Product Manager - Seals and Bearings

DRiV; Skokie (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

DRiV, a leading automotive supplier, seeks a Product Manager to grow the National seals and bearings brand across the full product life cycle. You will identify market opportunities, develop strategies, and lead New Product Introduction and launch plans with internal teams, suppliers, and customers.

You will manage product-line coverage, pricing, profitability, and integrated launches, collaborating with Purchasing, Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain to strengthen market position and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Engineering, Automotive Technology, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or a related field.
• One to three years of product management experience.
• Experience in the automotive or commercial vehicle industry, aftermarket or service parts.
• Familiarity with oil seals and bearings, including their applications, specifications, and basic product-selection considerations.
• Experience supporting product launches, product data, market research, competitive analysis, and financial performance.
• Experience with SAP is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned product lines and support growth, coverage, profitability, and life-cycle objectives.
• Manage NPI and NPLI activities, including project creation, coordination, execution, tracking, and completion.
• Research original equipment and aftermarket competitors’ catalogs, pricing, interchanges, and component information to identify market gaps and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain product-line coverage, specifications, pricing strategies, and launch plans.
• Manage product-line financial performance, including analysis of sales, margins, costs, and profitability.
• Analyze global sales data to identify opportunities for growth, coverage expansion, and margin improvement.
• Maintain competitor interchange files and support competitive product analysis.
• Support Program Management with product extensions and new product launches.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Engineering to support effective and timely product introductions.
• Coordinate with suppliers and Purchasing to support resourcing activities and development of a competitive cost base.
• Create customer-specific load templates and support product-data requirements.
• Assist with customer, sales, and field inquiries related to product coverage, specifications, and availability.
• Support Quality and Warranty teams with investigation and resolution of customer complaints.
• Create and maintain SAP product data, including NPI load templates, product life-cycle information, country of origin, bills of material, and material determinations.
• Support the New Item Investigation process in FileMaker Pro.
• Prepare product support materials, including product bulletins and other launch communications.
• Manage products throughout the full product life cycle, from opportunity identification and development through launch, post-release changes, stock-category updates, and discontinuations.
• Partner with Supply Chain to resolve inventory, minimum-order-quantity, and availability issues.
• Support the catalog team with application loading, image development, and product attributes that improve digital content and customer experience.
• Assist with additional product-line initiatives and projects as assigned.

Skills

Data management

Excel

Power BI

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Engineering/Automotive/Supply Chain/Marketing

Tools

SAP

Job description

Tenneco is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers, and marketers of automotive and commercial vehicle products for original equipment and aftermarket customers. Approximately 65,000 team members work across more than 200 locations worldwide.

Through its four business groups, DRiV, Performance Solutions, Clean Air, and Powertrain, Tenneco advances global mobility by delivering technology solutions for light vehicles, commercial trucks, off-highway and industrial markets, motorsports, and the aftermarket.

Position Summary

The Product Manager is responsible for managing and growing the National brand of seals and bearings throughout the full product life cycle. This includes identifying market opportunities, developing product strategies, managing New Product Introduction (NPI) and New Product Line Introduction (NPLI) projects, and supporting timely, high-quality product launches.

This role manages product-line coverage, specifications, pricing strategy, profitability, and integrated launch plans. The Product Manager works closely with internal teams, suppliers, and customers to improve product availability, strengthen market position, and support profitable growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage assigned product lines and support growth, coverage, profitability, and life-cycle objectives.
• Manage NPI and NPLI activities, including project creation, coordination, execution, tracking, and completion.
• Research original equipment and aftermarket competitors’ catalogs, pricing, interchanges, and component information to identify market gaps and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain product-line coverage, specifications, pricing strategies, and launch plans.
• Manage product-line financial performance, including analysis of sales, margins, costs, and profitability.
• Analyze global sales data to identify opportunities for growth, coverage expansion, and margin improvement.
• Maintain competitor interchange files and support competitive product analysis.
• Support Program Management with product extensions and new product launches.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Engineering to support effective and timely product introductions.
• Coordinate with suppliers and Purchasing to support resourcing activities and development of a competitive cost base.
• Create customer-specific load templates and support product-data requirements.
• Assist with customer, sales, and field inquiries related to product coverage, specifications, and availability.
• Support Quality and Warranty teams with investigation and resolution of customer complaints.
• Create and maintain SAP product data, including NPI load templates, product life-cycle information, country of origin, bills of material, and material determinations.
• Support the New Item Investigation process in FileMaker Pro.
• Prepare product support materials, including product bulletins and other launch communications.
• Manage products throughout the full product life cycle, from opportunity identification and development through launch, post-release changes, stock-category updates, and discontinuations.
• Partner with Supply Chain to resolve inventory, minimum-order-quantity, and availability issues.
• Support the catalog team with application loading, image development, and product attributes that improve digital content and customer experience.
• Assist with additional product-line initiatives and projects as assigned.

Key Interfaces

Internal: Product Director, Product Managers, Engineering, Data Content, Technical Services, Brand Management, Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Operations.

External: Customers and suppliers.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Engineering, Automotive Technology, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience

• One to three years of experience in product management or a related product-focused role.
• Experience in the automotive or commercial vehicle industry, aftermarket or service parts.
• Experience within the commercial vehicle aftermarket is preferred.
• Familiarity with oil seals and bearings, including their applications, specifications, and basic product-selection considerations, is preferred.
• Experience supporting product launches, product data, market research, competitive analysis, and financial performance.
• Experience with SAP is preferred but not required.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Working knowledge of databases and strong data-management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, and the ability to analyze complex data.
• Power BI experience is beneficial.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines.
• Methodical, detail-oriented, and capable of working effectively under pressure.
• Ability to quickly learn new systems, products, processes, and customer requirements.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Innovative approach and willingness to identify and implement improvements.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed.

Location

Preference for this person to be based out of either Skokie, IL or Southfield, MI, but will consider remote for the right individual.