Category Manager - Technology

Launch your career growth with Staples stores.; Richmond Hill; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Dental benefits

RRSP/DPSP

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Staples Canada is seeking a Category Manager to build go-to-market strategies across B2B, stores and online, and to manage the full scope of its product category portfolio.

You will lead supplier selection, product assortment, and strategic negotiations, ensuring the department and Staples' brand identity are upheld through a differentiated and curated product assortment focused on customer needs. This role requires strong data-driven decision making and cross-functional leadership.

Qualifications

• Post secondary degree/diploma in retail management, merchandising or purchasing.
• Ability to analyze data and identify trends.
• Developing category strategies to drive growth.
• Strong negotiation with suppliers to secure favorable terms.
• 5-7 years of category management experience.
• Hybrid, 4 days onsite in Richmond Hill.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial plans for retail stores, online, and B2B banners.
• Ensure go-to-market strategy is relevant per channel.
• Manage extended aisle and dropship programs for e-commerce.
• Build assortments and execute channel-specific promotions.
• Develop and execute a strategic own-brand differentiation plan.
• Negotiate vendor buying agreements with suppliers.
• Coordinate with Pricing CoE to optimize sales and profit.
• Maintain vendor relationships and inventory mix.
• Manage market development funds and product returns.
• Collaborate with Marketing to plan advertising and programs.

Skills

Data analysis

Strategic planning

Vendor negotiation

Channel management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Retail management degree

Job description

The Category Manager is responsible for building successful go-to-market strategies, driving innovation, and managing sales, margin, and turnover for their categories within the designated channels assigned- B2B and/or stores and online.The Category Manager is responsible for the full scope of managing the product category portfolio. This includes supplier selection, product selection, and strategic negotiation.They are responsible for leading various projects and initiatives for their categories, providing guidance and inspiration to their Category Specialists and Centres of Excellence partners. They are responsible for ensuring that the department and overall company vision and brand identity are upheld through a differentiated and curated product assortment, with our customers' needs at the heart of their categories strategic focus.

Specifically, You Will:

• Manage financial plans for our retail stores, online, and/or Business-to-Business banners.
• Ensure the assigned portfolio’s go-to-market strategy is relevant and timely based on its respective channel.
• Manage an extended aisle and dropship program through our e-commerce channel.
• Build an assortment and execute promotional plans that are relevant to the respective channels.
• Develop and execute, in coordination with our Own Brand Procurement and Product Development team, a strategic own brand strategy to differentiate our product offering.
• Negotiate all vendor buying agreements between the company and respective suppliers.
• Partner with the Pricing Centre Of Excellence (CoE) team to identify opportunities to maximize the sales and profit of the categories through price changes while remaining competitive in the market.
• Develop and maintain vendor relationships and manage vendor agreements
• Management of market development funds, product returns and inventory mix.
• Purchasing of product for a category through the negotiation process.
• Partner closely with Marketing in planning advertising and marketing programs to drive category results and increase customer awareness.

Some of what you need:

• Post secondary degree/diploma with a focus on retail management, merchandising and purchasing or equivalent experience.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Developing and implementing category strategies to drive growth and profitability.
• Effective negotiation with suppliers to secure favorable terms and conditions.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of category management experience preferably with a national retail chain or five years in the Staples Buyer Development Program.
• Office environment - Hybrid, with 4 days onsite in Richmond Hill, subject to the hybrid policy.

Some of what you will get:

• Health and Dental benefits
• RRSP/DPSP
• Performance bonuses
• And more...

About Us

We value transparency in our hiring processes. Please note, artificial intelligence may be used in certain stages to screen, assess, or select applicants, however, a human reviewer makes all final decisions. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

About the Team

About the Team At Staples Canada we are dynamic, inspiring partners to our customers and the communities in which we live. As The Working and Learning Company, we inspire people to work smarter, learn more and grow every day. We’re looking for curious, approachable, and passionate individuals who love finding solutions. If that’s you, let’s work, learn, and grow together. We are building an inclusive and diverse team Staples Canada is continuously working towards creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. We welcome, value and thrive on perspectives and contributions from backgrounds that vary by race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion or physical ability. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.