Product Design Manager - Hardwood

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Design Manager - Hardwood

Company: All Surfaces Inc.

Location: Bridgeport, WV

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management & Design (Manufacturing/Distribution)

Date Posted: 2026-04-09T20:49:40.929

Experience Level: 6-10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in driving the success of assigned OEM product lines within the hardwood flooring and sundries distribution sector, focusing on product strategy, competitive analysis, and end-to-end lifecycle management.

• The Product Design Manager will be instrumental in ensuring the company's product portfolio is technically differentiated, cost-effective, and commercially competitive in the market.

• Key responsibilities include defining product requirements, collaborating with sourcing on supplier selection and cost negotiations, and owning the pricing architecture and merchandising strategy.

• Success in this role will be measured by profitability, competitiveness, quality, timeliness of launches, and overall portfolio health, requiring strong analytical acumen and cross-functional leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Hardwood" specialization and the company's industry as a leading distributor of flooring and sundries, this role is clearly situated within the building materials and distribution sector. The "OEM product lines" and "non-OEM counterparts" suggest a focus on both manufactured goods and complementary products that All Surfaces distributes. The emphasis on design, sourcing, and lifecycle management points towards a strategic product role rather than pure R&D or engineering.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Competitive Analysis: Define target customers, identify key use cases, and establish competitive benchmarks to inform product development and market positioning.

• Product Lifecycle Management: Drive the entire lifecycle strategy for assigned product lines, from introduction and growth to maturation and optimization, ensuring products consistently meet evolving customer needs and market opportunities.

• Design Ownership & Requirements Definition: Author Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) and technical specifications, manage design trade-offs, and oversee prototype validation to ensure product meets performance and certification standards.

• Sourcing & Costing: Partner closely with the sourcing team on supplier selection through RFQs, conduct cost negotiations, set target cost and margin envelopes, and meticulously track Purchase Price Variance (PPV) and landed cost drivers.

• Merchandising & Pricing Strategy: Own the pricing architecture and value ladders across various channels and market segments, and steer packaging, presentation, and assortment strategies in collaboration with the Marketing team.

• Portfolio Management: Manage product roadmaps, execute End-of-Life (EOL) strategies, and lead change orders with the Commercialization team, monitoring SKU productivity, portfolio Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), and successful EOL transitions.

• Performance Monitoring: Analyze product performance, user feedback, defect/return rates, warranty incidence, and compliance pass rates to identify improvement opportunities and optimize or sunset underperforming SKUs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities detail a comprehensive product management function, extending beyond design to encompass strategic, commercial, and operational aspects of product lifecycle management within a distribution environment. The inclusion of KPIs like "Profitability: Gross margin % vs. target, cost-to-target achievement, PPV" and "Quality & Reliability: Defect/return rate, warranty incidence" highlights a strong focus on business outcomes and operational efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Required Education Level: High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field. A combination of relevant training and formal work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience:

• 6–10+ years of progressive experience in product management or product design, specifically for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products or hardware.

• Demonstrated experience with compliance and quality testing processes, including managing Engineering Change Requests (ECR) and Engineering Change Orders (ECO).

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Roadmapping: Ability to define product vision, strategy, and detailed roadmaps aligned with market needs and business objectives.

• Data Analysis & Cost Modeling: Strong analytical acumen, proficiency in data analysis, cost modeling, and understanding of financial metrics like Gross Margin %, PPV, and landed cost.

• Supplier Management & Negotiation: Experience in supplier selection, RFQ processes, and effective cost negotiations.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Excellent leadership skills to collaborate effectively with engineering, marketing, sales, sourcing, and operations teams, facilitating trade-off decisions with data.

• Technical Acumen: Familiarity with CAD software and Design for Manufacturability/Assembly (DFx) principles.

• Systems Proficiency: Proficient in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, roadmap tools, and Microsoft Excel or Business Intelligence (BI) tools for data analysis and reporting.

Preferred Skills:

• Exposure to sustainability initiatives and regulatory frameworks relevant to the hardwood flooring or building materials industry.

• International supplier management experience.

• Familiarity with specific compliance and quality testing procedures for flooring products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "6–10+ years" combined with a Bachelor's degree preference suggests this role is mid-to-senior level within product management. The explicit mention of PLM/ERP and BI tools indicates a need for candidates comfortable with data-intensive environments and system-driven processes common in manufacturing and distribution operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Product Strategy Case Studies: Examples demonstrating the development and execution of product strategies for OEM hardware or similar product lines, highlighting market analysis and competitive differentiation.

