Product Manager - Small Paints

RPM SPG; Vernon Hills (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Rust-Oleum Corporation in Vernon Hills, IL, is seeking a Product Manager for Small Project Paints. The role is hybrid, reporting to the Director of Product Marketing, and focuses on driving innovation and go-to-market campaigns for spray paints.

You will collaborate with R&D, sales, and supply chain to shape product strategies, develop materials, and train sales teams. The position requires strong PM skills, broad market knowledge, and a data-driven mindset.

Qualifications

• Experience in product development and brand management.
• Strong project management across multiple projects.
• Data-driven decision making with market research.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an innovation strategy for segment and market expansion.
• Provide sales teams with tools and information to sell spray paint products.
• Develop sales materials, presentations, and training programs.
• Collaborate with R&D, sales, and supply chain to execute initiatives.
• Prioritize, design, launch, and support product campaigns.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and threats.
• Establish KPIs to measure product success.
• Direct market research and intelligence gathering for applications and trends.
• Develop category and product recommendations from data insights.
• Lead ideation and concept development from ideation to market launch.
• Manage product portfolio and promote new products while growing existing lines.
• Monitor competitive landscape and market developments for strategic positioning.
• Develop strategic roadmaps for key product segments.

Skills

Project management

Analytic thinking

Public speaking

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Product Manager, Small Project Paints

Location: Vernon Hills, IL (Hybrid)

Department: Product

Reports To: Director of Product Marketing

Rust-Oleum Corporation is a worldwide leader in protective paints and coatings for both home and industry. 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy for segment, identifying new opportunities for product development and market expansion.
• Work closely with sales teams to provide them with the tools and information needed to effectively sell innovative spray paint products.
• Develop sales materials, presentations, and training programs.
• Collaborate with various departments, including R&D, sales, and supply chain, to ensure alignment and successful execution of innovation initiatives.
• Prioritize, strategize, design, develop, launch, and support product campaigns.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and threats.
• Create exceptional user experiences, working with our Creative department visually appealing interfaces with target audience.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success.
• Direct 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 category and product recommendations.
• Conduct early-stage opportunity assessment, ideation and concept development for a new product opportunity from ideation to 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.
• Developing strategic plans and innovating roadmaps for key product segments.
• Driving new product development activities through Stage-Gate product management and market research.
• Ensuring profitability within the assigned market segments, including supporting the product commercialization process.
• Define and develop product positioning, messaging, feature specifications, unique selling proposition and pricing strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 6+ years of relevant Product, Product Development or Brand experience (consumer packaged good preferred).
• Strong new product development experience required.
• Exhibit understanding of the product commercialization process and documentation and information sharing needs and protocols.
• Exhibit understanding of retail, independent paint/hardware, and distribution business models.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Passionate problem solver and creative thinker, with ability to pitch new ideas and be open to feedback.
• Analytic and strategic thinking skills, with ability to digest complex information and make data-driven decisions.
• Team player who will work well on cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, Sales, Research & Development, Customer Service, etc.
• Confident public speaker with the ability to influence senior level management.
• Travel is approximately 5% annually for customer presentations, trade shows, etc.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary Range: $85,000 - $125,0000, bonus eligible
• 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 nine paid holidays and two floating holidays per year.
• You are also eligible to earn three weeks of vacation on an annualized basis.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.