**Job Description**

**Key Responsibilities:**

- Serve as the primary contact for supplier sourcing and compliance within our evolving Private Brands department.
- Take ownership of Staples Canada's overall perspective and cost management opportunities, addressing both B2B and B2C aspects for the success of our business strategies.
- Build a reliable and compliant supplier base and manage these relationships alongside product managers.
- Collaborate closely with U.S. counterparts at Staples to leverage their expertise and cost modeling tools in developing our internal cost management tracking tool.
- Create contracts with suppliers that establish our compliance standards and conditions, crucial for long-term partnership success.
- Manage global market trends to actively seek cost-saving opportunities through negotiations and RFPs within our supplier base.
- Develop quarterly optimization strategy presentations as part of the product manager's category strategy.
- Provide monthly opportunity reports based on regular checks with the live cost management tool owned by Staples US.
- Act as the developer and lead coordinator for a cost protection file versus private label, proposing actionable plans.
- Integrate into the product manager’s development process, being aware of and responsible for actions to be taken within each category strategy’s three-year plans.
- Create and manage a supplier mapping file to highlight areas of improvement in product responsibility management, actively seeking new potential suppliers for RFP participation.
- Revise contracts with suppliers, including legal fees, quality assurance, and shipping supply chain costs, ensuring exceptionally clear binding agreements with future partnerships.

**Qualifications:**

- Graduate degree required, preferably in business or finance. Bonus: negotiation certifications.
- Deep understanding of Canadian retail standards and strong contract agreement requirements for risk mitigation.
- Extensive knowledge of factory audit requirements and the factors leading to a successful retailer-direct vendor partnership.
- At least 8 years of experience negotiating retail goods and cost models.
- Proven experience as a supplier research specialist, capable of maintaining strong relationships during fair negotiations.
- Experience owning cost management tools and translating market trends into strategic business plans.

**Benefits:**

- Associate discounts
- Health and dental benefits
- RRSP/DPSP
- Performance bonuses
- Learning and development programs
- And more…

**About Us**

Staples is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified candidates, including individuals with disabilities, to apply.

**About The Team**

At Staples, we inspire people to work smarter, learn more, and grow every day. We seek curious, welcoming, passionate individuals who enjoy finding solutions and believe that together we can achieve great things.

Staples is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome, value, and leverage the perspectives and contributions that come from varied backgrounds, including race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, lifestyle, age, education, national origin, religion, or physical ability. If you need accommodation due to a disability or special need, please let us know.