Design & Product Manager, Premium Contemporary Furniture Brand
8 days ago
London
Design & Product Manager – Premium Contemporary Furniture Brand 50-70K + Benefits | Hybrid 3 days on site - 2 days WFH |Location (North UK) Location: North UK Full-time | Design & Product Development | Reporting to CEO & Marketing Director We are seeking a visionary Design / Product Manager to lead the full lifecycle of product portfolio development for a high-profile, premium contemporary furniture brand at an exciting time of change and transformation. This is a unique opportunity to define and elevate the brand’s design identity across international markets, working with architects, D&B firms, and global clients. As guardian of Design & Product, you will be responsible for the end-to-end product lifecycle, overseeing NPD and external designers, driving a bold and innovative design aesthetic, ensuring every product embodies exceptional design, make, purposeful function, and enduring relevance Key Responsibilities Design • Overall responsibility for the development of the contemporary furniture product portfolio, in collaboration with the senior leadership team., • Develop a strategy containing a pipeline of new products & family extensions, upholding design principles and brand philosophy ., • Managing & reporting on new and legacy product portfolio performance to the management team, • Lead concept development , after handover to NPD team ensure that design content and quality continues to develop positively until launch., • Take ownership of the full lifecycle portfolio development and adhere to the process and stage gates in place for the brands NPD process., • Reporting of design content and quality on the project portfolio to the project owner ., • Identify & communicate risks & opportunities with proposed solutions. Drive • Ensure effective communication within the team & to stakeholders within the business including Marketing and Commercial Operations., • Budgeting & cost control, • Responsible for facilitation of workshops & organisation of key events, primarily in early stages of development., • Ensure relevant best practices are in place and aligned with the business., • Planning & presentation of new product launches in close collaboration with the Brand and Marketing teams., • Present the brand to key relevant architects, design schools & large end customers in collaboration with the Commercial and Marketing team., • Maintain relationships with current & potential future collaborating designers., • Adherence to & maintenance of the design & development process for the brand (annual wheel), • Design protection and monitoring of legal protection together with the Legal Counsel. (Designer contracts) What You Bring • MA (or BA equivalent) in Design., • 5+ years’ experience as a Product/Design Manager in premium contemporary furniture and/ or soft seating., • Superb project management and organisations skills, • Proven success managing the end to end product lifecycle, taking products from concept to market., • Strong CMF expertise—Materials, colours, and finishes that shape brand identity., • Exceptional aesthetic sensibility and innovative mindset., • Project leadership skills, balancing design vision with project management, commercial focus and delivery. This is more than a management role—it’s an opportunity to define the future of a leading contemporary furniture brand, delivering products that inspire architects, clients, and end-users worldwide. We are not looking for a designer - We are seeing a leading product Design Manager to lead and refresh the brand. Please apply if you meet the criteria specified and we will be in touch to discuss this exciting opportunity further.