Senior Merchandise Specialist

The Merchandising team drives category performance by partnering across the business to deliver profitable growth, exceptional customer experiences, and operational excellence. This team works closely with Marketing, Promotional Planning, Inventory Management, Planograms (POG), and supplier partners to bring products and programs to market, identify opportunities, solve business challenges, and support strategic initiatives that enhance Staples' competitive position.

The Sr. Merchandise Specialist plays a key role in driving category performance through project management, data analysis, operational execution, and cross-functional collaboration. This position serves as a central point of coordination across multiple business partners, helping transform business objectives into actionable plans that improve sales, profitability, inventory performance, and customer experience.

The ideal candidate is analytical, highly organized, and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while influencing stakeholders across the organization. This individual enjoys solving complex business challenges, identifying opportunities through data, and bringing teams together to successfully execute strategic initiatives.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Monitor category and initiative performance by analyzing key metrics including sales, margin, inventory management, and inventory turn.
• Develop and execute action plans that mitigate risks, address performance gaps, and capitalize on business opportunities.
• Partner across Merchandising, Marketing, Inventory, Promotional Planning, Planograms (POG), and supplier teams to support go-to-market initiatives.
• Manage cross-functional projects from planning through execution, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and timelines are achieved.
• Identify and recommend strategic initiatives using business insights, analytics, market trends, and customer data.
• Influence stakeholders and business partners to drive execution of recommended strategies and process improvements.
• Conduct competitive analysis, market research, and trend evaluations to inform category and product decisions.
• Support weekly category reporting, ad hoc analysis, and business performance tracking.
• Review competitor in-store and online experiences to identify opportunities related to assortment, pricing, promotions, and customer experience.
• Assist with product selection decisions through industry research, trend analysis, and competitive insights.
• Maintain merchandising systems, product information, SKU management, vendor setup, and ongoing maintenance activities.
• Proof and validate content across digital and print marketing vehicles, including product information, imagery, pricing, and copy accuracy.
• Evaluate completed initiatives and recommend best practices and process improvements for future execution.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable business recommendations.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the confidence to influence stakeholders.
• Curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset focused on identifying opportunities and solving problems.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with detailed execution.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Customer-focused approach with an understanding of how merchandising decisions impact business performance and customer experience.

What's Needed - Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in merchandising, project management, data analytics, category management, retail operations, or a related field.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills including formulas, reporting, analysis, and data interpretation.
• Experience managing projects, timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to analyze data and make business recommendations.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced business environment.

What's Needed - Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting merchandising, retail, category management, inventory planning, promotional planning, or marketing functions.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of retail performance drivers.
• Experience conducting market research, competitive analysis, and trend monitoring.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority.
• Creative and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Experience using data to identify opportunities and improve business performance.

Get great perks.  

• Bonus plan and generous amount of paid time off, including one Floating Holiday each year  
• Flexible work arrangements, including flexible work hours 
• 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance with many more optional benefits  
• Associate store discount and more perks (discounts on mobile plans, movie tickets, etc.)  

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, geography, business considerations, and internal equity.In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for bonuses, or other forms of variable compensation. 

#LI-KA1