Job Description
The Sr. Category Solutions Merchant at Office Depot leads the development and execution of product and category strategies across multiple departments, collaborating with cross-functional teams and the Director of Merchandising to drive sales, margin, and profitability. This role is focused on bringing new products and services to market at scale, leading both the strategy and execution for each product category. It oversees the end-to-end product lifecycle, develops new solutions to address assortment gaps, and ensures alignment with market demands and business objectives. Additionally, the role manages and mentors a team, leverages market insights, and interacts with executive leadership, requiring expertise in retail optimization, digital experience, and customer segmentation.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Lead strategic execution and delivery on the category strategies to increase sales, penetration and margin growth. While also leading the development and execution of product strategies for each category that drive growth, profitability, and market leadership and align with business strategies.
• Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle management from concept to launch, including product planning, development, launch, and post-launch evaluation.
• Define and provide product and engineering teams with the requirements, priorities and customer inputs needed to bring the intended product and UX experience to life, partnering through design, build and release using agile delivery practices.
• Leverage market insights and data, evaluate tradeoffs, analyze outcomes (upside, expected and downside) to inform decision making on new opportunities and growth strategies.
• Drives project plans with supporting financials, manages a challenge process and drives execution of projects.
• Track and analyze key performance metrics to measure product success, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.
• Provides point of view development on customer centered platforms like sustainability, safety, hygiene and productivity
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to drive product adoption and sales growth through effective marketing collateral, sales training, and customer support materials.
• Build successful partnerships with vendor partners, key internal customers and cross functional teams.
• Represents the "voice of the customer" in internal decision making
• Lead a team of merchants fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
Education and Experience:
• Level of Formal Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Area of Study: Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising
• Minimum Years of Experience: 7 years
• Type of Experience:
o Retail and Merchandising Experience
o Product Development and New Product Introduction (concept to launch, at scale)
o Leadership and Management
o Strategic Leadership
o P&L Management
o Long-Term Planning
• Technical Competencies & Information Systems: Intermediate PC software skills using Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Skills & Abilities:
o Strategic Planning and Execution
o Negotiation Skill
o Financial Acumen
o Vendor and Supplier Management
o Market and Consumer Insights
o Project Management
o Agile Methodologies (Scrum/Kanban, backlog and roadmap management)
o Communication and Interpersonal Skills
o Problem-Solving
• Personal Attributes & Other/Preferred:
o Visionary Leadership
o Strategic Mindset
o Influence
o Accountability
Commitment to Safety: We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for our Coworkers and our customers. All Coworkers are expected to support our operational safety culture by working safely and addressing potential hazards or concerns.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by Coworkers assigned to this classification and are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of Coworkers so classified. Other duties may be assigned.
Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule: The company offers competitive salaries, a benefits package, which includes a 401(k) and more, along with plenty of opportunities to move and grow within our organization! You may be eligible to participate in an incentive program, paid in accordance with the Incentive Plan terms and conditions.
Application Deadline: The job posting will remain open for a minimum of 3 days and will expire once the position has been filled.
How to Apply: Click the "Apply Now" button and follow the instructions on each page. When you have completed the application, click the "Submit" button.
