Category Specialist

: 1230646

**Who we are**:
As the Working and Learning Company, we at Staples Canada, are dynamic, inspiring partners to our customers and the communities in which we live. At Staples, we inspire people to work smarter, learn more and grow every day. We look for people who are curious, approachable and passionate, and who enjoy finding solutions.

If that’s you, let’s work, learn and grow together.

**We are building an inclusive and diverse team**:
Staples Canada is creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. We welcome, value and thrive on perspectives and contributions from backgrounds that vary by race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion or physical ability. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

**Some of what you will do**:
As Category Specialist, you will be accountable to meet financial sales and gross margin targets for their categories. Working collaboratively with the Category Manager, you will assist in sourcing and building assortments, developing promotions, setting pricing, and delivering best-in-class presentation to drive sustained growth and capture market share. This role will partner closely with across our Merchandise, Strategy, Planning and Allocation teams. Each day will be fast-paced, challenging, rewarding and meaningful.

**Specifically, you will**:

- Develop channel-relevant assortments leveraging solid analytics, industry trends and vendor/brand insights.
- Proactively seek out category insights from vendors and external sources of information
- Onboard and set up new SKUs by collecting all required content from vendor partners and following established set-up guidelines
- Set and maintain pricing, ensuring it is in line with pricing policies and strategies for the category.
- Work collaboratively with members of the marketing and web operations teams to plan marketing based on activity calendar
- Develop and help negotiate funding for promotions to drive sales and margin
- Plan off-shelf promotions to coincide with Retail Promotional Planner and seasonal spikes
- Provide support to any customer-facing associates as needed regarding special orders, damages, RTV’s and general category/vendor/brand inquiries, responding to all inquiries in a timely manner.
- Manage and provide ongoing direction to the Inventory Team around seasonal, incoming and departing SKUs to maximize inventory investment
- Provide presales support to high value/specific customer opportunities
- Support programmatic customer opportunities that could include RFI (Request for Information), RFQ (Request for Quotation), RFP (Request for Proposal) and other customer requests.
- Work closely on a day to day basis to build and maintain strong partnerships with our vendors

**Some of what you need**:

- Minimum of 1-3 years of previous retail management, purchasing or merchandising experience.
- Post secondary diploma with a focus on retail management, merchandising and purchasing or equivalent experience.
- University degree or certification in a related field is preferred.
- Introductory business/financial acumen
- Understanding of basic merchandising and marketing strategies.
- Basic negotiating skills
- Required to commit necessary time to fluctuating priorities and meet the demands of the position.
- Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint (+Access recommended)
- Curious
- Approachable
- Passionate
- Problem solver

**Some of what you will get**:

- Associate discount
- Health and Dental benefits
- RRSP/DPSP
- Performance bonuses
- Learning & Development programs
- And more...

**Additional Information**:

- Hybrid Work Environment
- Periodic travel required

**Vaccine Requirement**
- Staples is committed to taking every reasonable precaution to protect our associates, our customers and the communities we operate in. To support the health and safety of our associates, COVID-19 vaccination is an essential requirement of this position. As such, all offers of employment will be conditional upon either (i) proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or (ii) proof of need for accommodation under relevant human rights legislation, and Staples determination that the requested accommodation can be provided without undue hardship. You will be required to submit proof of full vaccination or proof of need for accommodation during our background screening process.

bringyourpassion

LI-Hybrid

**Job** Merchandising/Buying

**Location(s)** CA-ON-Richmond Hill

**Schedule** Full-time

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**Employment Statement