Project Manager, Commercial Projects

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Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is September 11, 2026 at 11:59PM

This position is contingent on funding

There is a qualified internal in the department

Job Description:

Primary Purpose
The Project Manager, Commercial Projects is primarily responsible for the direction, coordination and implementation of various projects across Print + Retail Solutions’ (P+RS) and UW Food Services (UWFS). The incumbent will lead various projects in P+RS and UWFS. This role will make a meaningful impact in ensuring projects are completed on time and to the benefit of both departments. In addition to project management, the role is responsible for the planning, purchasing, merchandising, and performance of apparel and technology categories for the W Store campus store. Due to the cyclical nature of apparel purchasing and seasonal retail peaks in a university environment, the majority of this role’s focus is on project management, with merchandising responsibilities concentrated during key buying periods.

Key Accountabilities

Project Management

• Establishes objectives, timelines, KPIs, and required participants for P+RS and UWFS projects, ensuring alignment with University strategic plans.

• Implements and maintains best practices and principles for project management processes.

• Develops project plans including, but not limited to, project scope and deliverables, clear outlines of roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders (internal and external to P+RS and UWFS), deadlines, and the process for moving the work forward to ensure all project deliverables are completed on time.

• Reports on project progress and offers viable solutions to issues as they arise

• Leads meetings and sets expectations for the project team.

• Develops and leads a communications strategy among all project stakeholders, ensuring that key information is shared well in advance of deadlines and that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of their roles and expectations relating to the overall project.

• Solves complex and ambiguous problems by leveraging quantitative and qualitative analyses, driving large cross-functional initiatives to their conclusion, and developing new practices as needed.

Research and Business Insights

• Provides data-driven recommendations on assortment, pricing, and category strategy based on customer behaviour, market trends, KPIs, and performance analytics relevant to Print + Retail Solutions’ (P+RS) and Food Services (UWFS) customers

• Designs and maintains performance dashboards to analyze product, category, and customer trends; translates insights into strategic recommendations for business growth and optimization

• Leads research initiatives to establish and prioritize requirements project and business requirements, including survey development, interviews, store intercept surveys, focus groups, environmental scans, data collection).

• Liaises with peer institutions and associations to discover and implement existing solutions in P+RS and UWFS.

Purchasing & Vendor Management

· Makes purchasing decisions by assessing assortment, pricing, and presentation, while negotiating vendor terms to maximize value and enable cross-merchandising aligned with established customer profiles for the apparel and technology categories in P+RS, .

· Monitors performance of both individual products and overall categories regularly by utilizing data to determine the best and worst performing products, with the goal of meeting category goals and objectives, as well as financial targets.

· Monitors and enforces the appropriate use of University of Waterloo registered trade-marks.

· Researches, develops, and maintains a database of vendors for sourcing products and for the development of University of Waterloo brand-specific merchandise, and ensures that all vendors comply with established P+RS and University of Waterloo ethical business practices and guidelines.

· Maintains a deep understanding of evolving apparel and technology vendor offerings, production timelines, turnaround times, product knowledge, limitations, and abilities, and coordinates timely arrivals for time-sensitive goods.

· Monitors and evaluates apparel and technology vendor performance, manages conflicts and disagreements, addresses concerns, and makes recommendations regarding how best to manage/penalize/stop working with vendors when there are ongoing issues.

• Uses customer data, market research, performance analytics, and industry trends to inform category, purchasing, product, and vendor strategies.

• Collaborates with vendors as strategic partners to align offerings with customer needs and business objectives.

· Supports development of vendor strategies aligned with brand standards and organizational goals.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with stakeholders across Print + Retail Solutions, Food Services, and the broader University community.

• Provides project updates, recommendations, and analysis to support informed decision-making.

• Develops presentations and communications materials to support project initiatives and business recommendations.

• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to advance projects, strategic initiatives, and operational improvements.

• Ensures that all customer inquiries are handled in a professional, timely manner; and in cases when customers should be redirected to other staff, the incumbent will ensure that the redirection is complete and that the customer is not left without service.

• Acts as a brand ambassador for P+RS and the University of Waterloo.

Required Qualifications

Education

• An undergraduate degree or college diploma in merchandising, business administration, commerce or economics, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

• Project management qualification (e.g., PMP) is an asset.

Experience

• A minimum of three years’ experience in project management is required, preferably in a relevant sector (e.g., post-secondary, retail, inside sales).

• Experience in a post-secondary retail setting is an asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of project management methodologies and practices.

• Knowledge of retail merchandising, purchasing, and category management principles.

• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods and business analytics.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication, and presentation skills.

• Strong project planning, organization, and prioritization skills.

• Strong computer skills, with advanced experience in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Formal training in Microsoft Excel is an asset.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret data and develop business recommendations.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.