Field Bedding Training Specialist

Summary
The Bedding Specialist serves as the dedicated brand expert for our in-house mattress portfolio, including:
Resident Home brands such as Nectar and DreamCloud, supporting the Mattress Firm account. The primary mission is to empower Mattress Firm teams through high-impact training and consistent on-site support for our specific lineup. This role focuses on the successful onboarding of new employees and maintaining a regular cadence of visits to ensure sales associates are experts in the unique features and value of our brands. By partnering closely with Mattress Firm leadership, the specialist ensures that their teams are fully equipped to represent our products with confidence.
Key Responsibilities
Product-Specific Onboarding: Lead training efforts for new Mattress Firm hires, providing a deep-dive introduction to our in-house brand portfolio to ensure they are "sales-ready" and confident in our products from their first day. This will be accomplished by attending and presenting at the customers’ new hire training classes and one on one training
Strategic Training Cadence: Execute regular store visits to maintain a high level of proficiency among existing staff. Focus on the unique value propositions of our current and upcoming mattress lines and how they position within the broader retail environment
Leadership & Market Partnership: Collaborate with Mattress Firm leadership to align on performance goals for our brands. Participate in divisional leadership meetings (QLM) to discuss district and regional performance of our assortment
Merchandising & Presentation Support: Ensure our brand presence remains at the highest standard. This includes as applicable supporting the proper display of our products, maintaining point-of-purchase (POP) materials, and partnering with applicable leaders in identifying opportunities for optimized placement of our brands within the store
Field Insights & Reporting: Utilize visit recaps to capture real-time data on how our brands are performing.
Document action plans and share field observations with executive leadership to help drive the strategic direction of the partnership.
Professional Expertise: Maintain an expert-level understanding of the bedding industry and our evolving product roadmap. Participate in quarterly team meetings and furniture markets to stay aligned with the atest in-house brand strategies and product launches
What You Bring
Required Qualifications
✅ Bachelor's degree preferred in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and sales experience)
✅ 3–5 years of retail sales and sales management or distribution center experience
✅ Preferably with experience in furniture retail and bedding retail
✅ Bedding-specific, furniture, or training experience a plus
What Makes You Stand Out
Bedding & Retail Expertise
Exceptional knowledge of bedding, retail, sales, and training operations processes
Deep understanding of mattress features, construction, and value propositions
Ability to translate product knowledge into compelling sales training
Training & Presentation Skills
Ability to effectively facilitate training and/or presentations in front of small and large audiences
Confident, engaging, and approachable training style
Skilled at onboarding new hires and developing tenured retail teams
Time Management & Organization
Excellent ability to execute consistent store visits, manage multiple priorities, coordinate travel schedules, and complete timely documentation and reporting
Strategic Partnership Management
Ability to collaborate with partner leadership, participate in divisional meetings, align on performance goals, and develop actionable local market plans
Relationship Building & Influence
Proven ability to establish high-trust relationships, proactively resolve concerns, and serve as a credible consultant modeling company values
Communication Skills
Exceptional verbal and written abilities to deliver training, build retail partnerships, and provide clear, actionable reporting to executive leadership teams
Agility & Adaptability
Strong skills in agility, with the ability to pivot easily when directions and priorities change on short notice
Technical Skills
Strong skills in MS Office Suite or similar office software
Culture & Impact
By fostering a deep partnership with Mattress Firm, you ensure that our in-house brands remain a top choice for guests seeking quality and value in their sleep experience. You'll model our Core and Growth Values in all interactions, promoting our brand's leadership in style, quality, and value.
Schedule & Travel Expectations
Minimum 45 hours per week (more during Market events, holiday seasons, or blackout periods)
95% travel – Regular attendance at assigned stores and other places of business is an essential function of this position
Field-based role – most, if not all, job functions are performed in the field
Will regularly travel to other locations, at times on short notice
Physical Requirements
Seeing: Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
Hearing & Speaking: Must be able to hear, understand, and communicate effectively
Sitting/Standing/Walking: Will remain on feet and move about for extended periods
Lifting/Carrying: Up to 25 lbs.
Pulling/Pushing: Transporting loads up to 40 lbs.
Work Environment: Predominately retail/office/warehouse environments
Compensation: Annual Salary = $72,000 - $80,000. Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
Profit sharing is available to eligible employees; this discretionary program is dependent on the profitability of the company.
Benefits: When you join our family, you are eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefits programs which includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life/Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, 401(k), Paid Holidays, 80 hours paid vacation and 40 hours of California Paid Sick Leave. Benefits may vary based on position and location, so we encourage you to speak with the recruiting team during the interview process.
Why Join Ashley?
Make a Real Impact
Serve as the dedicated brand expert for our in-house mattress portfolio
Empower retail teams through high-impact training and consistent support
Partner directly with Mattress Firm leadership to drive brand performance and sales excellence
Work in a Values-Driven Culture
Honesty – We operate with integrity
Respect & Dignity – We value every individual
Compassion – We care about our people and communities
Creativity – We innovate and think differently
Discipline – We execute with rigor and accountability
Fun – We create an engaging, positive work environment
Competitive Spirit – We strive for excellence
Grow Your Career
Join a dynamic retail training and education team with national reach
Participate in quarterly team summits and national furniture markets
Develop expertise in the bedding industry and our evolving product roadmap
Ready to Become Our Bedding Brand Expert?
If you're a passionate, field-based training professional who thrives on building relationships, developing retail talent, and driving brand excellence, we want to hear from you.
Apply now and be part of a team that's shaping the future of bedding retail at one of the world's largest furniture companies.
This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. | Ashley Furniture HomeStores, Ltd. reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Work arrangement
Yes