Category Merchant

Staples; Framingham (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive culture

Flexible PTO

Employee discounts

401(k) match

Job summary

Staples is seeking a senior Category Manager to lead cross-functional category strategies in a data-driven environment. You will shape assortment, pricing, and promotions while partnering with Finance and Supply Chain to optimize margins and inventory.

You will build strong vendor relationships, negotiate favorable terms, and guide teams toward measurable revenue growth across omnichannel channels. MBA and analytics tools are a plus.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of category management, merchandising, product management, or related field.
• 3+ years of management or supervisory experience leading teams or large-scale projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience using Excel and data-analysis tools to make data-driven decisions.
• Vendor negotiation and contract management experience with cost savings or margin improvements.
• Experience managing category sales, margin, profitability, budgets, and forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category plans across assortment, pricing, promotions, and marketing programs to drive revenue and margin growth.
• Analyze market trends, sales performance, and financial results to identify growth opportunities and optimize product mix.
• Build vendor relationships, negotiate terms, manage contracts, and monitor fulfillment and quality.
• Partner with Finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and profitability.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to optimize inventory and reduce excess stock.
• Create go-to-market plans with Marketing, Operations, Sales, and eCommerce to strengthen engagement.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Vendor negotiation

Leadership

Analytical mindset

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Excel

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Staples is business to business. You’re what binds us together.

Our merchandising team aims to deliver the best value and selection to our customers through products, services and solutions all centered around our customers’ needs. We are driven by customer insights and analytics to bring products and solutions to market seamlessly. We’re inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more.

What you will be doing:

• Develop and execute category plans across assortment, pricing, promotions, and marketing programs to drive revenue and margin growth.
• Analyze market trends, competitive activity, sales performance, customer feedback, and financial results to identify growth opportunities and optimize the product mix.
• Build strategic vendor and supplier relationships, negotiate favorable terms, manage contracts, and monitor fulfillment, quality, and delivery performance.
• Partner with Finance to manage category budgets, forecasts, profitability, and financial reporting.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to optimize inventory, improve product availability, and reduce excess or obsolete stock.
• Create cohesive go-to-market plans with Marketing, Operations, Sales, and eCommerce that strengthen customer engagement and digital product presentation.
• Prepare category performance reports and present actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Identify and mitigate risks across sourcing, supply chain, vendor relationships, and regulatory or internal policy requirements.
• Provide direction, coaching, performance feedback, and development support to supervisors and/or individual contributors.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team culture focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and category results.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Strategic thinking and the ability to turn complex market, customer, and financial data into actionable category plans.
• Strong financial acumen and confidence managing sales, margin, profitability, budgets, and forecasts.
• Proven vendor negotiation, supplier relationship, and contract management capabilities.
• Leadership and team-development skills, including coaching, feedback, and accountability for results.
• An analytical, adaptable approach and the ability to adjust strategies as market conditions and customer needs evolve.
• Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

What’s needed: Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, product management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of management or supervisory experience leading teams or large-scale, complex projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel and business intelligence or data-analysis tools to make data-driven decisions.
• Demonstrated experience with vendor negotiation and contract management, including delivering cost savings or margin improvement.
• Experience managing category sales, margin, profitability, budgets, and forecasts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or another relevant advanced degree.
• Experience using Tableau, Power BI, or a similar advanced analytics platform.
• Experience leading category initiatives that delivered measurable revenue growth.
• Experience in an omnichannel retail environment integrating eCommerce and other selling channels.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), APICS, or another relevant project or supply chain certification.

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• Flexible PTO (22 days) and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

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.