Associate Manager, Category Development

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

What you’ll be doing:

• Manage ongoing product assortment (lifecycle management) and tracks category performance and assortment productivity.
• Partner with merchandising leads to influence all aspects related to Private Brands including financial performance, assortment and portfolio mix, value positioning and placement.
• Work with Brand Strategy team to build compelling consumer propositions and support in the creation of compelling packaging and messaging.
• Demonstrates category management expertise through use of all data sources to drive decision making and to influence merchants to support Private Brand growth.
• Drive the creation of product briefs, giving definition and direction on a new project to the rest of the team. This includes ideation, definition, and project management.
• Influences stakeholders at various levels by utilizing internal and external data, research, and customer-centric insights to drive product development, assortment, and sustainability initiatives.
• Create business cases to support new product development; sell in product ideas to merchants.
• Maintain Project Management Database with all information / changes for new product development projects.
• Oversee & drive the management of new product development and maintenance projects from Define to Launch in support of category growth strategies.
• Leads category annual planning by working with Brand Strategy team to drive connecting between brand strategy to individual categories.
• Analyze and interprets consumer and industry trends and maintains competitive research.
• Support Product Development and Sourcing team on creating tech packs and required feature/benefits.
• Responsible for the development and execution of category and product level strategies which drive profitable overall sales and margin growth for assigned categories across the North American business units.
• Partner with the Insights team to establish success metrics, review results regularly and develop business recommendations based on findings.

What you bring to the table:

• Ability to influence stakeholders at various levels by utilizing internal and external data, research, and customer-centric insights to drive product development, assortment, and sustainability initiatives.
• Have initiative, be flexible, detail-oriented and a team player.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• Ability to demonstrate category management expertise through use of all data sources to drive decision making and to influence merchants to support Private Brand growth.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, corporate environment with a professional and positive attitude.
• The willingness to work to tight deadlines in high pressured environments without compromising on work quality.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Analytical thinker and problem solver, with the ability to use the data to tell a story and drive the business.

Qualifications :

What’s needed- Basic Qualifications:

• 4 years of relevant experience with strong analytical skills

What’s needed- Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience

We Offer:

• Flexible PTO (22 days) and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays)
• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more perks and benefits
• Hybrid work schedule: minimum 3 days onsite

Interested in joining the team? Check out our perks and benefits !

Staples believes Inclusion is a verb and we encourage diversity of thinking and ideas as well as backgrounds and experiences. Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

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