Product Manager

Sterling Engineering; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Naperville is seeking a strategic Product Manager to shape a broad portfolio of durable products used across commercial, facility, and industrial environments. You will identify market gaps, research competitors, analyze product data, and translate insights into actionable product strategy that can be scaled across the customer base.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years in product management focused on development, innovation, or portfolio management, with experience in

Qualifications

• 4+ years of Product Management experience focused on product strategy, development, or portfolio management.
• Experience conducting competitive research, product gap analysis, and market analysis.
• Background in retail manufacturing, consumer products, industrial products, or a similar multi-product environment.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to turn data into actionable insights.
• Ability to communicate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated career stability and tenure.

Responsibilities

• Lead product innovation initiatives by identifying market and product gaps.
• Research competitor products, features, pricing, and positioning to identify opportunities.
• Analyze product data and market insights to support strategy and decision-making.
• Develop recommendations for product enhancements and portfolio improvements.
• Drive decisions based on market and business insights, not just customer requests.
• Ensure strategies can scale across the broader customer base.
• Partner with internal teams to communicate recommendations and support execution.
• Monitor the overall product portfolio and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and expansion of a diverse portfolio of durable products.

Skills

Product management

Competitive research

Market analysis

Portfolio management

Analytical skills

Cross-functional communication

Job description

Must have Skill Set:

• 4+ years of Product Management experience focused on product development, innovation, or strategy
• Experience with competitive research, product gap analysis, and market analysis
• Experience managing a broad product portfolio within a manufacturing or retail environment
• Strong analytical and cross-functional communication skills

Overview:

We are seeking a strategic Product Manager to support the development, improvement, and positioning of a broad portfolio of durable products used across commercial, facility, and industrial environments. This role will focus on identifying product gaps, researching competitors, analyzing product data, and using market insights to drive internal product strategy.

The ideal candidate has experience managing multiple products or product categories within a manufacturing or retail environment and is comfortable making data-driven recommendations that can be applied across a broad customer base. Experience with durable, rugged, or industrial products is highly preferred.

Job Duties:

• Lead product innovation initiatives by identifying market and product gaps.
• Research competitor products, features, pricing, and positioning to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze product data and market insights to support product strategy and decision-making.
• Develop recommendations for product enhancements, new products, and portfolio improvements.
• Drive product decisions based on market and business insights rather than solely responding to individual customer requests.
• Ensure product strategies and improvements can be effectively scaled across the broader customer base.
• Partner with internal teams to communicate product recommendations and support execution.
• Monitor the overall product portfolio and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support the development and expansion of a diverse portfolio of durable products.

Qualifications:

• 4+ years of Product Management experience with responsibility for product strategy, innovation, development, or portfolio management.
• Experience conducting competitive research and product gap analysis.
• Background in retail manufacturing, consumer products, industrial products, or a similar multi-product environment.
• Experience managing or supporting a broad product portfolio rather than a limited number of individual products.
• Background with durable, rugged, industrial, facility, cleaning, tooling, or similar products is strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn product and market data into actionable recommendations.
• Comfortable influencing internal stakeholders and working cross-functionally.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated career stability and consistent tenure in previous positions.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.