Retail Link Specialist

Working Schedule : 10am-6pm CST

Salary Range :$1500-$1800 USD Monthly (the final salary will be determined by the candidates level of experience and at the discretion of the client)

Job Description

The Retail Link Specialist is responsible for ensuring the successful execution of product orders from forecast to delivery with a focus on maximizing in-stock and minimizing fines. The specialist will use the retailers systems such as Walmarts Retail Link to manage item data analyze sales and collaborate with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

Item Management and Setup:

• Set up and maintain product data within the retailers item management portal (e.g. Item 360).
• Ensure all item attributes such as packaging dimensions images and marketing content are complete and accurate.
• Verify that new items are published and synced in the retailers system before shipping to prevent penalties.

Forecasting and Replenishment:

• Analyze sales inventory and point-of-sale (POS) data from Retail Link to generate accurate sales forecasts and identify trends.
• Manage replenishment parameters in the retailers systems to ensure optimal inventory levels at stores and warehouses.
• Collaborate with the retailers replenishment managers to align on forecasts and inventory strategies.

Order Fulfillment:

• Monitor purchase orders and track shipments to ensure on-time and in-full (OTIF) delivery compliance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to electronic data interchange (EDI) orders and discrepancies.
• Address and resolve late shipments shortages and system errors that affect the order cycle.

Performance Monitoring and Analysis:

• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) like in-stock percentage sales velocity and on-time delivery metrics.
• Create and distribute regular reports on business performance using Retail Link data.
• Conduct ad-hoc analyses to identify and capitalize on new business opportunities.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with internal teams including sales operations and logistics to coordinate order and inventory needs.
• Communicate with the retailers buying and replenishment teams to resolve issues and provide analytical insights.

Qualifications

Experience:

• 2 years of relevant experience in a retail link supply chain or inventory management role.

Technical Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables VLOOKUPs etc.).
• In-depth hands-on experience with Retail Link Item 360 and other relevant retailer-specific systems.
• Knowledge of supply chain concepts including inventory control forecasting and replenishment.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Key Technical Skills Needed for a Retail Link Specialist

Retail Link and Item 360 Mastery

• Navigation and reporting: The specialist must be an expert user of the Retail Link portal including its Decision Support System (DSS) to pull standard and ad-hoc reports. This includes generating data on sales inventory in-stock percentages and on-time delivery metrics.
• Item setup and maintenance (Item 360): The ability to create new items and manage existing products is foundational. This involves mastering the Item 360 module for tasks such as:
  • Entering all item information including product images descriptions dimensions and specifications.
  • Tracking the status of new item requests and making updates to existing products.
  • Updating cost information and supply chain logistics.
  • Leveraging features to export data for maintenance or reporting purposes.
• Performance monitoring: This involves interpreting scorecard data such as On-Time In-Full (OTIF) compliance to identify issues and avoid penalties.

Data Analysis and Forecasting

• Microsoft Excel expertise: Excel is a fundamental tool for manipulating and analyzing the large datasets extracted from Retail Link. Critical skills include:
  • Pivot tables: Used to summarize group and analyze large volumes of sales and inventory data.
  • VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH: Essential for pulling together related data from different reports.
  • Advanced formulas: Proficiency with formulas such as SUMIFS COUNTIFS and IF statements to build robust models.
  • Data validation: Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of data to prevent errors in analysis.
  • Visual Basic for Applications (VBA): Some advanced specialists use VBA to automate repetitive tasks and report generation.
• Forecasting tools: A Retail Link specialist uses the portals forecasting features to predict demand based on historical sales data. The specialist must also apply statistical modeling techniques and market trends to improve forecast accuracy.
• Data visualization: Using tools like Tableau Power BI or even advanced Excel charts the specialist should be able to create dashboards and visualize data to help stakeholders easily understand complex sales and inventory trends.

Supply Chain and Operational Systems

• Inventory management software: Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems preferably NetSuite and warehouse management systems (WMS) helps the specialist understand the full supply chain process and troubleshoot issues from start to finish.
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Knowledge of EDI and how it facilitates the exchange of business documents like purchase orders (POs) and invoices is critical for ensuring smooth and timely order fulfillment.
• System integration: The specialist should understand how Retail Link data can be connected with other internal and external systems to provide a more holistic view of the business.

Foundational Skills

• Basic SQL knowledge: While not always required basic SQL skills can help specialists with database querying and extracting specific data more efficiently than relying solely on the Retail Link interface.
• Retail mathematics: A firm grasp of retail math is necessary to calculate key performance indicators (KPIs) and interpret business performance. This includes metrics such as Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI) inventory turnover and profitability.