Merchandise Coordinator

Company: Giant Tiger Stores Limited (Head Office)

Location: 2480 Walkley Road, Ottawa, ON (Hybrid)

Salary Range: $45,600 – $68,500 per year

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (On-site Tuesdays; additional days as needed)

Clean Professional Job Summary

Giant Tiger, a cornerstone of Canadian retail for over 60 years, is looking for a Merchandise Coordinator to join their Store Support Team at the Ottawa Head Office. This role is the “nerve center” for Category Management, ensuring that thousands of SKUs across Canada are managed with surgical precision. You will be responsible for the life cycle of product data—from setting up new vendors and managing import quote sheets to maintaining the integrity of the SKU files that drive store shelves. If you are a high-organized professional who finds satisfaction in “error-free” administration and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced retail environment, this role offers a direct path into the heart of Canadian buying and merchandising.

Key Responsibilities

Data Integrity & SKU Management: Maintain the master SKU file, ensuring all data is accurate and communicating changes instantly to cross-functional teams.
Vendor Operations: Lead the domestic vendor setup process, issue private label manuals, and act as the primary point of contact for vendor inquiries.
Import & Buying Support: Execute administrative tasks for import quote sheets and manage the release of “package and return” sheets following the seasonal buying calendar.
Category Support: Maintain administrative tools like colour cards, purchase logs, and flyer boards; assist Category Assistants with physical product sample management.
Buying Help Desk: Serve as the expert responder for SKU and Return-to-Vendor (RTV) inquiries, providing critical information to resolve store-level issues.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Experience: 1–2 years of work experience, preferably in a retail environment (store-level or buying office).
Education: Post-secondary degree or diploma in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field.
Technical Proficiency: Strong mastery of the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams).
Attention to Detail: A proven track record of managing high-volume data without errors.
Assets: Bilingualism (English/French) and experience with retail systems like AS400 (JDA), PLM, or Business Intelligence (BI) software.

About the Company: Giant Tiger

Giant Tiger is a 100% Canadian-owned discount retailer with over 260 stores across the country. Known for its community-centric approach, the company emphasizes a “people-first” culture. The Store Support Centre on Walkley Road is a modern, collaborative hub where head office staff work to ensure the “value” Giant Tiger is known for reaches every shelf in Canada.

Market & Industry Context: Ottawa Retail Support (2026)

As of early 2026, the role of a Merchandise Coordinator has become increasingly focused on “Clean Data” as retail automation takes hold.

Industry Trends & Data:

The Rise of “Agentic AI” (2026): In 2026, retail coordinators at firms like Giant Tiger are increasingly using AI assistants to flag SKU anomalies and predict stockouts. 81% of Canadian retail executives now view generative AI as a foundational operational tool, shifting the Coordinator’s role from manual entry to “data oversight.”
Value-Conscious Shoppers: With grocery and essential goods prices up 21% since 2021, Giant Tiger’s mission is more relevant than ever. In 2026, 90% of Canadians are actively seeking deals, making the accuracy of “flyer boards” and SKU pricing a critical driver of customer trust.
Cost of Living in Ottawa: A pre-tax income of $50,000–$60,000 is considered the “comfort threshold” for a single person in Ottawa in 2026. With a top end of $68,500, this role provides a strong middle-class lifestyle in a city where average 1-bedroom rents are currently hovering around $1,990.
The Walkley Hub: The Walkley Road area in Ottawa has seen significant development in 2026, with improved transit links making the 1-day-a-week commute highly accessible for those living in the suburbs or downtown.

Career Growth & Progression Path

Category Assistant: Take on more direct responsibility for assisting Buyers with assortment selection and vendor negotiations.
Assistant Buyer: Move into a strategic role, selecting products and managing a specific category’s P&L (Profit & Loss).
Planning & Allocation Analyst: Specialize in the “quantification” side of retail, determining exactly how much product goes to which store based on local demand.
Retail Systems Specialist: Leverage your AS400/JDA experience to move into an IT or Operations role focused on optimizing retail software.

Interview Preparation Insights

The “Data Integrity” Story: Prepare an example of a time you caught a small error that would have had a large impact. In SKU management, a misplaced decimal can cost thousands of dollars.
AS400/Excel Skills: If you don’t have AS400 experience, highlight your “Advanced Excel” skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) as the logic is highly transferable.
Vendor Relations: Be ready to discuss how you maintain professionalism when dealing with vendors who may be missing deadlines or providing incomplete data.
Hybrid Tuesday: Since the whole team is in-office on Tuesdays, emphasize your “team player” attitude and how you use face-to-face time to resolve cross-functional bottlenecks.

