Product Manager - Automotive

Job Title: Product Manager – Automotive

Location: Vernon Hills, IL

Department: Product Management

Reports To: Director Product Management, Automotive

Direct Reports/Manages others: No

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.

Summary:

As Product Manager for the Automotive category, you will own strategy, innovation, and portfolio performance for a key growth segment of the business. This role blends consumer insight, technical product development, and commercial execution to deliver differentiated solutions for both DIY and professional users.

You will identify market opportunities, lead new product development, and bring compelling innovation(s) to market in partnership with cross-functional teams. This is a highly visible role with direct impact on category growth, brand strength, and consumer experience.

Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development: Define and execute long-term product strategies that align with business growth goals; including development of an innovation roadmap, completion of competitive analysis, and evaluation of market trends.

  • Create the 3-to-5-year strategic product plan that translates into actionable 0-2 year functional, business and marketing plans

  • Assist sales and finance functions with annual budget processes

  • Perform strategic periodic reviews of the product line analyzing it from a financial, market, competitor and user perspective

  • Identify initiatives for revenue growth and margin expansion for the product line(s)

  • Coordinate a cross functional team to select initiatives based on P&L impact and financial investment to build into the platform’s 1–3 year action plan

• Innovation Leadership: Lead the ideation and development of unique breakthrough products and enhancements that set the standard in the category.

• Growth Acceleration: Identify and capitalize on opportunities to expand market share, drive revenue, and increase brand relevance.

• Brand Activation: Partner with marketing to bring the brand to life through compelling content, storytelling, positioning, packaging, and go-to-market campaigns.

• Subject Matter Expert on assigned product line(s), with deep understanding of the product, chemistry, users, customer requirements and emerging trends

• Team Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with R&D, sales, operations, and customer insights to ensure seamless execution and continuous improvement.

• Partner with sales teams to provide them with the tools and information needed to effectively sell innovative Automotive products. Develop sales materials, presentations, and training programs.

• 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.

• Driving new product development activities through Stage-Gate process.

• Define and develop product positioning, messaging, feature specifications, unique selling proposition and pricing strategies.

• Travel is approximately 5-10% annually for customer presentations, trade shows, etc.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA a plus
• 6+ years of relevant Product Development or Brand experience (Automotive Aftermarket experience 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, automotive aftermarket, and hardware/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.

Leadership Traits

• Technical Understanding & Business Acumen: Knows the business and the mission-critical technical and functional skills to perform the job at a high level. Understands various types of business propositions and how the business operates. Learn new methods and technologies easily.
• Learning Agility: Learns quickly when facing new problems. Is a relentless and versatile learner and is open to change. Enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks and can quickly discern the underlying structure of anything.
• Strategic Agility: See ahead clearly and can anticipate future consequences and trends. Is future oriented and offers broad knowledge and perspective. Can scenario plan possibilities and outcomes.
• Leadership: Provides the essential critical thinking to determine the necessary approaches to get things done. Offers good judgement about which creative ideas and suggestions will work; can facilitate effective brainstorming, can project how potential ideas could play out in the marketplace.
• Create New & Different: Ability to recognize the next great breakthrough. Is creative, visionary, and can create and bring exciting ideas to market.
• Action Oriented: Enjoys working hard and is full of energy, steadfastly pushing self and other for results. Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully and is consistently a top performer.
• Financial Acumen: Has demonstrated financial acumen, can successfully budget and forecast, and understands cost implications of decisions.
• Effective project management skills
• Excellent communication skills to all levels of the organization. Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Is clear, concise and persuasive. Experience creating and presenting business proposals, handling objections and overcoming obstacles

Salary Target Range: $90,000 - $120,000, bonus eligible

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 nine 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.