Product Enablement Operations Associate Manager

Product Enablement Operations Associate Manager

Position Overview

The Product Enablement Operations Associate Manager supports the Manager of Product Enablement Operations in maintaining and improving Ashley's third-party (3P) operational programs, processes, and systems that enable efficient product onboarding and assortment expansion across Ashley's digital channels.

This role serves as a hands-on operational partner across Merchandising, Product Content, Technology, Operations, Finance, and external vendors to help ensure products are launched accurately, efficiently, and consistently. The position combines process execution, systems support, documentation, issue triage, and cross-functional coordination to support operational excellence after the vendor portal launch.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable working through complex operational workflows. This person should be able to manage recurring processes, identify issues or improvement opportunities, coordinate follow-up across teams, and escalate decisions or risks to the Manager of Product Enablement Operations when needed.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor Portal Administration & Support

• Support the day-to-day administration, upkeep, and maintenance of the Ashcomm Vendor Portal and related product enablement workflows

• Monitor portal activity, vendor adoption, onboarding throughput, data quality, and operational issues

• Summarize findings and escalate trends or risks to leadership

• Provide support resources for vendors using the portal

Product Onboarding & Assortment Management

• Assist the Manager, Product Enablement Operations with product onboarding, assortment activation, and post-launch process governance

• Support product setup processes from vendor submission through activation

• Ensure products are launched accurately, efficiently, and consistently across digital channels

• Monitor onboarding throughput and identify bottlenecks or delays

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate follow-up between Vendor Management, vendors, Merchandising, Product Content, Technology, Operations, and Finance to resolve product enablement issues

• Serve as liaison between internal teams and external vendors

• Track action items across multiple workstreams and ensure timely completion

• Facilitate communication and alignment across stakeholders

Process Documentation & Training

• Maintain process documentation, SOPs, training materials, vendor guidance, and internal support resources for the vendor portal and product setup processes

• Create and update operational documentation as processes evolve

• Support training initiatives for internal teams and external vendors

• Ensure documentation is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date

System Enhancement & Testing Support

• Support testing, defect validation, enhancement intake, release readiness, and change-management activities tied to portal or operational system updates

• Assist with user acceptance testing (UAT) for system enhancements

• Document requirements and coordinate with technology teams

• Support system adoption and change management efforts

Operational Monitoring & Issue Resolution

• Review operational metrics and identify issues or improvement opportunities

• Triage product enablement issues and coordinate resolution

• Track and report on key performance indicators

• Recommend practical next steps based on data analysis

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and automation

• Support process improvement initiatives across product enablement workflows

• Participate in continuous improvement activities

• Recommend and implement operational enhancements

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in product operations, merchandising operations, marketplace operations, catalog management, e-commerce operations, or program/project coordination in an e-commerce setting

• Experience supporting operational systems and workflows, including:

• Documenting requirements

• Coordinating enhancements

• Supporting user acceptance testing

• Assisting with system adoption

• Demonstrated experience coordinating cross-functional workstreams, tracking action items, and supporting process improvement initiatives

• Experience supporting product onboarding, item setup, catalog operations, product content workflows, or assortment expansion programs

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to review operational metrics, identify issues, and recommend practical next steps

• Experience partnering with technology teams or business stakeholders to support requirements gathering, testing, issue resolution, and operational process improvements

• Excellent interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for working in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Excel

• Ability to manage recurring processes and multiple priorities simultaneously

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, supply chain, information systems, merchandising, or related field

Experience

• Experience working with marketplace enablement platforms (e.g., Rithum, Mirakl, CommerceHub)

• Experience with AI applications and building AI workflows (preferred but not required)

• Background in e-commerce or retail operations

• Experience in furniture, home furnishings, or consumer products industry

Key Attributes for Success

The ideal candidate for this role is a persistent self-starter who is comfortable with both structured execution and manual follow-through. A strong sense of ownership, attention to detail, and willingness to take on hands-on operational work will be important as the team continues improving processes, supporting the vendor portal, and enabling automation.

Success Factors

• Hands-on operational approach - willing to dig into details

• Ownership mentality - takes responsibility for outcomes

• Attention to detail - ensures accuracy and quality

• Process-oriented thinking - understands workflows and dependencies

• Collaborative mindset - works well across teams

• Problem-solver - identifies issues and develops solutions

• Adaptable - comfortable with change and evolving priorities

• Persistent follow-through - ensures completion of tasks and initiatives

Working Relationships

Internal Partners

• Merchandising teams

• Product Content teams

• Technology/IT teams

• Operations teams

• Finance teams

• Vendor Management teams

External Partners

• Third-party vendors

• Marketplace platform providers

• External system vendors

Key Performance Indicators

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Vendor portal uptime, adoption, and user satisfaction

• Product onboarding throughput and cycle time

• Data quality and accuracy of product launches

• Issue resolution time and effectiveness

• Process documentation completeness and quality

• Cross-functional coordination efficiency

• System enhancement and testing support quality

• Operational metrics improvement trends

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge e-commerce and marketplace technologies

• Collaborative and dynamic work environment

• Professional development and growth opportunities

• Exposure to cross-functional business operations

• Opportunity to shape operational processes and systems

About Ashley Furniture Industries

Ashley Furniture Industries is the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world and the #1 furniture retailer in North America. We are committed to being your trusted partner and style leader for the home. This commitment has made us the top-selling furniture brand in North America and one of the world's best-selling furniture brands with over 1,000 locations worldwide.

As we continue to expand our digital channels and third-party marketplace presence, the Product Enablement Operations team plays a critical role in ensuring our products are accurately and efficiently available to customers across all platforms.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ashley Furniture Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.