Purchasing Assistant - General Merchandise & Pet

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

The Job in a Nutshell  

Under the direction of the Category Manager, the Purchasing Assistant – General Merchandise, supports results by assisting with assortments, new products, promotions, pricing, and store‑level coordination to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant execution. 

Applications are accepted by the date below, which may be updated if the hiring timeline is extended.
11/03/2026

Responsibilities

Main Ingredients:  

Assortments & Planograms  

• Support planogram and assortment maintenance to ensure store‑level accuracy and compliance 

• Use internal systems and data tools to analyze assortments and provide recommendations 

• Maintain site‑specific set information and manage updates related to new and discontinued items 

New Products & Vendor Support  

• Assist with new product screening, documentation review, and vendor setup 

• Support product quality reviews and compliance with applicable regulations 

• Participate in new product review processes and documentation 

Ordering & Inventory  

• Support promotional, new products, and new store ordering activities 

• Assist with inventory reviews, recalls, returns, and discontinued items 

Promotions & Pricing  

• Support promotional execution, documentation, and validation of vendor funding 

• Assist with pricing updates, price change processing, and discrepancy resolution 

• Proof promotional materials and maintain related records 

Communication & Collaboration  

• Serve as a support contact for stores, vendors, brokers, and internal partners 

• Collaborate closely with Category Managers to ensure timely and accurate execution 

Qualifications

Recipe for Success:  

1. Minimum 3 years of experience in the natural foods industry with a working knowledge of planograms and merchandising. 
2. Must have intermediate Microsoft Excel experience.  
3. Must be detail oriented with excellent organization skills.  
4. Strong relationship building and influencing skills. 
5. Excellent communication skills are required. 
6. Ability to work as part of a team and independently. 

This job description is not an employment contract.  It does not guarantee a job or that the above listed duties are the limit of responsibilities.  The job and job description are subject to change with and without notice.  Employees are required to accomplish any and all tasks assigned to him/her by their Manager and/or other Store Support Center manager that might not be listed in this job description.

Here’s an overview of the benefits we offer our good4u Crew to help ensure the health and wellbeing of you and your family, now and well into the future:

All Crew Members

• Birthday Bonus Pay 
• Vitamin Bucks (up to $2,080 earned as store credit annually) 
• Holiday Pay for 5 Holidays – Stores Closed
• Paid Time Off (sick days and vacation) that Increases with Tenure 
• Paid Nutrition Education 
• good4u Crew Member Discount  
• {N}power Program (customer appreciation and rewards program) 
• Regular, Scheduled Pay Increases  
• Advancement Opportunities and Career Development 
• Health and Wellness Program  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)   
• Employee Referral Program

Full-Time Crew Members (30+ hours/week)

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance 
• Paid Parental Leave  
• Paid Medical Leave (through company paid short-term disability insurance) 
• Company Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance  
• Company Paid Life Insurance 
• Voluntary Benefits Including Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Term Life Insurance   
• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with discretionary Company Match  
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)  
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match 

Diversity Statement

At the heart of Natural Grocers' commitment to our community and crew is this belief: All people should be empowered to experience health and wellbeing! We cannot be true to this conviction without honoring diversity and cultivating inclusion throughout every aspect of our organization.

At Natural Grocers, we honor our differences, embrace diversity, and cultivate inclusion because both individual and societal health are rooted in these principles. Our Crew is diverse not only in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, abilities, and age but also in cultural backgrounds, thoughts, and ideas. Celebrating our diversity refreshes, expands, and shapes our perspective, energizing our mission of equitable access to health and wellness for all. We welcome everyone who would like to join us in this mission, with gratitude for the unique life experience each person brings to the table. We’re committed to nurturing an ecosystem of diversity and inclusion in which our Crew can continue to thrive.

Physical Capabilities and Environmental Demands:

N = Never

O = Occasional; 1-33% of time

F = Frequent; 34-66% of time

C = Constant; 67-100% of time

Physical Requirements:

• Must have the ability to constantly lift or carry up to 10 lbs., frequently lift or carry 11-20 lbs., and occasionally lift or carry 21-50 lbs. Must also have the ability to occasionally lift or carry 51-100 lbs. with a team lift.
• Must have the ability to frequently push or pul