Marketing Product Manager - Distribution, Industrial Wood

The Marketing Product Manager is responsible for leading new product development from ideation through commercialization, utilizing a structured stage-gate process to ensure successful launches and financial performance. This position collaborates closely with cross-functional teams-including R&D, sales, finance, and marketing communications-to define product strategy, develop technical specifications, and bring products to market effectively. In addition to new product launches, the role owns portfolio strategy, lifecycle management, and optimization initiatives to improve profitability and reduce complexity across the distribution business. The manager will also engage with customers and field teams to understand market needs, support sales initiatives, and drive product adoption and long-term success. This on-site role in Cleveland requires strong project management, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization.

Additional Information:

• This position requires 30% travel.
• This role is not remote/hybrid. This role will report to Sherwin-Williams Global Headquarters located at 1 Sherwin Way, Cleveland, OH 44113.
• Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the
  Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.

1. New Product Development - IWD Distribution Brands
   • Management of the stage gate process from ideation to successful launch/audit.
     • Marketing lead and owner for stages 2, 3, and 4
     • Marketing partner and support for stages 1 and 5
   • Ensure proper cross-functional project planning to drive on time gate reviews and product launch.
   • Ensure Navigator discipline
   • Partner with brand lead in the identification and documentation of CTQ's (critical to quality) requirements
   • Development and refinement of technical specifications
   • Partnership with finance and segment in proforma development and performance to plan post launch.
   • New product validation and field testing
   • New product commercialization
   • Partner with finance to align on market pricing and guidance
   • Aide in the development of new product launch package with Marketing Communications team
   • Develop selling collateral to aide in affective tools
   • Drive product specific actions post launch to ensure commercial success.
   • Partner with Demand Planning to make any necessary forecast adjustments to ensure proper supply and avoid obsolescence.
   • Meet or exceed financial goals for new product launches

   • Support or lead National Sales Meeting initiatives

2. Portfolio Ownership & Optimization - IWD Distribution
   • Own, define and communicate time-based portfolio strategy aligning with internal SHW value chain. This should include but is not limited to recommendations to reduce risk, increase profitability and decrease complexity.
   • Lead simplification efforts aligning with division goals to reduce complexity
   • Manage Product Lifecycle including SKU Rationalization
   • Maintain product's technical information (Product Data Sheets, Label Directions, MSDS, etc.)
   • Development and maintenance of product information, including selling tools, guides, and systems.
   • Partner with R&D on benchmarking needs (internal & competitive)
   • Strategic product planning/road map utilizing Multi-Generational Product Planning (MGPP) methodology

   • Field support through product recommendations, LWR review & approval, Aurora database initiation and approvals, etc

3. Maintain understanding of market and customers - IWD Distribution
   • Organize time with the field organization to support & understand market needs
   • Attend & work various trade shows and/or industry event

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future
• Must be willing to travel 30% of the time as required by the position
• Must have a Bachelor's Degree or higher
• Must have at least one (1) years' experience working in the coatings industry
• Must have at least five (5) years' experience working with a cross-functional team of technical, marketing, and sales professionals
• Must have experience with successfully launching new products via the Stage Gate process

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a Master's Degree or higher
• Have prior experience in product management or strategic marketing role
• Have a technical background with focus in Industrial markets
• Have an understanding of distribution business model