Category Merchant-Framingham, MA

The Business Essentials Merchandising team is responsible for shaping the assortment, pricing, vendor partnerships, and overall customer experience across key categories within Staples US Retail Stores. The team plays a critical role in driving growth by delivering the products customers need while balancing financial performance, inventory productivity, and market trends. Through collaboration, innovation, and customer insight, the team helps position Staples as the destination for business essentials solutions.

Staples is seeking a customer-focused and results-driven Category Merchant to lead strategic merchandising initiatives within the Business Essentials category for our US Retail Stores business. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive sales, margin, inventory productivity, and customer satisfaction. Working cross-functionally with Planning, Marketing, Pricing, Site Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Vendor Partners, the Category Merchant will leverage customer insights, market intelligence, and financial analysis to build compelling assortments and deliver exceptional business results.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence key business decisions, shape the customer experience, and contribute to one of Staples' strategic growth priorities.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and execute customer-centric category strategies that drive sales, profitability, and inventory productivity.
• Gain a deep understanding of customer needs through market research, customer insights, competitive analysis, and field feedback.
• Create and manage comprehensive business plans to achieve financial goals, including sales, margin, inventory, and profit objectives.
• Analyze market trends, customer buying behavior, and competitive activity to identify opportunities and risks.
• Build compelling assortments by selecting products and vendor partners that meet customer needs and business objectives.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure favorable pricing, rebates, advertising support, volume incentives, and other commercial benefits.
• Partner closely with Planning teams to develop accurate financial and item forecasts.
• Collaborate across Merchandising, Marketing, Pricing, Inventory Planning, Supply Chain, eCommerce, and other cross-functional teams to execute category plans.
• Influence senior leadership through data-driven recommendations, strategic insights, and clear communication.
• Lead and develop support team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and manage category performance, making adjustments as needed to optimize results and enhance the customer experience.

What You Bring to the Table

• Passion for understanding customer needs and translating insights into winning merchandise strategies.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance customer experience and financial performance.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to develop and execute long-term category growth plans.
• Exceptional analytical skills with experience using data to identify trends, opportunities, and business solutions.
• Strong negotiation and influencing abilities with internal stakeholders and external vendor partners.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage audiences at all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and drive alignment across multiple teams.
• Leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and motivate team members to achieve results.

What's Needed - Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 4-6 years of experience in merchandising, buying, category management, retail planning, procurement, or related functions.
• Experience managing product assortments and developing category strategies.
• Knowledge of retail industry trends, customer behavior, inventory management, pricing strategies, and merchandising principles.
• Strong analytical and financial aptitude.
• Experience working cross-functionally to deliver business objectives.

What's Needed - Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, forecasting, and business planning.
• Advanced negotiation skills with experience managing strategic vendor relationships.
• Experience leading and developing teams while driving measurable results.
• Experience managing multiple product categories and large P&L responsibilities.
• Proven track record of delivering category growth, margin improvement, and inventory optimization.
• Experience presenting business strategies and recommendations to senior leadership.

Get great perks.  

• Bonus plan and generous amount of paid time off, including one Floating Holiday each year  
• Flexible work arrangements, including flexible work hours   
• 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance with many more optional benefits  
• Associate store discount and more perks (discounts on mobile plans, movie tickets, etc.)  

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, geography, business considerations, and internal equity. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for bonuses, or other forms of variable compensation.   

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