Associate Product Manager - Paint Segment

Guardian Protection Products; Vernon Hills (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and parental leave

Job summary

Rust-Oleum Corporation is seeking an Associate Product Manager for Small Project Paints in Vernon Hills, IL. You will support and own projects from concept to shelf, collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring new colors and lines to market.

You will analyze market trends, lead campaigns, and contribute to packaging updates while ensuring profitable product positioning. Expected travel is approximately 5% per year, with a hybrid work setup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or related field.
• 3+ years of relevant brand or product experience.
• Experience with product commercialization process and stage-gate governance.
• Understanding of retail, independent paint/hardware, and distribution models.
• Strong cross-functional teamwork and communication skills.
• Experience using Power BI and other reporting tools.
• Analytical and strategic thinker with ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the product management team and lead your own projects from ideation to launch.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to guide decisions.
• Drive new product development and collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring ideas to life.
• Develop and launch product campaigns, pricing strategies, and positioning.
• Coordinate with Creative to develop visually appealing interfaces.
• Monitor market trends and competitive landscape to identify opportunities.
• Manage product portfolio to promote new products and grow existing lines.
• Travel ~5% annually for meetings and events.

Skills

Power BI

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing or related field

Job description

Job Title: Associate Product Manager - Small Project Paints

Location: Vernon Hills, IL

Department: Product

Reports To: Megan Newton, Director of Product Management

Direct Reports/Manages others: No

Hybrid Schedule: Our hybrid work environment includes two (2) remote days/week.

Rust-Oleum Corporation is a worldwide leader in protective paints and coatings for both DIY and Professionals. We offer a wide range of products including decorative fashion paints and finishes, durable industrial, roof repair and flooring coatings and, of course, our famous rust-fighting formula that started it all.

Summary

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and make an impact? At Rust-Oleum, we don't just make paint - we create solutions that transform spaces, spark creativity, and empower DIYers and pros alike. As an Associate Product Manager in our Small Project Paints segment, you'll be at the heart of innovation and growth, helping to shape the future of one of our most dynamic and fast-moving product categories.

In this role, you'll be both a strategic partner and a hands-on doer. You'll support the product management team with critical day-to-day operations, while also owning and driving your own projects from concept to shelf. Whether it's launching a new color line, analyzing market trends, or collaborating with cross-functional teams on packaging updates, your work will directly influence how our products show up in the world.

Responsibilities

• Support the product management team as well as lead your own projects; including product enhancements, competitive research, and go-to-market initiatives.
• Assist in managing the product lifecycle-from ideation and development to launch and post-launch analysis.
• Driving new product development activities and collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring new ideas to life.
• Strategize, design, develop, launch, and support product campaigns.
• Work with our Creative department to create visually appealing interfaces.
• Participate in market research and market intelligence gathering to ensure understanding of applications, users, competition and market trends.
• Analyze and leverage data and insights to develop and formulate product recommendations.
• Evaluate new product opportunities through the stage-gate process, from ideation and concept development through market launch.
• Manage product portfolio to develop and promote new products and optimize and grow existing product lines.
• Monitor and analyze the competitive landscape, business developments and market trends to identify strategic opportunities and ensure product offering is properly positioned.
• Ensuring profitability within the assigned market segments, including supporting the product commercialization process.
• Define and develop product positioning, feature specifications, unique selling proposition and pricing strategies.

Travel is approximately 5% annually for customer presentations, trade shows, etc.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or related field. This is an entry level role.
• 3+ years of relevant Brand or Product experience (consumer packaged goods preferred).
• Exhibit understanding of the product commercialization process, stage-gate governance and documentation and information sharing needs and protocols.
• Exhibit understanding of retail, independent paint/hardware, and distribution business models.
• Team player who will work well on cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, Sales, Research & Development, Insights, etc.
• Experience using Power BI and other reporting tools to analyze data, track performance, and communicate actionable insights.
• Self-starter looking to grow their career and further the business.
• Exceptional communication, organization, prioritization, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Passionate problem solver and creative thinker, with ability to learn quickly and work in a fast-pace environment.
• Analytic and strategic thinking skills, with ability to digest complex information.

Salary

Salary Range: $75,000-$95,000 (bonus eligible)

Benefits

From big benefits to small, we take care of our associates!

• After 30 days of employment, you will be eligible for a benefits package that includes medical, dental, life, disability and business travel insurance, flexible spending accounts, EAP, stock purchases and vacation/sick days/parental leave.
• We also offer a 401(k) plan after three months of employment and offer a company match.
• Associates are vested in the RPM Pension plan after completing five years of service.
• Rust-Oleum offers 9 paid holidays and two floating holidays per year.
• You are also eligible to earn three weeks of vacation on an annualized basis.

Rust-Oleum is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.