Be the reason

Our merchandising team aims to deliver the best value and selection to our customers through products, services and solutions all centered around our customers’ needs. We are driven by customer insights and analytics to bring products and solutions to market seamlessly. We’re inclusive, well-rounded professionals who have deep experience in buying, selling, negotiating, operations, design, innovation, finance and more.  

The Project Management team turns product concepts into reality—driving execution from idea through launch. As a Project ManagementSpecialist, you will own the day-to-day orchestration of product development projects, ensuring work moves with speed, clarity, and accountability across cross-functional teams.

This role is not about reporting progress—it is about creating progress. You will drive timelines, enforce rigor, anticipate risks, and mobilize teams to deliver high-quality products on time, on cost, and on spec.

What you’ll be Doing:

Project Ownership & Execution

• Drive end-to-end execution of multiple concurrent product development, resourcing, specification change, and repackaging projects
• Build, own, and continuously manage project timelines, ensuring milestones are clearly defined, tracked, and delivered
• Proactively identify risks, remove roadblocks, and implement mitigation plans to keep projects on track
• Hold cross-functional teams accountable to commitments, timelines, and deliverables
• Translate project goals into clear, actionable workplans that drive execution

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Facilitate cross-functional progress amongst Product Engineering, Sourcing, Product Development, Merchandising, Inventory, Logistics, and Quality
• Drive alignment on scope, requirements, and success metrics—ensuring clarity from kickoff through launch
• Act as the central point of coordination, ensuring seamless communication and decision-making across stakeholders
• Influence without authority to maintain pace, resolve conflicts, and escalate issues when needed

Process & Systems Enablement

• Leverage systems to activate and manage projects, ensuring data integrity, visibility, and adoption
• Create and maintain high-quality project documentation, including project briefs, requirements, and milestones
• Standardize and enforce project management best practices, tools, and methodologies
• Continuously improve workflows and identify efficiency opportunities that accelerate speed to market

Performance & Delivery

• Deliver projects on time, within budget, and to defined quality standards
• Drive against defined SKU count and revenue goals, ensuring project output aligns to business priorities
• Track key milestones and performance indicators, intervening quickly when execution is at risk

Leading & Influencing

• Provide day-to-day direction to cross-functional contributors supporting project workstreams

• Build credibility as a trusted operator who drives outcomes and solves problems

Impact on the Business

• Accelerates speed to market by driving disciplined, on-time execution
• Improves product quality and cost outcomes through strong process rigor
• Enables innovation at scale by ensuring ideas convert to launched products efficiently
• Strengthens Staples Brands competitiveness through reliable delivery and operational excellence

What You Bring to the Table:

• Strong bias for action—you move work forward, not just track it
• Highly organized with exceptional follow-through and attention to detail
• Confident in navigating ambiguity and solving problems proactively
• Effective communicator who can drive alignment and accountability across teams
• Data and Systems-oriented mindset 
• Curiosity and desire to continuously improve processes and outcomes

What’s needed – Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 2+ years of experience in project management for merchandising, product development, sourcing, logistics, or manufacturing
• Experience helping to manage multiple concurrent projects in cross-functional environments
• Experience using systems to manage project timelines and data (e.g., Jira, Clickup, Smartsheet, etc.)

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• 22 days of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, geography, business considerations, and internal equity. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for bonuses, or other forms of variable compensation.

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

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.