Sr Mgr Category Development

Staples, Inc.; Framingham (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive culture

Flexible PTO

Discounts & 401(k) match

Wellness programs

Job summary

Staples, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager, Category Development in Framingham, MA to shape multi-year growth strategies for key categories.

You will turn customer, competitive, and financial insights into actionable plans, guiding portfolio priorities and aligning cross-functional partners around opportunities that drive profitability and customer value. The role emphasizes analytics, ROI-focused investments, and leadership of Merchandising and analytics teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related work experience.
• MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• Experience developing category growth strategies and translating data into actionable plans.
• Proficiency in Excel and data visualization tools (Tableau/Power BI).

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-year category growth strategies and roadmaps aligned with financial objectives.
• Identify growth platforms and market trends and advise where to invest or exit.
• Evaluate portfolio performance and prioritize resources across opportunities.
• Lead category strategy discussions with senior leaders using analytics to inform decisions.
• Align merchandising, finance, supply chain, marketing, sourcing and partners on priorities.
• Assess market attractiveness and financial performance to guide direction.
• Build business cases with ROI-focused investment decisions.
• Represent category development in leadership forums and planning discussions.
• Lead and develop Managers and Analysts to strengthen analytics and storytelling capabilities.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing team environment.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Executive communication

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Category management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

SQL

Python

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

As Senior Manager, Category Development, you will shape the future of key categories by turning customer, competitive, and financial insights into multi-year growth strategies. You will guide portfolio priorities, influence senior business decisions, and unite Merchandising and cross-functional partners around opportunities that strengthen differentiation, profitability, and customer value.

What you will be doing:

• Develop and execute multi-year category growth strategies, portfolio roadmaps, and actionable plans aligned with enterprise and financial objectives.

• Identify growth platforms, innovation opportunities, and emerging market trends, and recommend where to invest, expand, defend, or exit.

• Evaluate portfolio performance and innovation pipelines, prioritize resources, and recommend strategic trade-offs across competing opportunities.

• Lead category strategy discussions with Divisional Merchandising Managers and senior leaders, using insights and analytics to influence business decisions.

• Align Merchandising, Finance, Supply Chain, Marketing, Sourcing, and other partners around shared priorities and execution plans.

• Assess market attractiveness, customer behavior, competitive dynamics, and financial performance to guide category direction.

• Build and stress-test business cases, validate assumptions and risks, and drive disciplined, ROI-focused investment decisions.

• Represent Category Development in leadership forums and strategic planning discussions, communicating complex strategies clearly and persuasively.

• Lead, coach, and develop Managers, Associate Managers, and/or Analysts while strengthening capabilities in analytics, strategy, and storytelling.

• Set clear expectations, support talent and succession planning, and foster an inclusive, accountable, and high-performing team environment.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Strategic thinking and strong business acumen, with the ability to connect enterprise priorities to category-level action.

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, paired with intellectual curiosity and sound judgment.

• Executive-level communication, influencing, and storytelling skills.

• Collaborative leadership and stakeholder management skills across multiple functions and levels.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity, lead through change, and create alignment among competing priorities.

• A results-focused approach with accountability, ownership, and a continuous learning mindset.

What’s needed: Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related work experience.

• 8+ years of professional experience in category management, strategy, merchandising, consulting, analytics, or related field.

• Experience developing category growth strategies, translating complex data into actionable plans, and evaluating business cases, financial assumptions, risks, and returns.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using Tableau or Power BI for analysis or visualization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or other advanced degree in a related field.

• 8+ years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, consulting, or related industry.

• 5+ years of leadership experience managing and developing teams.

• Experience managing complex category portfolios with P&L responsibility, driving revenue growth or margin improvement, and leading enterprise initiatives in a matrixed organization.

• Advanced proficiency in SQL, Python, or BI and data-visualization tools, with experience supporting retail merchandising, commercial, private-brand, product-development, or category-management teams.

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!