• Lifecycle Management Projects: Documentation showcasing the management of a product through its entire lifecycle, including successful introduction, growth phase optimization, and managed EOL transitions.

• Requirements Definition & PRD Examples: Samples of well-defined PRDs or technical specifications that clearly outline product features, functionalities, and performance criteria for hardware products.

• Costing & Negotiation Documentation: Evidence of successful cost negotiations with suppliers, including examples of cost modeling, target cost setting, and PPV analysis.

• Merchandising & Pricing Architecture: Examples of pricing strategies, value ladder development, and assortment planning for product portfolios.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrations of how you have designed or optimized workflows related to product development, sourcing, and lifecycle management for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

• Implementation & Automation: Evidence of involvement in implementing new product lines, managing change orders (ECR/ECO), or leveraging systems for process automation and data tracking.

• Performance Measurement & Analysis: Examples of how you have established KPIs and OKRs, tracked product performance metrics (GM%, turn, returns, warranty), and used data analysis to drive product decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Design Manager role, a portfolio is crucial. It should showcase not just product success but the process by which that success was achieved. Candidates should be prepared to detail their methodologies for competitive analysis, requirements gathering, supplier engagement, and lifecycle strategy, backed by quantifiable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Typically a 401(k) with potential company match, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Including vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays, allowing for work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and potentially tuition reimbursement to support continuous learning and career growth in product management and industry-specific areas.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely 40 hours per week, with flexibility potentially available. Travel may be required to support business operations, which could involve extended hours during specific periods or trips.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for similar roles in the specified region and experience level. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications, interview performance, and the company's internal compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Building Materials Distribution (Flooring & Sundries)

• All Surfaces Inc. operates within the competitive building materials distribution sector, a critical link between manufacturers (OEMs) and the construction/retail markets. The industry is characterized by supply chain complexities, product innovation, and a strong emphasis on customer relationships and efficient logistics.

Company Size: Large (45+ locations across 23 states)

• With a significant national footprint, All Surfaces Inc. functions as a large-scale distributor. This size suggests a structured organization with established processes, dedicated departments (e.g., Sourcing, Marketing, Operations, Sales), and opportunities for significant impact on revenue and market share through effective product management.

Founded: Not specified, but implied to be an established entity given its multi-brand house and extensive location network.

Team Structure:

• Product Management Vertical: The Product Design Manager likely sits within a broader Product Management or Merchandising team, potentially reporting to a Director or VP of Product Management or Merchandising.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: This role is inherently cross-functional, requiring close collaboration with Sourcing/Procurement, Engineering (for technical specifications and validation), Marketing (for go-to-market strategies, packaging, and merchandising), Sales (for market feedback and channel strategy), and Operations/Supply Chain (for product lifecycle execution, inventory, and logistics).

• Reporting Hierarchy: Given the title "Manager," the role likely involves direct or indirect influence over product-related processes and potentially managing junior product team members or project teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on KPIs, OKRs, cost modeling, and performance analysis indicates a strong reliance on data to inform product strategy, pricing, and lifecycle decisions.

• Process Optimization: The core responsibilities highlight a focus on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality throughout the product lifecycle, from design and sourcing to merchandising and EOL.

• Customer-Centricity: Defining target customers and use cases suggests an approach that prioritizes meeting customer needs and market demands.

• Brand House Strategy: Operating as a "house of brands" implies a strategy of integrating and managing a diverse portfolio of product lines, each with potentially unique market dynamics and requirements.

Company Website: All Surfaces Inc. (Note: While the company URL was null, the domain derived is allsurfaces.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's description as a "house of brands" with 45+ locations suggests a mature, multi-faceted distribution business. This implies a need for a Product Design Manager who can navigate complex product portfolios and collaborate across multiple internal functions and potentially external brand partners.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-to-Senior Level Product Management

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to Senior Product Management: Progression to roles like Senior Product Design Manager, Group Product Manager, or Director of Product Management, overseeing larger portfolios or multiple product categories.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific product categories (e.g., hardwood flooring, sundries) or functional areas (e.g., global sourcing, pricing strategy, new product introduction).

• Cross-Functional Moves: Potential transitions into related areas such as Merchandising Strategy, Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Business Development, leveraging their deep understanding of the product portfolio and market dynamics.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead larger teams, manage more complex product initiatives, and contribute more broadly to the company's strategic direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on owning "end-to-end success" and managing "lifecycle strategy" points to a role with significant strategic responsibility, offering clear pathways for career advancement within a large, established distribution organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Likely a mix of office-based work and potential travel.

