Business Group Director (Seating) - Holland, MI (hybrid)

Company Overview

When you feel connected to your work, you feel more engaged. At Haworth, you can pursue a career that offers you ample opportunity to build your portfolio and expand your skillset in an exciting and inclusive environment. Join a company that values innovation, inspiration, and you!

HAWORTH is a global leader in office furniture and architectural interiors. As a valued member of our team, you can make your mark on the world and reach your full potential within a culture of connectivity.

Why Haworth? Find out here!

Here at Haworth, our members enjoy benefits from their first day of employment including:

• 4 weeks paid time off and an option to purchase an additional week
• Priority Health Insurance
• Newly renovated on-site gym open 24 hours
• 401k Benefit - If you contribute 6% of your annual salary, Haworth will contribute up to 7%
• Annual bonus programs
• Company provided Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement program
• 4 hours of paid volunteer time off
• Zero waste to landfill company which provides personal on-site recycling drop-off

Job Overview

We are currently looking for a Business Group Director (Seating) to join our team in Holland.

As a Business Group Director (Seating), you will:

Plan and manage our product lines, with a focus on task seating and ergonomics, to assure successful design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and profitability of product line to ensure continued overall growth and market position for North America sector. Facilitate communication among other business groups, ensuring share of best practices, coordination and planning to avoid misalignments, and optimum use of resources within sector against product platform parameters.  Collaborates with other Product/Business Groups to ensure global strategy coordination and planning.

Some of the responsibilities include (but not limited to): 

• Manages product line segment and mix within business group to maximize growth, financial performance, and brand value.  Coordinates product and marketing plans with Product Managers to ensure optimum use of company resources.
• Defines market size, segmentation needs, and trends within product group to align product direction with market trends.
• Develops product strategy, based on market and competitive data of region; ensures integration into corporate strategic direction.
• Coordinates and monitors all new development and investments related to product line in connection with country product line leaders to optimize company’s return on investment.
• Coordinates definition of product criteria, including aesthetics, color, and texture considerations, to satisfy customer requirements.  Coordinates criteria with Industrial Design and translates same into product concepts.
• Identifies appropriate channels of distribution; coordinates implementation with Marketing and Sales departments to grow profitable market share.
• Collaborates with all countries and sectors (if relevant) to define and refine short- and long-term product plans. Coordinates resources of all functional departments in planning and developing products from concept to introduction to phase out, including product cost objective, product pricing, product life cycle, product rationalization, and product quality standards.
• Coordinates Marketing Communication strategy and requirements within business group, in collaboration with Corporate and country Marketing Communications, including catalogs, prices list, brochures, advertising, and promotion, for successful product marketing.  Coordinates implementation and monitors expenditures.
• Analyzes competitive products on continuous basis, in collaboration with Product Managers to ensure product portfolio remains competitive in marketplace.
• Maintains appropriate field sales, dealer, design, and customer relationships to remain continually abreast of product needs and trends.
• Defines training needs, creates training information, and assures training of sales members and dealer personnel for new products.
• Directs and coordinates accumulation, analysis, and dissemination of data relating to product lines within Business Groups to ensure effective and profitable cross-functional product management.

Do you have these required qualifications?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Marketing or similar.
• Eight years demonstrated successful product development and/or corporate marketing staff experience. 
• Broad knowledge of marketing, sales, product planning, project management, finance, engineering, and manufacturing processes.
• Five years supervisory/leadership experience.

Do you have these preferred qualifications?

• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Marketing preferred.
• Furniture experience, specifically seating and ergonomics.
• Field sales and field sales management experience helpful.
• Global experience preferred.

Haworth Values

At Haworth, we have a strong set of values that guide our business and help us align with our customers.

We listen to our Customers. We rely on our Members. We honor Integrity. We embrace Continuous Learning. We lead with Design. We create Value. We work to make the World better.

Join the Haworth family. Apply for this job, or learn more about the many possibilities at Haworth, at https://Careers.Haworth.com.

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