Category Manager, Work Surfaces & Laminate Case Goods

Position Summary:

The Category Manager, Work Surfaces & Laminate Case Goods owns the strategy, product roadmap, commercialization, and financial performance of the company's horizontal work surfaces and laminate storage/case goods portfolio. The category includes desks, benching systems, height-adjustable and sit-stand worksurfaces, conference and training tables, storage towers, pedestals, files, bookcases, credenzas, and wardrobe units. This role serves as the portfolio's subject-matter expert, translating customer, dealer, and architecture and design (A&D) insights into products, positioning, pricing, and go-to-market plans that drive profitable, sustainable growth.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Own the end-to-end category strategy, multi-year roadmap, and P&L for work surfaces and laminate case goods, aligned with company growth, revenue, and margin targets.
• Analyze sales, margin, forecast, sell-through, win/loss, and competitive data to identify category risks, white-space opportunities, and investment priorities.
• Conduct market research and competitive benchmarking across ergonomics, hybrid work, sit-stand adoption, benching density, workplace design, case goods construction, hardware, finish quality, price, and delivery.
• Partner with Engineering and Industrial Design throughout new-product development, from concept through launch, to ensure products meet market needs, design intent, cost targets, quality standards, and manufacturability requirements.
• Lead laminate, finish, material, component, and hardware strategy with Design, Engineering, Sourcing, and Supply Chain, including palette refreshes, supplier evaluation, locks, glides, grommets, metal bases, and technology/power integration.
• Develop pricing architecture, program and discount structures, and promotional strategies in partnership with Finance and Sales; recommend cost-out and margin-improvement initiatives.
• Build integrated go-to-market and commercialization plans, including positioning, messaging, specification tools, product literature, sales tools, launch materials, and dealer/rep training.
• Manage product lifecycle performance, including SKU rationalization, phase-in/phase-out and end-of-life planning, inventory exposure, and obsolescence risk.
• Serve as the category expert for Sales, dealers, A&D partners, and key accounts; support strategic bids, custom finish requests, large project specifications, presentations, dealer visits, and trade shows such as NeoCon.
• Monitor regulatory, environmental, and sustainability requirements relevant to laminate, wood-based materials, components, emissions standards, and responsible sourcing certifications.
• Translate customer, dealer, market, and operational feedback into clear product requirements and portfolio recommendations, while keeping cross-functional stakeholders aligned on priorities, timelines, and launch readiness.

Qualifications, Skills and Education:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Interior Design, Industrial Design, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• 5 + years of experience in product marketing, category management, product management, or merchandising, preferably within contract/office furniture, case goods, building products, or a related manufacturing industry.
• Demonstrated success managing a product category P&L, pricing and margin strategy, product roadmap, and lifecycle.
• Experience leading cross-functional new-product-development and commercialization processes from concept through launch.
• Strong analytical capability, including market sizing, pricing analysis, competitive benchmarking, sales and margin analysis, and forecasting.
• Strong project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and align Engineering, Design, Finance, Sales, Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Marketing partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills for executive, sales, dealer, A&D, and customer-facing audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of contract furniture, workplace planning, ergonomics, dealer channels, and A&D specification practices.
• Familiarity with laminate materials, case goods construction, furniture hardware, manufacturing processes, and sustainable material standards.
• Experience with PLM, ERP, product-configurator, specification, or other product-information systems.