Associate Category Merchant-Framingham, MA

As an Associate Category Merchant for Staples, you will be responsible for managing travel and new services in both retail and online. Category responsibilities include passport photos, expedited passports, TSA PreCheck, notary, and new service development. This is a diverse portfolio with opportunities that are perfect for an up-and-coming Merchant. Be a part of a team that's leading the way with services.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a deep understanding of customer travel needs, purchase behavior, and service adoption, along with trends, vendors, and emerging offerings in the travel‑services marketplace (e.g., identity verification, expedited travel, membership‑based services). 

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute category strategies that drive sales, margin, and customer engagement using vendor performance, market share, and industry insights. 

• Own the service portfolio by evaluating, selecting, and recommending core and emerging travel service offerings, pilots, and enhancements for leadership approval. 

• Lead vendor negotiations across pricing, revenue share, funding, rebates, promotional support, marketing investment, and contractual terms to improve total economics. 

• Collaborate with vendors to develop and execute joint business and marketing plans that drive awareness, conversion, and attach across channels. 

• Manage assigned travel service categories to optimize service availability, penetration, and profitability while minimizing operational complexity and risk. 

• Own category financial performance, including forecasts, budgets, and variance analysis; partner with Planning and Finance to review and approve forecasts and clearly communicate results and drivers to senior leadership. 

• Interpret P&Ls, vendor scorecards, customer insights, and external market data to identify performance trends, risks, and growth opportunities. 

• Work cross‑functionally with Marketing, Digital, Stores, Operations, Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, and Portfolio teams to ensure successful execution, compliance, and lifecycle management of travel services. 

Essential skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum of 3 years of total experience in buying related functions (Buying-Merchandising, Planning, Inventory Management). 
• General knowledge of industry trends, service portfolio planning, customer adoption and buying behavior, operational execution, and integrated marketing strategies.
• Knowledge and understanding of financial analysis and forecasting.
• Negotiation skills, Influencing skills, verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Intermediate to advance Microsoft and Excel skills a must.
• Ability to drive sales and margin results.
• Ability to build partnerships

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, 4 days in the office, and 1 day remote
• 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. 

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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.

Staples is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 1-888-490-4747 for more information.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act; as well as with any other state and local Fair Chance Ordinance/Act regulations.

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.