Product Associate

MSI is a premier supplier of a vast array of flooring and surface products, including flooring tile, countertops, wall and backsplash tile, and hardscaping surfaces. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Orange, California, MSI operates more than 50 state-of-the-art showroom and distribution centers across the United States and Canada. Their diverse product offerings include Granite, Quartz, Porcelain, Luxury Vinyl flooring, Slate, Marble, Travertine, Sandstone, Limestone, Quartzite, onyx, stacked stone, and pavers sourced from over 36 countries on six continents. MSI has grown to become one of North America's leading providers within the industry, recognized for its innovative product solutions, high-quality customer service, and industry leadership. The company has received numerous prestigious accolades, such as being named a Top 5 fastest-growing company by the OC Business Journal, winning the Supplier Diversity Award from Home Depot, being recognized as the number one flooring distributor for multiple years in a row by Floor Covering Weekly, receiving multiple Top Workplaces Awards, and having its founder honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young.

MSI fosters a workplace culture that prizes diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, providing a supportive environment free from discrimination and dedicated to helping every employee perform at their best. Employees benefit from an array of programs that uphold fairness and accommodate various needs, reflecting MSI's commitment to a thriving workforce.

The role of Product Associate at MSI is a full-time, salaried position offering an annual compensation between $70,000 and $80,000, with pay adjusted according to experience, education, and performance bonuses. This position operates on a Monday through Friday schedule from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with additional work required two Saturdays per month from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Product Associate will collaborate across multiple departments such as National Marketing, Product, and Sales teams to develop, promote, and manage MSI's product portfolio effectively. Unlike software or IT product roles, this position focuses on business aspects such as product sourcing, supply chain management, merchandising, and category growth strategies within a high-volume, global product environment.

Key responsibilities encompass managing the entire supply chain for multiple product lines to ensure consistent availability across MSI's distribution centers, analyzing inventory flow through demand planning and forecasting, optimizing reorder points, pricing analysis, and overseeing purchase orders and product receipt. This role is also accountable for shepherding products throughout their lifecycle—from new product introduction, promotional planning, SKU rationalization, to product discontinuation and close-out strategies.

The Product Associate is instrumental in developing pricing for new and existing products, identifying and pursuing international sourcing opportunities aligned with category goals, and partnering with both international suppliers and internal teams to drive product innovation, production planning, and market share growth. Strong communication skills are essential due to the need to maintain frequent contact with international suppliers across various time zones and support sales teams with inventory updates and issue resolution. Additionally, the associate plays an active role in identifying and implementing process improvements to increase team effectiveness.

Physically, the role requires regular use of hands for handling and controls, the ability to reach, walk, stand, occasionally sit, and occasionally lifting or moving items up to 25 pounds. Visual acuity for close vision is also necessary. MSI supports reasonable accommodations to enable employees with disabilities to meet these demands.

This exciting opportunity is ideal for candidates with at least a bachelor's degree, strong analytical and project management skills, and at least one year of experience in product sourcing, supply chain, business strategy, or other quantitative fields. The ideal candidate will exhibit a collaborative mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and a dedicated focus on driving innovation and process improvements within MSI’s dynamic market environment.