GIFT DEPARTMENT CATEGORY ASSISTANT – CORPORATE

Job Type: Location Type: Hybrid

 

Job Details

Job Location
Corporate Headquarters – Seattle, WA

Position Type
Full-Time

Salary Range
$23.59 – $34.20 Hourly

Job Shift
Day (8:00AM to 4:00PM)

Description

About Us: Uwajimaya is more than just a grocery store – we’re a vibrant cultural destination with a rich history rooted in family, community, and food. Since 1928, we’ve grown into the Pacific Northwest’s premier Asian retailer, known for our wide selection, welcoming atmosphere, and commitment to sharing the diverse traditions of Asian cultures. We take pride in creating a one-of-a-kind experience for customers and employees alike – one that’s centered around food, culture, and people.

Why Join Uwajimaya?

At Uwajimaya, we believe in nurturing growth – in our communities, our customers, and our team members. We foster an environment built on collaboration, curiosity, and care. Whether you’re starting your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to make a meaningful impact in a workplace that values tradition, innovation, and connection.

Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for team members who are collaborative, thoughtful, and passionate about making a difference. Whether you’re serving customers, supporting operations, or leading a team, you bring a people-first mindset and a strong work ethic. If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and believe in the power of inclusion, community, and connection – you’ll feel right at home here.

To thrive at Uwajimaya, you should embody our core competencies:

• Functional/Technical Skills: You possess the necessary functional and technical knowledge to perform your job at a high level.
• Customer Focus: You are dedicated to meeting customer expectations and requirements, using feedback for improvements, and building effective relationships based on trust and respect.
• Action Oriented: You enjoy working hard, are full of energy for challenging tasks, and seize opportunities with minimal planning.
• Peer Relationships: You can find common ground with peers, solve problems collaboratively, and are seen as a cooperative team player who encourages collaboration.
• Self-Development: You are committed to continuous self-improvement, adapt to different situations, and work to develop your strengths while addressing weaknesses.

We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and friendly work culture
• Competitive starting wages
• Paid holidays from day one
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits
• A generous retirement plan
• Paid time off, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Employee discounts on food and gift items
• Supplemental insurance options
• Opportunities for growth and advancement

Position Summary:

Are you passionate about Japanese culture, consumer trends, and creating exceptional in-store experiences? Uwajimaya is looking for a Category Assistant – Gift Department to join our team and support the Category Manager in driving sales, profitability, and customer engagement across our Health & Beauty Care, Housewares, and General Merchandise categories.

In this dynamic role, you’ll collaborate closely with vendors, stores, and internal teams to execute strategic plans, optimize merchandising, and ensure the Gift Department reflects the innovation and tradition our customers love. You’ll play a key role in launching new items, analyzing sales data, and ensuring our product assortment stays fresh and relevant.

Success in this role requires fluency in Japanese and strong interpersonal communication skills. You’ll need to understand Japanese brands, retail consumer behavior, and the import supply chain, and be comfortable working across teams to bring our category strategies to life. If you’re analytical, culturally savvy, and excited about making an impact in a fast-paced retail environment, we want to hear from you.

Position’s Key Responsibilities:

• Aid and assist the Category Manager with implementing and executing their category strategies. Conduct market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive insights. Implement price changes and promotions to drive sales and profitability. Set up new items. Analyze sales performance and customer feedback to assist the Category Manager in making data-driven decisions.
• Work with store Gift Department managers and teams to execute product assortment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and vendors.
• Work closely with corporate marketing and merchandising teams to execute category plans. Coordinate with store operations to ensure effective in-store execution and presentation.
• Monitor and report on category performance metrics, including sales, margins, and inventory turnover. Develop and implement action plans to address underperforming areas.
• Conduct consumer research and gather insights to understand shopping behaviors and preferences. Leverage insights to influence category strategy and drive customer satisfaction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Starting Pay: $23.59/hr., Depending on Experience
Pay Range: $23.59 – $34.20/hr.

Uwajimaya participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. Please review the E-Verify Participation Poster and Right to Work Poster before proceeding with your application

IER Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish) (PDF, 322.73 KB)

E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) (PDF, 259.92 KB)

Uwajimaya is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in store operations, retail merchandising, purchasing, or similar roles within retail industry. Store experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and generate actionable insights.
• Experience in dealing directly with suppliers and vendors.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel and Power Point.
• Fluent in Japanese.
• Full-time office position based in Settle Washington.
• Occasional travel to supplier sites, or store locations in Washington and Oregon may be required.
• Hybrid work model with one day per week work from home.