Perks & Benefits (Total Rewards)

Giant Retirement Support: Giant Tiger contributes 6% of your base salary to a DPSP (Deferred Profit Sharing Plan) with no employee contribution required.
Wellness & Time Off: Flexible, cost-shared health/dental benefits available upon hire, plus a holiday closure period between Christmas and New Year’s.
Store Discount: A significant perk for a value-conscious professional.

Inclusive Culture: Giant Tiger is known for its “apply anyway” mentality, valuing growth and diversity over a “perfect” 100% resume match.

Category	Details & Specifications
Employer	Giant Tiger (Home Office)
Salary Range	$45,600 – $68,500 / year
Location	2480 Walkley Road, Ottawa, ON
Work Arrangement	Hybrid (On-site Tuesdays; Remote other days)
Retirement Perk	6% DPSP Contribution (No employee match required)
Key Tech	Microsoft Office; AS400 (JDA) & PLM (Assets)

Role Breakdown: The Administrative Engine of Buying

As a Merchandise Coordinator, you are the technical link between the Buying team and the store shelves. Your primary mission is Data Integrity—ensuring that every product “exists” correctly in the system so it can be bought, shipped, and sold without errors.

SKU File Management: Creating and maintaining the master data for every product (Stock Keeping Unit). This includes price points, descriptions, and dimensions. In retail, a single digit error in a SKU file can stop an entire shipment.
Vendor Onboarding: Managing the administrative setup for domestic vendors. You issue the “Private Label Manuals” and act as the first point of contact for new suppliers.
Marketing & Flyer Support: Assisting with the administrative side of “Flyer Boards” and “Purchasing Logs.” You ensure that the items advertised in the weekly flyer are correctly quantified and coded for store delivery.
Sample Management: Coordinating physical product samples with Category Assistants. This involves organizing “color cards” and ensuring samples are available for quality reviews and marketing photography.
Help Desk Resolution: Acting as the “Fixer” for store-level inquiries regarding SKU errors or Return to Vendor (RTV) authorizations.

2026 Ottawa Retail & Giant Tiger Insights

Giant Tiger is a Canadian success story, and its Walkley Road headquarters is a major employment hub in Ottawa’s south end.

Hybrid Dynamics (2026): Giant Tiger’s “Tuesday On-site” policy is designed to foster team collaboration while respecting the 2026 demand for flexibility. Being at the Walkley office on Tuesdays allows for physical sample reviews and “Flyer Board” meetings that are difficult to do remotely.
2026 Salary Benchmarking: The $45.6k – $68.5k range is highly competitive for an entry-to-mid-level administrative role in Ottawa. Most local retail head offices (like Lee Valley or Shopify’s operational wings) range between $42k and $60k for similar coordinator roles.
Legacy Systems (AS400/JDA): The mention of AS400 is a specific technical “nod.” Many major retailers still use this robust green-screen system for inventory management. If you have experience with it, you are a “unicorn” candidate for their Buying team.
The “DPSP” Advantage: A 6% company-paid DPSP (Deferred Profit Sharing Plan) is an elite benefit in the 2026 retail sector. At a $50,000 salary, Giant Tiger is essentially giving you an extra $3,000/year toward retirement for free.

Total Rewards & “GT” Perks

Giant Tiger’s 2026 “Total Rewards” package is built to attract long-term “homegrown” talent:

Immediate Benefits: Health and dental coverage are available on day one—uncommon in many 2026 corporate roles.
Holiday Closure: Enjoy a paid break between Christmas and New Year’s, allowing you to recharge without using your vacation days.
Store Discount: A valuable perk for household savings, aligning with the company’s “Help Canadians save more” mission.
Parental Top-up: Financial support for growing families to bridge the gap during leave.

Essential Qualifications & Technical Fit

Education: Post-secondary degree or equivalent retail experience.
Experience: 1–2 years in a retail environment (either store-level or office) is required.
Soft Skills: You must be “obsessed” with detail. This role suits someone who finds satisfaction in a perfectly organized spreadsheet.
Bilingualism: While listed as an “asset,” being bilingual (English/French) in an Ottawa-based national retailer is often the tie-breaker in 2026 hiring.

Application Insider Tips

Focus on “Data Integrity”: In your interview, talk about a time you caught a small error that could have had a big impact. Merchandise Managers care about accuracy above almost all else.
Show Your “GT” Spirit: Giant Tiger values community-minded, “down-to-earth” professionals. Research their “GT Community” initiatives to show you fit their culture.
Don’t Be Afraid of the “Asset” Tools: If you haven’t used PLM or AS400, emphasize your “enthusiastic learner” trait. They explicitly encourage those who don’t meet all criteria to apply.

To apply for this job please visit www.gianttiger.com.