Senior Category Merchant ( Food Service Disposables)

Staples; Framingham (MA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups

Flexible PTO (22 days)

Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays)

Online and Retail Discounts

Company Match 401(k)

Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs

Job summary

A leading office supplies retailer seeks a Senior Category Merchant for Food Service Disposables to drive category strategy and performance. You'll lead a diverse team, develop product assortments, and ensure supplier partnerships while achieving financial targets. The ideal candidate boasts over 8 years of experience in merchandising and strong analytical skills. Competitive salary, flexible PTO, and a supportive culture are included.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in merchandising, category management, or a related area.
• 3+ years of management experience leading teams or overseeing projects.
• Proven track record of meeting financial targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic growth and profitability of product categories.
• Develop and implement category strategies for business objectives.
• Monitor category performance metrics and adjust strategies as needed.
• Negotiate and maintain supplier partnerships.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to product specialists.
• Champion innovative merchandising techniques.
• Communicate performance updates to leadership.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership and mentorship

Negotiation and influencing

Analytical mindset

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or equivalent work experience

Tools

Excel

BI platforms

Job description

Senior Category Merchant (Food Service Disposables)

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 are inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of one or more high-value product categories across two channels, leveraging market insights, vendor relationships, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Develop and implement category strategies that include assortment planning, pricing, promotional activities, and supplier partnerships to meet business objectives.
• Monitor and analyze category performance metrics such as sales, margin, and inventory turns, adjusting strategies as needed to deliver financial targets.
• Identify, negotiate, and maintain partnerships with key suppliers to ensure product availability, competitive pricing, and favorable contract terms.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to a diverse team of product specialists.
• Champion innovative approaches in product assortment, merchandising techniques, and vendor relationships, while driving process improvements and adopting new tools or methodologies.
• Communicate category performance updates, challenges, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders.

What you bring to the table:

• Strategic thinker who sees the “big picture” while excelling at day-to-day tactical execution.
• Proven leadership and mentorship abilities, with a track record of developing high-performing teams and driving a culture of collaboration and results.
• Skilled negotiator and influencer, adept at building consensus internally and externally.
• Strong analytical mindset, comfortable interpreting complex data to guide decisions and strategy.
• Adaptable and resilient under pressure, with the ability to respond quickly to emerging opportunities or challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to tailor messages to diverse audiences.

Basic Qualifications:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in merchandising, category management, or a related area.
• 3+ years of management experience, including leading teams, managing direct reports, or overseeing large cross-functional projects.
• Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding financial targets for assigned product lines.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools such as Excel and BI platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or equivalent work experience

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!

Base pay range: $113,000.00/yr - $156,000.00/yr

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Industry: Retail Office Equipment

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.