Manager, Category Development

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. We’re inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more.

The Manager, Category Development serves as a Portfolio Owner responsible for the performance, growth, and lifecycle management of assigned Owned Brand portfolios. This role partners closely with Merchandising and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and execute category strategies that drive differentiated growth, improved assortment productivity, sustainable margin expansion, and customer value.

The role applies data-driven insights, customer understanding, and commercial acumen to evaluate portfolio performance, recommend actions, and support product development and innovation efforts. Operating within defined category strategies and business priorities, this role contributes to portfolio planning and execution while influencing decisions through analytics, insights, and structured recommendations.

What you will be doing:

• Own the performance, growth, and lifecycle management of assigned Owned Brand portfolios, using financial, customer, and operational metrics to identify opportunities and improve results.
• Build annual portfolio plans and category roadmaps that balance innovation, assortment productivity, profitability, customer value, and long-term growth.
• Recommend when to expand, renovate, rationalize, or exit products based on portfolio performance, competitive benchmarks, market trends, and customer insights.
• Identify unmet customer needs and translate them into product briefs, customer requirements, value propositions, pricing strategies, and business cases.
• Partner with Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing, Design, Finance, and Marketing to move approved concepts from ideation through launch.
• Analyze customer reviews, ratings, behavior, and search trends, along with internal and external market data, to uncover actionable opportunities.
• Prepare and present category reviews, product opportunities, and investment recommendations, clearly communicating trade-offs, risks, and expected outcomes.
• Influence cross-functional decisions through analytical rigor, commercial judgment, and a strong understanding of category performance.
• Lead workflow, priorities, and quality of deliverables for a small team or guide cross-functional project teams; provide coaching that strengthens analytical and business capabilities.
• Continuously improve portfolio management frameworks, tools, and best practices while promoting consistent, data-driven decision-making.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear business recommendations.
• Commercial acumen and a customer-first mindset, with close attention to assortment, value positioning, margin, and competitive differentiation.
• Clear, persuasive communication skills and confidence presenting recommendations and business cases to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Collaborative leadership and the ability to build credibility, align teams, and influence decisions without relying solely on direct authority.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the adaptability to manage multiple initiatives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

What’s needed: Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Economics, or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, product development, consulting, analytics, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience leading complex projects or cross-functional initiatives; direct or indirect people leadership experience is preferred.
• Experience developing business cases with clear assumptions, measurable outcomes, and recommendations tied to commercial impact.
• Experience partnering across functions to execute category, product, or business initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel or similar data analysis tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing Owned Brand or private label portfolios within retail, eCommerce, or consumer goods.
• Experience supporting the full product development lifecycle, from opportunity identification and ideation through launch and performance evaluation.
• Experience using visualization or business intelligence tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Experience managing direct reports, coaching analysts, or leading cross-functional project teams.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders through data, customer insights, structured recommendations, and compelling presentations.
• Experience collaborating with sourcing teams, suppliers, or external partners to support product development.

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!

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.

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.