Category Specialist (Contract)

Staples Canada•Richmond Hill, ON

36d

About The Position

The Category Specialist is accountable to meet financial sales and gross margin targets for their categories by executing the go-to-market strategies assigned by the Category Manager. Working collaboratively with their Category Manager, they will assist in supplier selection, sourcing and product selection, developing and executing promotions, and delivering best-in-class product presentation for their assigned categories. This role will partner closely with their Category Managers and Centre of Excellence partners to ensure that the department and overall company vision and brand identity are upheld through a differentiated and curated product assortment developed to meet our customers’ needs

Requirements

Post secondary diploma with a focus on retail management, merchandising and purchasing or equivalent experience.
Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and assist in making data-driven decisions.
Effective management of supplier relationships and negotiations.
Clear and effective communication with internal teams and external partners.
Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines efficiently.
Conducting market research to understand customer behavior and preferences.
Identifying issues and developing effective solutions promptly.
Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs.
Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint (+ Access recommended)
Minimum of 1-3 years of previous retail management, purchasing or merchandising experience.

Responsibilities

Support the development and execution of go to market strategies by building channel relevant assortments using analytics, market trends, and vendor insights.
Partner closely with the Category Manager on line reviews, product selection, and sourcing, helping deliver a differentiated and customer focused assortment.
Collaborate with Pricing, Supply Chain, Space Planning, and MDM teams to ensure accurate SKU setup, competitive pricing, and strong in store and online presentation.
Plan and execute promotions and marketing initiatives in partnership with Marketing and Digital teams to drive sales and margin performance.
Provide presales and programmatic support for key customer opportunities, including RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs.
Act as a key liaison between vendors and internal teams, building strong supplier relationships and ensuring timely, accurate communication to stores and fulfillment centres.
Analyze category performance and system data to identify trends, support decision making, and continuously improve category results.