Sr. Merchant, Category Solutions

Overview

The Sr. Category Solutions Merchant at The ODP Corporation 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.

This role requires a comprehensive understanding of all current and future paths to purchase. Necessitating knowledge of key drivers including:

• Retail store format optimization and brick & mortar shopping experience
• Web dynamics, digital marketing impacts, and mobile experience
• Contract B2B sales motion, pricing strategies and vertical / customer segmentation.

Responsible for people management, leadership and development of team and has significant influence in the mentoring and coaching across merchandising professional staff.

Interacts extensively with executive C-suite level professionals both internally and externally.

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

Type of Experience:

• Retail and Merchandising Experience
• Product Development and New Product Introduction (concept to launch at scale)
• Leadership and Management
• Strategic Leadership
• P&L Management
• Long-Term Planning

Technical Competencies & Information Systems: Intermediate PC software skills using Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strategic Planning and Execution
• Negotiation Skill
• Financial Acumen
• Vendor and Supplier Management
• Market and Consumer Insights
• Project Management
• Agile Methodologies (Scrum/Kanban, backlog and roadmap management)
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Problem-Solving

Personal Attributes & Other/Preferred:

• Visionary Leadership
• Strategic Mindset
• Influence
• Accountability
• Preferred: product development experience with manufacturing and print production

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/yearly to $180,750/yearly, 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.