Director of Category Management

Job Description

Job Description

Are you a strategic and creative merchandising leader with a passion for driving product innovation and profitability? We’re seeking a talented Director of Category Management to shape the vision and success of our Outdoor, Upholstery, Case Goods, Accessories, Antiques, and Textiles categories—leading end-to-end strategies across Retail, Wholesale, and Contract channels.

Who We Are

Gabriella White is home to our family of brands - Gabby, Summer Classics, and Wendy Jane. We are growing in all areas of the business and are proud to be family-owned and operated since 1987. Together, we furnish life's best moments, from the every day to the exceptional. We are united by our vision as well as our collective spirit and our culture is shaped by our core values: Dedication – Enthusiasm – Synergy – Integrity – Goal-Oriented – Nimble, or simply put DESIGN.

As a premier innovator, manufacturer, and retailer of luxury furniture and accessories, our brands are loved by designers and design-minded consumers for creating timeless outdoor living and transitional, eclectic furniture and accessories for every part of the home. We’re always looking for talented people to join our team and grow together.

What We Offer

• Competitive health, dental, and vision plans
• Employer paid short- and long-term disability.
• 401(k) plan with company match after 12 months
• Employee Assistance Program and Chaplain Services to support mental and emotional well-being
• Paid sick leave, vacation, holidays, and parental time
• Generous employee product purchase discount

What You Do

• Define and execute multi-year product and merchandising strategies to drive sustainable growth and profitability across all categories and channels.
• Lead the end-to-end merchandising process, from assortment planning and pricing to commercialization and promotional execution.
• Leverages deep market insights, customer trends, and financial data to develop robust category plans that maximize sales, margin, and brand positioning.
• Partners closely with Design, Marketing, E-commerce, Operations, and Finance to ensure flawless execution of product launches and promotional strategies.
• Develop and maintain seasonal line strategies, ensuring collections are trend-right, brand-aligned, and financially viable.
• Oversee and develop category managers and support staff, providing coaching, setting clear expectations, and fostering professional growth aligned to business priorities.
• Cultivates and mentors a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative, insights-driven, and customer-first culture.
• Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and results within the team.
• Guide the development of curated assortments and dynamic pricing architectures that resonate with core customer segments and support overall financial objectives.
• Partner with design teams to identify assortment gaps and opportunities for innovation based on market research and competitive analysis.
• Ensure seamless commercialization and go-to-market readiness across all channels, coordinating with Design, Marketing, and Operations to deliver compelling and profitable product launches.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to tailor assortments, promotions, and pricing strategies for Retail, Wholesale, and Contract, strengthening our position across markets and customer types.
• Advances channel strategies, deepening designer loyalty, and optimizing inventory health.
• Lead ongoing competitive benchmarking, trend analysis, and market visits to identify assortment gaps, pricing opportunities, and emerging design directions.
• Leverage customer insights and emerging trends to inform product development and merchandising decisions.
• Drive category P&Ls by managing top-line revenue, gross margin, inventory productivity, and promotional efficiency; proactively address underperforming areas.
• Collaborate with planning and operations to forecast demand, optimize inventory levels, and minimize markdown exposure.
• Serve as a key voice on the leadership team, aligning cross-functional stakeholders around category plans and championing initiatives that elevate the brand and customer experience.
• Work with E-commerce teams to optimize online merchandising, digital assortments, and storytelling.
• Identify and implement process improvements within the merchandising lifecycle, leveraging technology, data insights, and best practices to drive speed-to-market and margin enhancement.
• Develop standardized tools and reporting metrics to track product performance and inform decision-making.
• Performs additional duties assigned.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, merchandising, or a related field; equivalent work experience considered.
• 10+ years of experience in product management, buying, merchandising, brand management, marketing, or related disciplines, with prior experience in the outdoor furniture industry required.
• 5+ years of supervisory and management experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with strong interpersonal abilities to build effective relationships.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with excellent time management and follow-through.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a data-driven mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business tools, with the ability to quickly learn new systems.
• Agility and adaptability, with the ability to pivot quickly in response to shifting priorities and market dynamics.
• Thrives under pressure and can perform effectively in fast-paced, high-demand environments.
• Self-motivated and collaborative, able to work independently while contributing to cross-functional teams.