Senior Category Leader: Growth, Negotiation & Strategy

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 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.