Product Manager - Automotive

Own strategy and growth for Rust-Oleum’s Automotive category while shaping differentiated solutions for DIY and professional users. Based in Vernon Hills, IL (onsite), this Product Management role blends consumer insight, technical product development, and commercial execution to drive portfolio performance and category leadership.

With a salary range of $90,000 to $120,000 per year (bonus eligible), you will build and lead long-term plans, guide breakthrough product development, and partner across teams to translate market and customer intelligence into actionable initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term product strategies aligned to business growth goals, including an innovation roadmap, competitive analysis, and evaluation of market trends.
• Create a 3-to-5-year strategic product plan that translates into actionable 0-to-2 year functional, business, and marketing plans.
• Support sales and finance with annual budget processes.
• Conduct strategic periodic product line reviews from financial, market, competitor, and user perspectives.
• Identify initiatives that drive revenue growth and margin expansion across assigned product line(s).
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to select initiatives based on P&L impact and financial investment, building them into a 1-to-3 year action plan.
• Lead ideation and development of unique breakthrough products and enhancements that set the category standard.
• Identify and capitalize on opportunities to expand market share, increase revenue, and strengthen brand relevance.
• Partner with marketing to bring the brand to life through content, storytelling, positioning, packaging, and go-to-market campaigns.
• Act as a subject matter expert on assigned product line(s), including product, chemistry, users, customer requirements, and emerging trends.
• Work cross-functionally with R&D, sales, operations, and customer insights to enable seamless execution and continuous improvement.
• Partner with sales teams by providing tools and information to sell Automotive products, including sales materials, presentations, and training programs.
• Direct market research and market intelligence gathering for applications, users, competition, and market trends; use insights to formulate category and product recommendations.
• Drive early-stage opportunity assessment, ideation, and concept development from concept to market launch.
• Drive new product development activities through the Stage-Gate process.
• Define and develop product positioning, messaging, feature specifications, unique selling proposition, and pricing strategies.

Requirements

• 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.
• Understanding of the product commercialization process, including documentation and information-sharing protocols.
• Understanding of retail, automotive aftermarket, and hardware/distribution business models.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Passion for solving problems and thinking creatively, including the ability to pitch ideas and welcome feedback.
• Analytic and strategic thinking with the ability to process complex information and make data-driven decisions.
• Ability to work effectively on cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, Sales, Research & Development, and Customer Service.
• Confident public speaking ability to influence senior level management.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, life, disability, and business travel insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• EAP
• Stock purchases
• Vacation/sick days/parental leave
• 401(k) plan after three months of employment with company match
• RPM Pension plan vested after completing five years of service
• Nine paid holidays and two floating holidays per year
• Eligible to earn three weeks of vacation on an annualized basis

Travel

Travel is approximately 5–10% annually for customer presentations, trade shows, and related activities.

Leadership Traits

• Technical Understanding & Business Acumen
• Learning Agility
• Strategic Agility
• Leadership
• Create New & Different
• Action Oriented
• Financial Acumen
• Effective project management skills
• Excellent communication skills across the organization
• Experience creating and presenting business proposals and handling objections

Reporting: No direct reports. Reports to: Director Product Management, Automotive.