About us

Rural King is America’s Farm and Home Store, providing essentials to the communities we serve. With a wide array of necessities ranging from food and feed to farm and home products, Rural King serves over 150 locations across 17 states and is constantly expanding. Our annual sales exceed $2.5 Billion, and our heart beats in Mattoon, IL, home to our corporate office, distribution center, and flagship store.

One thing our customers appreciate is our unique shopping experience, complete with complimentary popcorn and coffee. It's just one way we show our appreciation for their support.

At Rural King, we value our associates and strive to create a positive, rewarding workplace. We offer growth opportunities, competitive benefits, and a people-first environment where dedicated individuals come together to serve rural communities passionately. Join us, and you'll find not just a job but a chance to grow professionally, contribute meaningfully, and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

How we reward you

401(k) plan that provides a 100% match on the first 3% of your contributions and 50% of the next 2%

Healthcare plans to support your needs

Virtual doctor visits

Access to Centers of Excellence with Barnes Jewish Hospital and Mayo Clinic’s Complex Care Program

15% Associate Discount

Dave Ramsey’s SmartDollar Program

Associate Assistance Program

RK Cares Associate Hardship Program

24/7 Chaplaincy Services

Company paid YMCA Family Membership

What You’ll do

As a Space Planner you will be working closely with Buyers, Store Teams, and Suppliers, this role is responsible for developing customer-centric planograms that bring category strategy to life while driving financial performance through balanced inventory, operational efficiency, and ease of execution. The position supports both on-shelf and promotional merchandising. The ideal candidate has a strong passion for retail and customer service, and thrives both independently and in highly collaborative environments.

• Establish strong working relationships with Buying teams and vendor partners to understand category strategy, customer shopping patterns, product innovation, market trends, and other inputs that inform effective display and space design.
• Learn, apply, and continuously build upon Space Planning’s merchandising approach, including visual merchandising standards, operating methods, and financial targets.
• Build strong, value-added relationships with store teams through shared experiences and a service-oriented mindset.
• Design, build, and test displays, planograms, and related merchandising elements within the Innovation Center and select local stores.
• Partner with the Store Layout team to reflow aisles and departments to improve “shopability” and operational efficiency.
• Provide value-added insights, analysis, and reporting to support space and merchandising decisions.
• Develop and maintain reporting on current space utilization, dimensions, and capacity.
• Maintain accurate data for store layouts, site plans, planograms, and related space documentation.
• Track and manage detailed space utilization data and inventory.
• Identify fixture, signage, and presentation opportunities that drive in-store performance and customer engagement.
• Take a self-directed approach to learning and skill development while actively sharing insights and best practices with the broader team.
• Demonstrate behaviors aligned with Rural King’s Values: People First, Integrity, Attitude, Initiative, Teamwork, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Essential Qualities for Success

• The ideal candidate has a strong connection to rural lifestyles, supported by retail experience and education\life experience in agriculture, marketing, and\or business.
• Experience with space management software (e.g., JDA, RELEX) and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Customer-centric mindset with a strong sense of urgency to serve internal stakeholders and customers.
• Continuous improvement mindset; highly adaptable and eager to take on new challenges in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong passion for retail success, with a demonstrated ability to drive results.
• Deadline-driven with strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects effectively.
• Enthusiastic about hands-on work in the Innovation Center, including physically building planograms, displays, and fixtures, as well as working within space planning software and supporting planogram execution in local stores.

Physical Requirements  

• Ability to maintain a seated or standing position for extended durations.
• Capability to lift 25 pounds periodically.
• Able to navigate and access all facilities.
• Skill to effectively communicate verbally with others, both in-person and via electronic devices.
• Close vision for computer-related tasks.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

The pay range for this position is $44,000 - $48,000 annualized and is bonus eligible. Exact compensation is determined by factors such as relevant geographic location, education, certifications, experience, job level, shift, and organizational needs. To learn more about our benefits, review here https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:14539c15-191a-4b77-9c13-f6ccfce10094.