Sr. Merchant, Category Solutions - Technology

Overview

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

About The ODP Group: The ODP Group, through its business entities ODP Business Solutions and Office Depot, is a leading provider of products, services, and technology solutions through an integrated business-to-business (B2B) distribution platform and omnichannel presence, which includes world-class supply chain and distribution operations, dedicated sales professionals, online presence, and a network of Office Depot and OfficeMax retail stores.

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 salary range for this role is $106,500/year to $130,000/year, however all state and local minimum wages will be complied with, resulting in a possible adjustment to the salary range displayed. 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

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.

Benefits Full-TimeAt Office Depot OfficeMax, we offer our benefits around the 5 facets of Total Well-Being: Physical, Emotional, Work-Life, Financial, and Community. Here’s a look into what we offer:

Physical:

• Medical Insurance/Prescription Drugs
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flu shots

Emotional:

• Mental Health Benefits
• Support Programs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Work-Life:

• Location Events & Activities
• Recognition & Rewards Programs
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Paid Holidays (as applicable by business unit)
• Paid Time Off (Full-Time Associates are eligible to receive up to 128 hours on a prorated basis in their first year of employment)
• Paid Parental Bonding
• Adoption Reimbursement
• Fertility Treatment Discounts

Financial:

• 401(k) and Roth Savings Plans
• Savings Plan Employer Match
• Commuter Benefits
• FSA/HSA Pre-Tax Benefits
• HSA Employer Match
• Discount Center
• Employee & Dependent Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• Medicare Concierge Services
• Enjoy more control over your pay schedule with DailyPay

Community:

• Charitable Giving
• Volunteering & Mentorship

For more details on the Benefits we offer, please see our US Benefits Guide.

Benefits Part-TimeAt Office Depot OfficeMax, we offer our benefits around the 5 facets of Total Well-Being: Physical, Emotional, Work-Life, Financial, and Community. Here’s a look into what we offer:

Emotional:

• Employee Assistance Programs

Community:

• Volunteering & Mentorship

Physical:

• Flu Shots

Work-Life:

• Part-Time Associates are eligible to receive up to 24 hours of paid time off on a prorated basis after their first year of employment

Financial:

• 401 (k) and Roth Savings Plans
• Savings Plan Employer Match
• Discount Center
• Medicare Concierge Services
• Enjoy more control over your pay schedule with DailyPay