Job Description

The Merchant, Sr. Associate plays a vital role in developing and executing product strategies for assigned categories, leveraging market research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis to inform the product roadmap and drive growth and profitability. This position collaborates closely with sales, marketing, and key stakeholders to align with division strategies and financial goals, ensures customer-centric solutions across in-store, catalog, and online channels, and partners with suppliers to set up and maintain item integrity and content.

Additional responsibilities include optimizing assortments, identifying gaps by customer segment, building partnerships with vendors and internal teams, tracking key performance indicators, and providing ongoing product support. The Product Manager is empowered to make decisions within their scope, manages sub-category strategies, and requires a comprehensive understanding of retail optimization, digital experience, B2B sales, pricing, and customer segmentation, while representing the voice of the customer and building collaborative solutions across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes product strategies for assigned product categories that align with business strategies and drive growth and profitability. Includes full life cycle management from new product inception through commercialization and existing product performance.
• Leverages results from market research, industry data, competitive analysis etc. to develop market-based insights that inform the product roadmap, decision making on new opportunities and growth strategies.
• Define and prioritize product features and enhancements based on market insights, customer feedback, and business priorities.
• Drives project plans with supporting financials, manages a challenge process and drives execution of projects.
• Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success, track performance, and identify areas for improvement.
• Build successful partnerships with vendor partners, key internal customers and cross functional teams.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to develop and execute successful go to market strategies and supporting sales and marketing collateral.
• Leverages knowledge to provide on-going product support for the product lines including market demand, competitive analysis, changes in market/competitive trends, changes in code approvals, etc.
• Represents the “voice of the customer” in internal decision making.
• Provides point of view development on customer centered platforms like sustainability, safety, hygiene and productivity

Education and Experience:

• Level of Formal Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Area of Study: Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising
• Minimum Years of Experience: 5
• Type of Experience:
  • Product Selection and Assortment Planning
  • Vendor and Supplier Negotiation
  • Market and Consumer Trend Analysis
  • Pricing Strategy Development
  • Promotional Planning and Execution
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales and Performance Analysis
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Category Management
  • Retail Operations Understanding
• Technical Competencies & Information Systems: Intermediate PC software skills using Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Skills & Abilities:
  • Analytical Skills
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Financial Acumen
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Communication Skills
  • Project Management
  • Problem-Solving Skills
• Personal Attributes & Other/Preferred:
  • Initiative
  • Resilience
  • Integrity
  • Curiosity
  • Passion for Retail
  • Empathy
  • Decisiveness
  • Adaptability
  • Collaboration
  • Attention to Detail

About The ODP Corporation The ODP Corporation is a leading provider of products and services 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. Through its operating companies Office Depot, LLC and ODP Business Solutions, LLC; The ODP Corporation empowers every business, professional, and consumer to achieve more every day.

Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification and are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates 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 opportunity to move and grow within our organization! You will be eligible to participate in an incentive program, paid in accordance with the Incentive Plan terms and conditions. For immediate consideration for this exciting position, please click the Apply Now button.

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.

Application Deadline The job posting will remain open for a minimum of 3 days and will expire once the position has been filled.

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 City & County of San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.