Sr Mgr Category Development
Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
When we work together, challenges don’t stand a chance.
Be the reason — the expertise you bring to the table, your keen eye for customer insights, and your passion for analytics. So join our team and you’ll own product lines and drive profit. And we’ll help you build a future merchandised exactly how you want.
Total Rewards
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- Compensation & Incentives
- Competitive base salary + bonus on eligible positions
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- Paid Time Off
- 22 days plus 7 major holidays and 1 floating holiday
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- 401(k) Matching
- Company match 401(k) plan
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- Discounts
- Online and retail discounts
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- Wellness
- Physical and mental health wellness programs
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- On-site Amenities
- Daycare, cafeteria, fitness center, and coffee shop at our HQ
Sr Mgr Category Development
Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
ApplyStaples 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!
Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Success Profile
- Adaptable
- Analytical
- Communicator
- Detail-oriented
- Insightful
- Problem-solver
Our Culture
People are at the heart of what we do, and we take care of our people. We’re the kind of company that invests in you because you invest in us. At Staples, we thrive on challenges, we believe in the power of what can be, and we support change with purpose. So, bring your win-together attitude and we’ll surround you with like-minded experts who are looking to make an impact for our customers, our community, and our teams.
Meet Louise, Associate Category Merchant
Hear from our people and learn more about their experiences.
"What I love about this department is that every day brings a new challenge, and every day you get the chance to collaborate with a variety of different teams. This allows us to really figure out what our passions are and what we want to pursue."
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