NPD Admin

NPD Admin – Design and Development – Parker Knoll

WHO ARE SOFA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL?

Sofa Brands International is a market leader, with a turnover of close to £70m, and home to four unique sofa brands: Duresta, Parker Knoll, G Plan, The Lounge Co.

Our range of contemporary and classic styles reflect the individual needs and lifestyles of our customers and can be found in 600 retail outlets across the UK. Sofa Brands International has a collective heritage of over 500 years’ experience in the industry. With a wealth of design, manufacturing, sales, and marketing talent, we are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to British-made, handcrafted furniture.

At the heart of the group lies great British design and craftsmanship. Every piece of furniture from SBI’s four brands is made by hand in purpose-built factories in Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire. The group excels in combining the best of traditional furniture making methods with cutting-edge techniques.

At Sofa Brands International, we work hard to offer the best in the industry and we’re the largest manufacturer of quality sofas in UK. Our employees are the lifeblood of SBI; the group currently employs 650 people.

Job Overview

As a key team member of the design and development team, the role holder’s key duties will be but not limited to:

To provide administrative support to the Design & Development department to ensure smooth day to day running of the department and new model introductions are delivered on time.

Key point of contact across the business for Design and Development based queries.

• General organisation of the department on a day-to-day basis:

o Internal Purchase Orders

o External Purchase Orders

o Liaising with suppliers and our overseas cutting and sewing factory.

• Monitoring D&D furniture, material usage and componentry stock levels to ensure realistic stock transfers and stock adjustments are processed on a regular basis.
• Obtaining quotations from suppliers on all new models, including monitoring and record keeping of new fabrics and leathers coming through development.
• Setting up new suppliers following the Company procedures.
• Regular maintenance of documentation to ensure all departments are working on the most up to date information.
• Working closely with development upholsterers to complete model information packages to ensure model introductions run smoothly from development into production.

o Foam & Fibre Specifications

o Upholstery Methods

o Quality Standards

o Weights and Measurements

o Leg Set Guides

• Updating & recording Monthly Budget Tracker & Stock Adjustments.
• Recording of ECN’s and ensuring these are completed within the targets set out in the KPI’s.
• Minuting/Documenting meetings when required.
• Answering Customer Service Queries in a timely manner.
• Help where required with our annual programme of external shows and exhibitions.
• Ensure Health & Safety Policy is adhered to by keeping a clean and safe working environment.
• Points above are key areas, but the role is not limited to these; the business may call upon you to support elsewhere when appropriate with the relevant training.
• This role may require the post holder to work at alternative locations which may entail overnight accommodations and will be arranged by SBI.
• Where business demands it there is an expectation that post holders will contribute resource with additional shifts which will incur uplift payments or time in lieu.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Organisational skills
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritise their workload effectively
• Strong IT skills: Proficient in using, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Expereince and qualities we value:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Highly organised, with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.

Diversity

At Sofa Brands International, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our people, our customers, and our wider community that we live in.

Sofa Brands International is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will never discriminate against any applicant or employee based on age, race, colour, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship, marital status or civil partnership/union status, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable country or local laws.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can support you appropriately.

Pay: £26,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person