Product & Category Manager; Soft Furnishings Job Lisburn area,Northern Ireland UK,Management

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