Product Manager - Mold & Mildew Platform
Guardian Protection Products

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Product Manager - Mold & Mildew Platform

Location: Vernon Hills, IL

Department: Rust-Oleum US Product Management

Reports To: Director, Product Management - Cleaners

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 home and industry. We offer a wide range of products including decorative fashion paints, durable industrial roof repair coatings and, of course, our famous rust-fighting formula that started it all. Now, as we look to the future, our Cleaners platform is a top priority. We are adding to our team to support our growth ambitions for our core household cleaning brands: Mean Green, Krud Kutter, Concrobium and Moldex.

This role provides the opportunity to drive assigned brands in the consumer cleaning segment with an emphasis on Mold & Mildew category.

Job Purpose

Are you a passionate brand builder? A consumer-centric marketer with an entrepreneurial spirit who is energized by creativity? This is the role for you. You will manage a strategic digital-first brand and use consumer insights, category/competitive data, and business analytics to craft and implement breakthrough marketing initiatives that create a competitive brand advantage and supports the company's strategic and financial objectives.

This position will develop brand strategy, new product innovation roadmaps, approve marketing communications, creative, and content. This position is part of the Cleaners platform and reports to Director, Product Management.

Responsibilities

Subject Matter Expertise

• Deep understanding of the consumer, category, product and emerging trends within Mold & Mildew category
• Experience with EPA registered products
• Familiarity with eCommerce and online merchandising a plus

Brand Branding & Go-To-Market Strategy

• Drive commercialization and brand activation efforts working with cross-functional departments, including Communications and Trade.
• Partner with Insights team on market research and Category Management, available category reports to monitor competitive activity
• Partner with Strategic Communications & Demand Generation to develop brand-building, digital-first marketing campaigns
• Work closely with Sales team to align customer strategies
• Work closely with platform Digital Hub on Social Strategy to build assigned brand

Product Portfolio Management & New Product Development

• Own current brand performance and actionable 1-3 year business plan
• Manage product line performance analysis, trends, insights and feedback to identify opportunities to promote and grow a winning brand portfolio
• Build business cases including market opportunity, investments, profitability and growth projections
• Manage new product launches through stage gate process
• Collaborate with the Pricing team to create and maintain the pricing strategy for the product, aiming at maximizing profitability while staying market competitive
• Lead insight-driven innovation to improve product range, collaborating with R&D, Operations, Sales, etc to ensure alignment with the brand strategy

Qualifications

• Education: 4-year BS degree in business or engineering, with an MBA degree an advantage
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in brand management with product management experience in innovation/new product development; 3+ years of which spent in Cleaners category
• A successful track record of driving profitable growth
• Analytic and strategic thinking, with ability to digest complex information and make data-driven decisions
• Strong financial acumen to analyze multiple aspects of product line performance, can successfully budget and forecast, and understand cost implications of decisions
• Ability to influence both formally and informally across functions
• Creative thinking and solution-oriented mindset
• Strong prioritization skills, and good judgment managing time against competing demands
• Empathy and good listening skills to understand audience and consumer needs
• Effective verbal communication and presentation skills: clear and concise writing, executive presence and can convey important or critical messages with the desired effect
• Proactive collaboration with others: able to build commitment, foster open dialogue, and supports diversity and input from all team members
• Integrity, commitment, moral courage, and values-driven behavior
• Ability to adapt to change and anticipate future needs
• Can-do attitude and the desire to go above and beyond

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. Associates are vested in the RPM Pension plan after completing five years of service. Rust-Oleum offers 9.5 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.

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