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The **_Senior Director, Merchandising Operations_** is responsible for leading the development and execution of critical capabilities that enable high performance across the merchandising organization. This cross functional role will oversee item management, business processes, systems management and enablement, assortment planning strategy and data & reporting,.

**Duties & Responsibilities** :

• Own the item lifecycle process, including item setup, maintenance, and retirement. Ensuring data

accuracy, process efficiency, and system alignment across merchandising.

• Design and enforce standardized processes for item creation that balance speed-to-market with

data accuracy and cross-functional needs.

• Partner with SDS (IT) to use AI/ML to scale reporting infrastructure and data feeds to unlock

deeper insights into assortment.

• Partner with SDS and Product teams to focus on driving automation, workflow improvements, and

reducing manual work across the item setup ecosystem.

• Oversee systems onboarding, training, and ongoing user enablement, ensuring all merchant

teams are equipped to fully leverage tools and platforms.

• Support merchant teams with tools, data, and frameworks that improve assortment planning and

decision-making. Develop templates and planning calendars that drive consistency across desks.

• Collaborate with digital, private brands and search teams to integrate conversion goals and

customer insights into the assortment strategy.

• Lead communication efforts with the merchant community and senior merchandising leaders

(GMMs). Translate business challenges into operational initiatives—connecting executional

details with strategy to ensure clarity, speed, and impact.

• Oversee development of BI dashboards and self-serve reporting tools within Sigma that inform assortment, financial, and operational decisions.

• Drive reporting automation, improve data visualization, and reduce manual reporting tasks to

increase efficiency, accuracy and drive insight. Partner with merchants to collect input, improve

usage and train on new tool set.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Economics or related field OR equivalent work experience.

• 10+ years in merchandising operations, business intelligence, planning or retail strategy.

• Strong understanding of retail and digital merchandising processes, product lifecycles, and assortment planning.

• Strong background in item management.

• Experience in BI/reporting tools, advanced Excel and data analysis skills. Experience with Sigma

a plus.

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and leadership presence.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment while building scalable solutions

for the future.

• Demonstrated ability to partner cross-functionally.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in an omni-channel or digitally native retail environment.

• Proven ability to lead through influence and act as a connector across business and technical

teams.

• Strong change management and process reengineering experience.

Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender idenity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the process, please call 1-888-490-4747 for more information.