Associate Product Manager - Laminate/Board & Panel/Edgebanding

Würth Baer Supply Company; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) matching

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Sick time

Tuition reimbursement

Referral program

Employee discount

Job summary

Wurth Baer Supply Company in Vernon Hills, IL is seeking an Associate Product Manager to lead product management activities for Laminate, Board/Panel, and Edgebanding. You will manage vendor relationships, analyze markets, set pricing strategies, and drive new product development to meet revenue and margin goals.

This full-time role offers a competitive compensation starting at $70k, a comprehensive benefits program, and opportunities for growth within the Würth Group.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in Product Management, Category Management, or Marketing Management.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or equivalent.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive product marketing programs to drive revenue and margin growth.
• Assess market segments to determine the best product strategies for increasing utilization, penetration, and growth.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop demand generation programs, training seminars, and sales collateral.
• Identify and introduce new product opportunities to meet revenue and margin targets.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Würth Baer Supply Company/Würth Louis and Company and vendors within assigned product categories.
• Engage vendors in discussions regarding sales performance, promotional plans, and marketing strategies.
• Conduct competitive analysis and respond to market threats proactively.
• Assist in annual and long-term strategic business planning for product lines.
• Develop and implement market development plans in coordination with regional marketing teams.
• Support the sales process by training both Inside and Outside Sales teams on products and strategies.

Skills

Product management

Vendor relations

Competitive analysis

Pricing strategy

Product launches

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SAP

Job description

Wurth Baer Supply Company is one of the nation's leading specialty wholesale distributors to the woodworking industry, offering an extensive inventory of decorative and functional hardware, board & panel products, woodworking machinery, surfacing materials, tools and shop supplies. The company generates over $400M in annual revenue and operates 29 distribution locations across the Upper Midwest, Midwest, Ohio Valley, East, and Northeastern United States. Wurth Baer Supply Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wurth Group, a €20B+ privately held company headquartered in Künzelsau, Germany, with 450+ companies in over 80 countries.

Position Summary

The Associate Product Manager will lead all product management activities, including vendor relations, competitive analysis, product positioning, pricing strategy, and new product development for our Laminate, Board/Panel, and Edgebanding categories. This role is responsible for managing a product line to achieve or exceed revenue and profit goals for both Würth Baer Supply Company and Würth Louis and Company.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive product marketing programs to drive revenue and margin growth.
• Assess market segments to determine the best product strategies for increasing utilization, penetration, and growth.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop demand generation programs, training seminars, and sales collateral.
• Identify and introduce new product opportunities to meet revenue and margin targets.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Würth Baer Supply Company/Würth Louis and Company and vendors within assigned product categories.
• Engage vendors in discussions regarding sales performance, promotional plans, and marketing strategies.
• Conduct competitive analysis and respond to market threats proactively.
• Assist in annual and long-term strategic business planning for product lines.
• Develop and implement market development plans in coordination with regional marketing teams.
• Support the sales process by training both Inside and Outside Sales teams on products and strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in Product Management, Category Management, or Marketing Management.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or equivalent experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• SAP experience a plus.
• Proven experience in launching programs and products.
  

Key Competencies

• Creative and dynamic mindset.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive market development efforts.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Team-oriented with a disciplined and structured approach.
• Experience handling technical product-related issues.
• Familiarity with e-commerce technologies and the digital marketplace.
  

Location:

Würth Baer Supply Company - 909 Forest Edge Drive - Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Excellent Culture:

This is a company where you can be yourself with a fun and upbeat culture.

Long-Tenured Employees:

Many of our employees have been here for 15 to 30+ years.

Room for Growth:

Würth Baer Supply Company is part of the Würth Group of Germany, a privately held company netting over $20 billion annually with a long legacy of promoting from within.

Comfortable Interview Process:

Conversational and transparent.

Compensation:

$70k and up based on experience - You will have the opportunity to state your desired pay needs in the applicant questionnaire.

Pre-Employment Screening:

We test for all forms of THC at this company. Testing positive for THC on a pre-employment drug screen will disqualify you.

Job Type:

Direct Hire to WBSC. No agencies. No contracts. No third parties. Full time with benefits and PTO.

Benefits

• Bundled consumer-driven Medical (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Dental (Aetna), and Vision (VSP) pricing. New hires receive full access to benefits the 1st of the month following date of hire.
• 401(k) with matching program starts immediately. Company will match half of the first 5% of annual compensation.
• 8 paid company holidays
• 2 weeks’ vacation (0 to 5 years), 3 weeks’ vacation (5 to 10 years), 4 weeks’ vacation (10 to 15 years), 5 weeks’ vacation (15+ years)
• Sick time that is not excessive or categorized under special medical leave will not come out of your vacation time – honor system for salaried employees
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Referral program
• Employee discount
  

Equal Opportunity Employer

• Würth Baer Supply Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.