Category Manager, Work Surfaces & Laminate Case Goods

Exemplis•Cypress, CA

21h•$112,406 - $168,608•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.