Product Manager (m/w/d)

0001 Villeroy & Boch AG; Mettlach; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Villeroy & Boch AG is seeking a Category Manager to drive 2–5 year product strategies for Taps & Fittings across markets, contributing to profitability and growth. You will shepherd end-to-end launches, coordinate with R&D, marketing, and regional teams, and guide lifecycle changes to meet design, usability, and compliance goals.

The role requires 5+ years in product/brand management, strong financial acumen, and fluency in English, with SAP and MS Excel proficiency. Based in Mettlach, Germany.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Marketing, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: At least 5 years of practical experience in product or brand management—ideally managing complex, technical, or design-oriented industrial products.
• Commercial & Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial planning, trade marketing, pricing structures, and business case modeling (DB1, margins, volume).
• Technical & Design Affinity: Ability to read technical drawings, understand industrial production processes, and collaborate effectively with designers and engineers.
• Working Style & Mindset: High initiative, structured problem-solving attitude, and flexibility in a dynamic environment. Strong team player with a clear drive to get things done.
• Tools & Languages: Very good MS Office skills (particularly Excel); SAP experience is an advantage. Fluent English is essential; German language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Execute the 2–5 year product strategy for Taps & Fittings across assigned markets, aligning with regional brand, portfolio, and commercial strategies. Take co-accountability for profitability (DB1), turnover, and volume development.
• End-to-End Product Launches: Steer product concepts that balance superior design, smart functionality, ergonomics, and regional usability. Own the business case throughout the stage-gate process and manage cross-functional launch initiatives across Retail, E-Commerce, and Project channels.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Lifecycle Management: Serve as the central link between Technical R&D, Regional Commercial teams, and Marketing. Steer lifecycle modifications (local compliance, quality, value engineering, feature upgrades) and initiate targeted sales and promotional measures.
• Market & Trend Intelligence: Conduct structured market, competitor, and trend analyses. Identify consumer behavior patterns, smart bathroom innovations, and emerging technologies, translating them into actionable New Product Development (NPD) briefs.

Skills

Category management

Product strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Market analysis

Financial modelling

Problem solving

MS Excel

English fluency

Education

University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Marketing

Tools

MS Excel

SAP

Job description

Shape & Create - And make it happen! The Villeroy & Boch Group with its Ideal Standard brand is one of the world's leading manufacturers in the ceramics and lifestyle sector. With our innovative and stylish products from the Dining & Lifestyle and Bath & Wellness segments, we have been creating moments and rooms to feel good in since 1748. Our success is based on the passion, design expertise and innovative strength of our more than 13,000 employees in 42 countries. Want to become part of us? #shapeandcreate

Your Role & Responsibilities

Category Management: Execute the 2–5 year product strategy for Taps & Fittings across assigned markets, aligning with regional brand, portfolio, and commercial strategies. Take co-accountability for profitability (DB1), turnover, and volume development.

End-to-End Product Launches: Steer product concepts that balance superior design, smart functionality, ergonomics, and regional usability. Own the business case throughout the stage-gate process and manage cross-functional launch initiatives across Retail, E-Commerce, and Project channels.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Lifecycle Management: Serve as the central link between Technical R&D, Regional Commercial teams, and Marketing. Steer lifecycle modifications (local compliance, quality, value engineering, feature upgrades) and initiate targeted sales and promotional measures.

Market & Trend Intelligence: Conduct structured market, competitor, and trend analyses. Identify consumer behavior patterns, smart bathroom innovations, and emerging technologies, translating them into actionable New Product Development (NPD) briefs.

What You Bring

Educational Background: University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Marketing, or a related field.

Professional Experience: At least 5 years of practical experience in product or brand management—ideally managing complex, technical, or design-oriented industrial products.

Commercial & Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial planning, trade marketing, pricing structures, and business case modeling (DB1, margins, volume).

Technical & Design Affinity: Ability to read technical drawings, understand industrial production processes, and collaborate effectively with designers and engineers.

Working Style & Mindset: High initiative, structured problem-solving attitude, and flexibility in a dynamic environment. Strong team player with a clear drive to get things done.

Tools & Languages: Very good MS Office skills (particularly Excel); SAP experience is an advantage. Fluent English is essential; German language skills are a plus.

Think outside the box with us! #shapeandcreate

Welcome to the global job portal of the Villeroy & Boch Group! The Villeroy & Boch Group is one of the global leaders in premium dining & lifestyle, as well as bathroom and wellness products. Founded in 1748 and headquartered in Mettlach, Germany, the company stands for innovation, design and quality. With its two main brands Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard, the Group has about 12.000 employees and is present in around 140 countries worldwide.