• The role involves computer-based work for extended periods, common in product management roles for data analysis, documentation, and communication. However, the need for travel suggests that site visits to suppliers, manufacturing partners, trade shows, or internal teams in different locations might be necessary.

Office Location(s): Bridgeport, WV

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates close interaction with various departments. The workspace should facilitate collaboration, whether through open office layouts, meeting rooms, or digital collaboration tools.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary operational tools and technology is expected, including computers, software for data analysis (Excel, BI tools), product lifecycle management (PLM/ERP), and communication platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with product teams, sourcing specialists, marketing colleagues, and potentially sales representatives to gather feedback and align on strategies.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week. While generally adhering to typical business hours, the demands of product lifecycle management, global sourcing, and market responsiveness may require occasional flexibility or extended hours, particularly around product launches, critical negotiations, or travel commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" classification and mention of travel indicate a hybrid approach to the work environment, where core responsibilities are performed from the Bridgeport office, but business needs may require travel to other locations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess experience alignment with the 6-10+ year requirement, OEM product background, and technical skills.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience in product strategy, lifecycle management, competitive analysis, and leadership capabilities. Expect questions about specific product launches, challenges overcome, and how you've managed product portfolios.

• Cross-functional Panel Interview: Interviews with stakeholders from Sourcing, Marketing, Engineering, and Sales. These sessions will assess your ability to collaborate, negotiate, and understand diverse functional perspectives. You'll be asked about your experience with supplier selection, cost negotiations, PRD creation, and cross-functional leadership.

• Case Study or Presentation: A potential requirement may involve a practical exercise or presentation where you analyze a product scenario, propose a strategy, or present a past project from your portfolio. This will test your analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, especially regarding product performance and lifecycle management.

• Final Interview: Typically with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Product/Merchandising) to gauge overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each project or case study, clearly articulate the business impact using metrics such as Gross Margin %, PPV reduction, market share gain, win rate improvement, or successful EOL transitions.

• Process-Oriented: Detail your process for each stage: competitive analysis methodology, PRD development steps, sourcing/RFQ process, cost negotiation strategy, and lifecycle management approach.

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Showcase instances where you led cross-functional teams, managed stakeholders, and facilitated difficult trade-off decisions.

• Technical Depth: Include examples demonstrating your understanding of technical requirements, DFx principles, and compliance standards relevant to hardware or building materials.

• Tailor to All Surfaces Inc.: If possible, research All Surfaces Inc.'s current product lines and market position. Tailor your presentation to show how your skills and experience align with their specific needs in the hardwood and sundries distribution space.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach defining the strategy for a new hardwood product line or how you would address declining profitability in an existing OEM product.

• Practice articulating complex product concepts and strategies clearly and concisely, as you may need to present to diverse audiences.

• Review key financial metrics relevant to distribution and product management (GM%, PPV, GMROI, inventory turn) and be ready to discuss how you influence them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's end-to-end product management capabilities, from strategic thinking and technical understanding to commercial acumen and collaborative leadership, with a strong emphasis on quantifiable results and process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Systems: Such as Arena PLM, Propel, or similar, for managing product data, Bill of Materials (BOMs), change orders (ECR/ECO), and product lifecycles.

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics, for managing inventory, sourcing, costing, sales orders, and financial data.

• Roadmap & Project Management Tools: Tools like Aha!, Productboard, Jira, or Asana for planning product roadmaps, tracking development sprints, and managing project timelines.

• CAD Software: Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360) for reviewing product designs and specifications, even if not directly creating them.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Microsoft Excel: Advanced proficiency for data analysis, cost modeling, financial projections, and reporting.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Such as Tableau, Power BI, or QlikView for creating dashboards, visualizing product performance data, and generating insights on market trends, profitability, and quality metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Such as Salesforce or HubSpot, to understand customer needs, gather market feedback, and align product strategy with sales efforts.

• Data Integration Tools: Understanding of how different systems (PLM, ERP, CRM) integrate to ensure data consistency and facilitate comprehensive analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in PLM and ERP systems is critical for managing product data and lifecycles in a manufacturing and distribution context. Strong analytical skills leveraging Excel and BI tools are essential for driving data-informed decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People First: Emphasis on fostering a supportive environment where employees feel valued and respected, contributing to effective collaboration across teams.

