Marketplace Partnerships Specialist (Seller Acquisition & Onboarding)

Our eCommerce team delivers customer-centric site experiences to position Staples as a digital selling platform of choice. Our team ensures that our mobile, desktop, and app platforms deliver the digital experience that our customers expect.  We do this through customer insights, analytics, and testing to build a strong innovation pipeline for the future and to bring products and solutions to market seamlessly. We utilize online merchandising and campaigns executed by both humans and automated tools to convert new and returning website visitors into customers. We work end-to-end with our sales, merchandising, finance, logistics and technology teams to provide a world-class, holistic digital experience, growing profitable results in a fun and rewarding work environment. We are inclusive, customer-obsessed, and are looking for well-rounded professionals with strong eCommerce business acumen to join our team. 

The Seller Acquisition Specialist plays a critical role in expanding Staples’ marketplace by identifying, recruiting, and onboarding third-party sellers. This position is responsible for building a strong pipeline of qualified sellers, clearly communicating the marketplace value proposition, and guiding new partners from first connection through launch readiness. The role operates with moderate autonomy, partners closely with cross-functional teams, and directly supports marketplace growth and revenue diversification.

What you’ll be doing:

• Identify, research, and target prospective marketplace sellers aligned with assortment, quality, and growth goals
• Develop and execute seller recruitment strategies, including outbound outreach, referrals, and category-focused initiatives
• Present and articulate Staples’ marketplace value proposition, address seller questions, and close new partnerships
• Manage and maintain a seller recruitment pipeline using defined tracking tools and metrics
• Guide sellers through onboarding, compliance, and launch processes to ensure readiness to transact
• Train sellers on marketplace tools, policies, operational standards, and performance expectations
• Partner with seller support, operations, and account management teams to ensure a smooth transition post-launch
• Monitor and report on key metrics such as pipeline health, seller activation, and time-to-launch
• Identify process gaps and recommend practical improvements to enhance seller experience and operational efficiency
• Support or lead defined components of marketplace initiatives and projects as assigned

What you bring to the table:

• Strong communication, persuasion, and relationship-building skills
• Organized, detail-oriented approach with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Analytical mindset with comfort interpreting pipeline metrics and performance data
• Problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve routine issues independently
• A customer- and partner-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering a positive seller experience
• Initiative, adaptability, and comfort working in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment
• Demonstrated experience managing a pipeline or funnel with defined metrics
• Experience conducting outbound outreach and closing external partners or clients
• Proficiency using CRM or pipeline tracking tools
• Proven ability to onboard and train external partners on tools, processes, or standards
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with operations, support, or account management teams

What’s needed- Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant professional experience
• 2+ years of experience in business development, sales, partnerships, account management, online merchandising or related roles

What’s needed- Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in business development, sales, partnerships, or a related field
• Experience supporting or scaling a third-party marketplace, platform, or eCommerce ecosystem
• Familiarity with marketplace KPIs such as seller activation, time-to-launch, and performance metrics
• Master’s degree in Business or a related field (optional)

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.