Category Assistant-General Merchandise

In your role as a Category Assistant at The North West Company (NWC); you will be responsible to assist the Category Manager with the day-to-day tasks of managing the category. You will compile data and reports required to monitor the Category performance, maintain vendor directory, investigate and respond to Stores and Category teams inquires regarding the category; and provide support for all category promotional activities. Joining NWC gives you the opportunity for development throughout the company, a competitive salary and benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture. NWC is a leading retailer to under-served rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in the following regions: Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food. Our value offer is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs. Check out northwest.ca for more information. Your Role: Coordinates the data and information required for item and verifies list is accurate. Coordinates Category calendar and vendor meetings. Validates vendor submissions and submits to the Data Management team for processing. Responds to questions from the Data Management teams to ensure complete and accurate item setup. Sends communications to stores about item updates. Submits necessary category updates for communication. Responds to Store Connect tickets assigned to the Category Team, ensuring the resolution of store issues, and escalating when necessary to ensure a satisfactory conclusion for all tickets. Compiles data and draft reports and presentations for Category Manger approval. Supports the Category Manger in the monitoring of promotional planning and planogram reviews. Performs the administration related to Category promotional activities. Conducts analyses as requested by the Category Manager for weekly, monthly, and quarterly variance reports. Reviews and monitors reporting as required and takes necessary actions or escalates as needed. This role requires travel to store locations. Travel may include overnight stays for up to 5 consecutive days, with an estimated total of up to 30 travel days per year Desired Skills & Experience: Previous experience working in an office support and/or in an administrative assistant role is required. Post-secondary education in business or related field or a College diploma is an asset. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with a focus on: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Must have demonstrated good written and verbal communication skills. Good analytical and problem solving skills are required Must be detail conscious and demonstrate a high level of accuracy. Location: 77 Main St, Winnipeg, MB (Gibraltar Hours) Reports To: Category Manager We create a collaborative and constructive culture by: Being Enterprising Committing to our Customer Working with Passion Leading and Developing Others Demonstrating Respect and Inclusivity Building Trust The North West Company is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages applications from all candidates including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, and persons with disabilities. A competitive salary is being offered along with opportunities to learn, develop and advance throughout the organization. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. This is an active job opening for a position that is currently available and we are actively seeking to fill. For Internal Employees Only: Internal employees are required to apply within 5 days of the position being posted. Applications received after this period may still be considered. This opportunity adheres to the corporate job posting guidelines.

Assist the Category Manager with day-to-day category management, including compiling performance reports and maintaining vendor directories. Coordinate item data, manage promotional activities, and resolve store inquiries via Store Connect tickets.

Requires previous experience in office support or administrative roles and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. A post-secondary education in business or a related field is considered an asset.

• Competitive Salary • Benefits Package • Development Opportunities

• written communicationPreferred
• Problem solvingPreferred
• Administrative SupportPreferred
• Attention to detailPreferred
• Data analysisPreferred
• Microsoft ExcelPreferred
• Microsoft WordPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Data Analysis
• Administrative Support
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Problem Solving
• Attention To Detail
• Report Generation
• Vendor Management
• Planogram Review

• Retail
• Administrative
• Marketing
• Sales
• Data & Analytics

Minimum education

College diploma

Minimum experience

0+ years

Apply by

Sep 28, 2026

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week

Seniority

Entry level