• Do Right: A commitment to ethical conduct, integrity, and making responsible decisions in all business dealings, including supplier relationships and product compliance.

• Go Beyond: Encouraging employees to exceed expectations, take initiative, and deliver exceptional results in product development, customer service, and operational efficiency.

• Always Improve: A culture of continuous learning and process enhancement, driving innovation in product design, sourcing strategies, and lifecycle management for sustained competitive advantage.

• Let's Go!: A proactive, energetic, and action-oriented mindset that drives execution and embraces challenges with enthusiasm.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The company's structure and values promote close collaboration between departments, ensuring that product design is aligned with sourcing capabilities, marketing strategies, and operational realities.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making are expected to be grounded in data, encouraging objective analysis and constructive debate to arrive at optimal solutions.

• Shared Ownership: A collective approach to product success, where different teams contribute their expertise towards common goals like profitability, quality, and market competitiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values ("People First, Do Right, Go Beyond, Always Improve, & Let's Go!") suggest a dynamic, results-oriented culture that values integrity, continuous improvement, and proactive problem-solving. Understanding these values will be key for cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Differentiation and Cost: A key challenge will be to ensure assigned product lines are technically differentiated and meet customer needs while remaining cost-effective for distribution and competitive in the market.

• Managing a Diverse Portfolio: Effectively managing the lifecycle of multiple OEM and non-OEM product lines, each with unique market dynamics, supplier relationships, and performance metrics.

• Supply Chain Volatility: Navigating potential disruptions in the global supply chain for raw materials or finished goods, impacting product availability and costs.

• Evolving Regulatory & Sustainability Demands: Keeping pace with changing compliance requirements and increasing customer demand for sustainable products in the building materials sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Industry Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the hardwood flooring and sundries market, including trends, competitive landscapes, and customer preferences.

• Advanced Product Management Skills: Developing expertise in areas like pricing strategy, global sourcing best practices, and advanced lifecycle management techniques.

• Leadership and Strategic Planning: Opportunities to refine leadership skills in managing cross-functional initiatives and contribute to broader company strategy.

• Exposure to Diverse Brands: Learning how to manage and integrate product lines within a "house of brands" structure, understanding different brand positioning and market approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in managing product lifecycles within a competitive distribution environment offer significant opportunities for skill development and career growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for identifying competitive differentiation for an OEM product line in a mature market like hardwood flooring." - Prepare to discuss your frameworks for competitive analysis, feature prioritization, and value proposition development.

• "How do you approach setting target costs and negotiating with international suppliers to achieve margin goals?" - Be ready to detail your cost modeling techniques, RFQ process, and negotiation strategies, using examples.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How would your understanding of our core values (People First, Do Right, Go Beyond, Always Improve, Let's Go!) influence your approach to product management at All Surfaces Inc.?" - Research the values and prepare examples of how you embody them.

• "Describe a time you had to lead a cross-functional team where there were conflicting priorities. How did you achieve alignment and drive the project forward?" - Focus on your collaboration, communication, and negotiation skills in a team setting.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each example, clearly define the problem, your role/approach, the actions taken (strategy, design, sourcing, lifecycle management), and the quantifiable results (financial, market, quality).

• Focus on Process and Impact: Emphasize not just what you achieved, but how you achieved it, detailing your methodologies and decision-making processes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific details of your projects, including challenges, trade-offs, and lessons learned.

• Connect to All Surfaces Inc.: Whenever possible, draw parallels between your experience and the company's industry, product focus, and stated values.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a holistic understanding of product management, from strategic vision and technical execution to commercial success and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong emphasis on quantifiable results and process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on recruitingbypaycor.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and any supplementary materials to highlight your 6-10+ years of experience in OEM product management/design, specifically mentioning experience with hardware, product lifecycle management, sourcing, and cost analysis.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates achievements using quantifiable metrics related to profitability, cost savings, market share, and product performance. Use keywords like "Product Strategy," "Lifecycle Management," "Sourcing," "Cost Modeling," "PLM," "ERP," and "Cross-functional Leadership."

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the job description and company information. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and situational interview questions, focusing on your experience in product strategy, competitive analysis, supplier management, and cross-functional leadership. Practice presenting your portfolio highlights.

• Company Research: Investigate All Surfaces Inc., its "house of brands" strategy, its core values, and its position in the flooring and sundries distribution market to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.