Senior Merchandise Specialist

Staples; Framingham (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive culture

Flexible PTO

Discounts & wellness programs

Job summary

Staples is seeking a Product Specialist to support Breakroom & Janitorial Paper categories in Framingham, MA. You will collaborate with Category Merchants, DMMs, and GMMs to define initiatives and drive category growth.

You will analyze sales and margin KPIs, manage short-term plans, and partner with vendors to expand assortment while controlling costs and budgets. Strong Excel and cross-functional communication are essential.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of project experience.
• 1+ year of Product Specialist or equivalent experience.
• 1+ year of merchandising or buying experience.
• 1+ year of experience using Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel skills required.

Responsibilities

• Define initiatives in partnership with business owners, including Category Merchants, DMMs, and GMMs.
• Collaborate with business owners and cross-functional partners to create unified strategies, project plans, and implementation timelines.
• Partner with the team to identify and implement strategic initiatives designed to drive sales and margin growth.
• Develop a deep understanding of key performance metrics, including sales, margin, DPT, and eCommerce KPIs.
• Monitor initiative performance against financial goals and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and manage short-term plans to mitigate risks and address business opportunities.
• Define and drive the full category strategy for growth initiatives.
• Manage the P&L with accountability for budgets and forecasts.
• Partner with vendors to expand assortment offerings and identify cost‑saving opportunities.

Skills

Independent work

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Learning agility

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Job description

Staples is business to business. Your 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 are inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more. This position will support Breakroom & Janitorial Paper categories.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Define initiatives in partnership with business owners, including Category Merchants, DMMs, and GMMs.
• Collaborate with business owners and cross-functional partners to create unified strategies, project plans, and implementation timelines.
• Partner with the team to identify and implement strategic initiatives designed to drive sales and margin growth.
• Develop a deep understanding of key performance metrics, including sales, margin, DPT, and eCommerce KPIs.
• Monitor initiative performance against financial goals and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and manage short-term plans to mitigate risks and address business opportunities.
• Define and drive the full category strategy for growth initiatives.
• Manage the P&L with accountability for budgets and forecasts.
• Partner with vendors to expand assortment offerings and identify cost‑saving opportunities.

What You Bring To The Table

• Ability to work independently and execute across multiple groups.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to quickly interpret complex data and make recommendations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask and follow through on priorities.
• Ability to learn quickly and think on your feet.

What’s Needed – Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of project experience.
• 1+ year of Product Specialist or equivalent experience.
• 1+ year of merchandising or buying experience.
• 1+ year of experience using Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel skills required.

What’s Needed – Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Negotiation experience.
• Vendor management and engagement experience.

We Offer

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups.
• Flexible PTO (22 days) and holiday schedule (7 paid observed holidays).
• Online and retail discounts, company‑matched 401(k), physical and mental 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.