Chemicals / PetroChemical / Plastic / Rubber

He/she leads regular product portfolio reviews and the product development process (from idea generation, to business development projects (pre-studies, OA’s, IP’s etc.) up to market launch of a new product or service. This includes the introduction of existing grades/products/services in new markets or regions based on identified market opportunities and needs. The role holder leads the development of value propositions and related price premium guidelines serving as essential input to the Sales Price guidelines issued to the Sales Managers.

The Product Manager seeks for all decisions a close alignment with all relevant stakeholders such as

Sales Manager, Feedstock Procurement Manager, Lab Manager, Production;

Objective is to establish a differentiated and sustainable value-add product portfolio continuously generating profit and with high customer satisfaction.

The role holder steers and prioritizes the market launch activities within Sales and is accountable for providing appropriate product/service information and documentation including promotion material and trainings.

The Product Manager is part of different teams informal teams in the areas of

Business Development
Product Development
Quality

Contribution:

C1. Area of responsibility

Business Coordination: Daily/weekly coordination between procurement (feedstock and fillers/additives costs), laboratory (recipe costs), production (production costs) and sales to ensure optimised product costing for any given application.
Pricing: Setting and monitoring adherence to all strategic and tactical pricing of products. Also for liaison with marketing on pricing on all products.
Margin Management: Short and long term monitoring of the volume and margin performance of the business, versus business plan, coordinating mid-long term (strategic) gap closing actions whenever needed. This is in close dialogue with Sales, Feedstock/Procurement, Production and Product development colleagues.
Planning: Coordinate the input for the annual PO LTS&OP process, to the same level of detail as provided by the Industry clusters (AD & MO)

Run the short term planning process, providing production line scheduling, (1-3 months) with weekly updates.

Product Strategy: Translate MO and AD business strategy into a product strategy, create a product road map and then execute
New product pipeline: Driving idea generation and idea evaluation (strategic alignment and NPV) of the new product pipeline. This to be carefully aligned with the PAM and Marketing organisations.
Product Launches: Plan then drive product launches, taking ownership of the business case
Product Management: Manage all aspects of in-life products, including profitability, customer feedback, requirements and issues
Complaints: Coordination of complaints between Sales, feedstock, QC, development and laboratory. This includes concluding proposals on any technical or commercial settlements. (decisions according to Governance)
Quality: Coordination of quality issues between Sales, feedstock, QC, development and laboratory. This includes decisions on customers specifications.
Stakeholder Communication: Provide insight to stakeholders on the business performance, with product and market specifics, according to the needs of the stakeholders

C2. People

Leads (indirectly) local teams and interfaces with multifunctional teams.
Ensures continuous interaction with Sales, Feedstock, Production and Lab Managers and also with PAM Sales, Marketing and R&D. Supports Sales by ensuring they have sales and marketing tools
Coordinates and supports innovation projects during the different stages of an IP with regard to customer/market fit and alignment
Ensures close alignment with all stakeholders on new product development (S&OP process) and all other relevant functions

C3. Market

Frequent contacts and network to key value chain partners, like customers, machinery, brand owners, raw material suppliers, industry and standardisation bodies in line within our guidelines and rules
Contributes to the optimisation of Sales plans together with Snr SM/ MO HoSales and AD HoSales

C4. Interfaces

Develops liaisons with key players in the value chain, positioning themselves as an industry expert in their field with a major impact on various players in the industry in line with DBM guidelines and rules
Draws on an established network of influencers across the whole value chain in order to develop the image and effectively drive the segment’s future growth and attractiveness
Participate as proactive member in project (management) meetings with MO, AD, InnoTech and Operations to ensure the right customer fit of developments and the product mix
Develops tools and processes for the whole team to improve or ease work for all team members = structural content leader

Dimensions:

Fully contributes to longer term strategic BU business plan deliverables
Leads the key market input to strategic investment projects
Leads the Annual business planning input

Staff:

Acts as coach for new employees and as a trainer for relevant employees on the role and its products within the wider portfolio

Other:

Contributes to the organisation and execution of events, like exhibitions or customer/country Page 3 of 3 events
Leads or participates (as key stakeholder) (in) strategic cross – functional projects (e.g. excellence projects or programmes)

Skills:

S1. Education

Academic (degree or equivalent) business, marketing or technical degree, preferably polymer or technical education background
Mastery of English language at business level

S2. Experience

+8 years relevant working experience in technical service, product development and/or market development, sales
Understanding of the market structure and factors that influence demand, profitability and innovations
Detailed technical and commercial understanding of the products and their applications and proven ability to translate this into value added contribution to outperform competition
Thorough strategic understanding of customers and other value chain members needs and the ability to match this with technical abilities
Holistic thinking in aligning markets with assets, innovation and other internal stakeholders
Knowledge of marketing and sales management techniques and tools
Customer relationship and project management skills
Professional competence in polymer product technology, marketing,…
Thinking and acting along business lines with high understanding of value-creation
Communication and presentation skills

S3. Other required skills

Effective interpersonal relationship skills
Shows leadership to align all functions towards complete customer focus, acting as a voice of the customer
Leadership for smaller operative groups and cross functional working or project teams
High analytical capabilities

Behaviour :

Lives and promotes Company values
Conceptual and analytical thinking
Customer orientation
Impact and influence
Entrepreneurial thinking Additional Information (if needed – role specific)

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