Merchandise Sample Coordinator

Merchandise Sample Coordinator

The Merchandise Sample Coordinator plays a key role in supporting Burlington's merchant organization by managing the end-to-end sample merchandise process and reducing administrative workload for the Buying team. The primary goal of this position is to maintain an efficient, organized, and sustainable sample management process that allows merchants to focus on strategic business priorities and quickly respond to new opportunities. This role is responsible for coordinating the receipt, tracking, organization, storage, distribution, purging, and donation of merchandise samples, while also supporting meetings, corporate events, and other sample-related initiatives. The Merchandise Sample Coordinator serves as a central point of coordination, ensuring samples are managed effectively throughout their lifecycle and are readily available to support business needs. Success in this role requires strong organizational, communication, and multitasking skills, along with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. The position collaborates closely with stakeholders across Buying, Mail Center, Human Resources, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Corporate Facilities to execute a consistent and sustainable sample management process that enhances merchant productivity and supports key business initiatives. Location: This position is based in Burlington, NJ and requires occasional travel to our New York, NY office as needed.

A Day in the Life

• Develop and maintain working relationships with cross-functional departments with a full understanding of the sample management process
• Manage and maintain assigned merchandising departments' samples and storage areas by:
• Coordinating the receipt of merchandise samples from vendors/associates and the retrieval of samples from buyers' storage areas
  • Collecting, organizing, storing, mailing or donating samples according to business needs
  • Managing weekly and monthly purge schedules and ensure compliance
  • Provide support to buyers with special equipment requests (i.e., sample equipment- sample/rolling racks and/or grids) when setting up for strategy and product review meetings
• Assist Human Resources and buying teams with sample events (i.e. collect relevant samples to feature, set up and stage the spaces for items to be photographed and/or associates to purchase goods, breakdown displays and collect remaining samples to be donated to charity)

You'll Come With

• High school diploma required, college degree a plus
• Qualified candidates must possess a minimum of 2 years of merchandising experience
• Possess knowledge of buying practices and management of samples
• Ability to balance and prioritize competing demands, lead a team of peers
• Strong decision-making skills
• Ability to interact with and influence individuals at multiple levels of the organization
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, organization and follow-up skills.
• Possess a strong sense of urgency.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Facilities software (Service Channel) knowledge a plus
• Ability to stand in/walk through large buildings and sit in a cubicle environment.
• Lifting 20 lbs
• Ability to communicate via phone
• Must be capable of sending/receiving/reading/responding to emails

Compensation Range: $20.50 - $27.00