Assistant Product Manager- Protective Coatings

The Assistant Product Manager – Protective Coatings plays a key role in managing and optimizing a global portfolio of functional coatings and pavement marking products. This position supports all stages of the product lifecycle, including portfolio strategy, product development, commercialization, market analysis, pricing, profitability management, and SKU optimization. The role partners closely with cross-functional teams including R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Technical Services to develop business cases, coordinate product launches, monitor product performance, and identify opportunities for growth and portfolio expansion. The successful candidate will help drive revenue growth, margin improvement, market share gains, and customer satisfaction while ensuring products meet industry standards and customer needs in a competitive global marketplace.

This role is not remote/hybrid. This role will report to Sherwin-Williams offices in either Brecksville, OH or Minneapolis, MN.

This role will require up to 20% travel.

This position is also eligible for bonus incentive compensation awards based on performance and subject to the terms of the Company’s applicable plans.

1. Responsibilities:

• Portfolio Lifecycle Management

• Manage the Functional Coatings and Pavement Marking portfolio of products through all stages of the lifecycle

• Identify portfolio gaps and prioritize investment opportunities.

• Develop portfolio roadmaps for respective segments

• Monitor competitive product assortments, strategy, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, as well as trends in the industry

• Lead SKU rationalization and product portfolio optimization initiatives.

• Create Regional Product Lists with SKU detail and cost and pricing guidance

• Monitor product performance and profitability.

• Establish product positioning and value propositions.

• Manage Part Numbers, Packaging, and Labelling for Portfolio

• Collaborate with GSC to identify true Product costs to serve global and regional markets

• New Product Development and Commercialization

• Lead product development initiatives through the stage-gate process.

• Coordinate successful commercialization of new technologies and product enhancements.

• Develop business cases for new products and portfolio investments.

• Partner with R&D to define development priorities and specifications.

• Coordinate product testing, certification, and regulatory approval activities.

• Work with R&D to deliver technical documents including data sheets and technical documents for launch

• Coordinate field trial activities with Marcomm and Field Marketing to capture photo and video records

• Lead launch planning and post-launch performance reviews.

• Monitor adoption rates and customer feedback following launch.

• Cross Functional Leadership and Business Performance

• Collaborate with Supply Chain to ensure product availability and service levels.

• Partner with Procurement regarding raw material risks and sourcing strategies.

• Participate in portfolio reviews and business planning processes.

• Track revenue, margin, market share, and portfolio profitability metrics.

• Prepare executive-level performance updates and recommendations.

EDUCATION:

1. Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Business, Marketing, or related discipline.

Preferred:

• MBA or advanced technical degree.

• Professional certifications related to Product Management or Project Management.

• KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

1. Required:

• 5+ years of experience in research and development, project management, product management, portfolio management, marketing, technical services, or business development.

• Experience within coatings, construction materials, industrial products, specialty chemicals, or powder chemistry.

• Experience leading cross-functional projects and product launches.

1. Preferred:

• Knowledge and experience with industrial coatings and chemistry

• Experience with industry standards and certification requirements

• Experience in multinational or matrix organizations