Senior Manager, Category Development

Staples • Framingham, MA

6d

About The Position

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. The Sr. The Sr. Manager, Category Development leads in the development of strategic category initiatives to drive growth for Staples Private Brands. Their goal is to drive sales and loyalty for Staples, Inc and across our partner channels. This role marries strategic category understanding with both product development and execution. As a member of the Private Brands leadership team, they will be responsible for driving the vision and goals for the Private Brand program across the organization.

Requirements

• Ability to influence without authority
• Analytical problem solver who can take complex data and distill it into a meaningful and coherent story and use it to drive business decisions
• Structured thinker who combines data and intuition to shape product strategy
• Strong communication with skill in presenting complex ideas clearly to senior audiences
• Proactive, adaptable and detail-oriented team player
• A strong executor, comfortable with ambiguity and tight deadlines
• Experienced in navigating complex global organizations and balancing competing priorities
• Thrives in a collaborative corporate setting with a positive, professional attitude
• At least 7 years of category management experience, demonstrating the ability to build and drive category plans
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience driving growth in Private Brands is highly desirable
• Advanced skills in cross-functional leadership and strategic planning

Responsibilities

• Lead product development planning for assigned category; deliver 12 month product roadmap that supports and aligns to Private Brands and merchant goals.
• Demonstrate deep category expertise and partner with merchandising to drive data-informed decisions that support Private Brand growth, influencing all aspects from financial performance to assortment, value positioning, and placement.
• Collaborate across Private Brands org to prioritize and execute category plans. Understand how the category contributes to overall Private Brands plans.
• Identify new products to fill gaps or explore new opportunities.
• Builds programs through initiatives to reduce costs, improve product performance, and increase sustainability.
• Develop business cases to support new product development; sell product ideas to VP-level stakeholders.
• Identify key product features and gain cross-functional support for recommendations.
• Collaborate with Brand Strategy to create consumer-focused messaging packaging.
• Analyze consumer and industry trends; maintain competitive research.
• Partner with Insights team to set success metrics, review results and make data-driven recommendations
• Use data and insights to influence stakeholders on product development, assortment and sustainability.
• Identify and drive process improvement to support broader category and Private Brands team.
• Lead at least one direct report, managing priorities and timelines. Provide training and coaching to support direct report’s growth and development.

Benefits

• 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!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior