Senior Product Manager (m/w/d)

Villeroy & Boch; Köln; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Villeroy Boch Group (Ideal Standard) is seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead global product roadmap strategies from ideation to phase-out. You will partner with R&D, Design, Marketing and Sales to shape products with strong value propositions.

You will leverage deep product lifecycle knowledge to balance design excellence with cost efficiency, while driving international launches and sustainable material choices. This role demands strategic thinking and cross-functional leadership.

Qualifications

• Portfolio strategy & lifecycle management experience.
• Strong lifecycle management and stage-gate familiarity.
• Design-to-cost mindset with pricing framework experience.
• Cross-functional product development collaboration.
• Market and competitor analysis for growth opportunities.
• Go-to-market planning with global/ regional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global product roadmap strategies across the lifecycle.
• Define business cases, cost structures, and pricing frameworks to drive profitability and growth.
• Act as cross-functional bridge to R&D and Design to balance design with cost-efficiency.
• Analyze global market trends, customer requirements, and competitors for growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with Global Marketing and Regional Sales for international launches.
• Drive sustainable product designs and material innovation within the category.

Skills

Portfolio strategy

Lifecycle management

Design-to-cost

Product development

Market analysis

Go-to-market

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Product Design or related field

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

Key Responsibilities:

• Portfolio Strategy & Lifecycle Management: Develop and implement global product roadmap strategies across the entire product lifecycle - from initial ideation to phase-out

• Commercial Ownership & Design-to-Cost: Define business cases, cost structures, and global pricing frameworks to ensure the category’s profitability and revenue growth. Apply strong analytical capabilities to consistently hit the right market price, ensuring products are designed from the start to match target price points backed by the most suitable production setup.

• Product Development & Interface Management: Act as the central cross-functional bridge to R&D and Design to balance appealing design with high cost-efficiency without compromising quality.

• Market & Competitor Analysis: Continuously analyze global market trends, customer requirements (B2B and B2C), and competitor offerings to identify commercial growth opportunities.

• Go-to-Market Strategy: Collaborate closely with Global Marketing and Regional Sales teams to plan and execute international launch campaigns, ensuring a clear value proposition and effective commercial rollout across all target channels.

• Sustainability & Material Innovation: Actively drive sustainable product designs and circular economy principles within the product category, ensuring eco-design and resource-efficient material choices remain commercially viable.

Your Profile:

• Education: Successfully completed university degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Product Design, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of proven track record in international product management, ideally in sanitary industry, furniture, building materials, or related premium consumer durables.
• Expertise: Deep understanding of product lifecycle management, stage-gate processes, and category management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze market prices, compare price levels, and see how product features, costs, and production setups connect.
• Mindset: Pragmatic and commercially driven mindset paired with the ability to balance appealing design with high cost-efficiency and technical feasibility.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent cross-functional leadership, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Languages: Business fluent in English (written and spoken); German or another European language is a distinct advantage.

Think outside the box with us! #shapeandcreate