Category Support Specialist

Office Depot • Austin, TX

3d

About The Position

The Category Sales Support Specialist serves as the go-to subject-matter resource for the inside sales and field sales teams within an assigned product category (Jan/San or Technology). This role fields category-related questions that arise while reps are servicing customer needs, providing expertise on product specifications, compatibility, configuration, or the right solution for a customer's business need. The Specialist answers questions in real time or engages the right internal or vendor resource to find answers. Additionally, the Specialist supports the company's category-related expo and demo events by coordinating logistics such as event setup, vendor relations, and on-site product staging. This role reports to the Sales Support Manager for coaching, tools, and standards, and partners closely with the applicable Category/Product team and sales leadership across channels.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent
• 3 Years of Experience in Sales or Sales Support
• Basic computer skills and the ability to use computers and technology for information, and to access information necessary to complete the job.
• Proficient in Microsoft Tools.
• Proficiency with CRM (Salesforce or equivalent).
• Familiarity with vendor product catalogs and technical specification sheets
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the dynamics of cross-functional teams, with the ability to creatively problem solve
• Successful history of building and maintaining internal and external partner relationships at all levels.
• Demonstrated time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Event-coordination skills, including vendor management and on-site logistics for expos or product demonstrations
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tech questions and event-planning tasks with sound prioritization

Nice To Haves

• Bachelors degree preferred
• Merchandising or Marketing as Area of Study
• Self-starter who is comfortable researching and troubleshooting without a rigid script
• Team-oriented and adaptable to shifting sales-team and vendor priorities
• Comfortable engaging directly with vendors and representing the company at events
• Prior experience with technology product demos, trade shows, or expo events is a plus

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for inside sales and field sales reps who need help answering customer questions about products within the assigned category (Jan/San or Technology).
• Provide solutioning support — assess a customer's requirements and recommend appropriate product configurations, bundles, or category-specific solutions.
• Research and interpret product specifications, compatibility requirements, and vendor/technical documentation to answer rep and customer inquiries accurately.
• Plan and support category-related expo and demo events: coordinate event setup and logistics, manage vendor relationships, and help stage product displays.
• Escalate complex questions to Product, Vendor, or other internal category/technical teams when they exceed the Specialist's scope and see them through to resolution.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the category's product catalog, new releases, and vendor partner offerings, and log/track support interactions per team standards.

Benefits

• competitive salaries
• a benefits package, which includes a 401(k) and more
• plenty of opportunities to move and grow within our organization
• may be eligible to participate in an incentive program, paid in accordance with the Incentive Plan terms and conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED