Are you a hands-on product development leader with deep upholstery expertise who thrives at the intersection of design and manufacturing? Our client, a privately held furniture company, is seeking a Product Development Manager – Upholstery to lead the development, refinement, and scalability of upholstered products while partnering closely with manufacturing and creative teams. This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a high-growth upholstery category and make a visible, measurable impact within a company where your ideas can quickly come to life. With direct access to leadership and a highly collaborative, entrepreneurial environment, you’ll have the ability to shape the future of the business rather than simply maintain the status quo.
Responsibilities Include:
- Lead end-to-end upholstery product development, translating design concepts into manufacturable, scalable products
- Partner with manufacturing, design, and sourcing teams to bring new products to market efficiently
- Oversee development of patterns, frames, and construction methods for new and existing SKUs
- Drive cost optimization while maintaining quality and design integrity
- Collaborate with plant leadership to resolve production challenges and improve product performance
- Manage timelines, key milestones, and development tracking systems
- Evaluate materials, fit, and construction to ensure product performance and consistency
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and scalability
Ideal Candidate Will Have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, or related field preferred with 5+ years of upholstery product development and/or furniture manufacturing experience
- Deep understanding of upholstered furniture construction, materials, and production processes
- Hands-on experience working closely with manufacturing teams (not purely a marketing/product role)
- Strong business acumen, including costing, margin analysis, and supplier management
- Proficiency in AutoCAD (required) and SolidWorks (preferred)
- Proven ability to problem-solve on the production floor and drive continuous improvement
- Strong collaboration and communication skills with cross-functional teams
BrainWorks, a Top 50 Hunt Scanlon executive search firm, has been delivering superior talent for over three decades to drive business performance. Our consultants are true experts in their fields, specializing in Consumer Products, Analytics, Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Private Equity and Corporate Development, Sales and Marketing.
We pride ourselves on delivering quality, speed, and results through our proven recruitment process. When you partner with BrainWorks, you gain trusted consultants who combine industry expertise with a commitment to understanding your business needs. Visit us at brainworksinc.com.
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Industry 1: Textiles
Industry 2: Furniture
Industry 3: Manufacturing
Job ID: 59729816893
Category: Consumer Products
Location: Hickory, NC