Product & Category Manager; Soft Furnishings

Position: Product & Category Manager (Soft Furnishings)
VANRATH is exclusively retained by a leading Northern Ireland manufacturer and supplier of window coverings and soft furnishings on the appointment of a Product & Category Manager (Window Coverings) to lead the development and commercial success of their soft furnishings portfolio. Reporting to the Marketing Director, this is a senior product leadership role. You will own the product strategy, lead range development and selection, manage international supplier relationships and work cross-functionally to bring commercially successful ranges to market.

Permanent, full time Lisburn based, with travel as required Competitive salary

The Role Develop and own the product and category strategy, including a clear roadmap for new ranges, enhancements and rationalisation Lead range development and selection using customer insight, market evidence, design trends and commercial objectives Own product specifications, technical data, installation guidance and product documentation Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, setting expectations for innovation, quality, lead times and cost Lead supplier reviews and development plans alongside Procurement, Supply Chain and Quality Maintain ongoing competitor benchmarking across range, design, price, service and digital experience Identify market gaps and growth opportunities, presenting recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team Lead cross-functional launch planning, partnering with Marketing on positioning and content and with Sales on go-to-market plans and pricing Monitor category revenue, margin, mix and adoption, recommending corrective actions where needed Act as the senior product expert, developing and delivering structured training across Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Operations

The Ideal Candidate Significant experience in product management, category management or commercial product leadership Background in window coverings, soft furnishings, interiors, home improvement, textiles or a closely related sector Proven track record developing, selecting and launching commercially successful product ranges Strong commercial skills (pricing, margins, business cases, performance analysis) Experience managing international suppliers and leading cross-functional projects Excellent communication and presentation skills Experience in made-to-measure or configurable product environments would be a strong advantage

Skills:

Product Manager Window Coverings Soft Furnishings Range Development Category Management Blinds Interiors Benefits:
Life & Health Ins Discounts