Product Manager

  The Product Manager is the economic owner and strategic steward of a portfolio of Core (commodity) and Value-Differentiated (commodity-like) products. The role is accountable for pricing strategy execution, volume optimization, and contribution margin performance, while aligning commercial priorities with operational and supply‑chain realities. The Product Manager serves as the commercial integrator across Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, and Finance—providing pricing discipline, demand clarity, and fact‑based trade‑off decisions. The role does not sell directly, but defines the commercial framework that enables profitable execution. Core Responsibilities (All Levels) Portfolio Strategy & Performance Own product‑level revenue, volume, and contribution margin vs AOP, forecast, and outlook Analyze performance drivers using margin PVM (rate, volume, mix) to drive proactive pricing actions and volume positioning strategies Monitor market dynamics, competitor behavior, and customer trends Support portfolio decisions including prioritization, rationalization, and optimization Pricing & Commercial Discipline Design and execute pricing strategies and margin guardrails by product, market, and customer segment based on volatile commodity feedstocks pricing (e.g. benzene and propylene) Translate cost movements into pricing and margin (cost models) implications in partnership with Procurement and Finance Challenge volume‑driven decisions that dilute margin or strategic position through pricing governance and economic analysis Monitor price realization, netbacks, and margin leakage Demand Planning & S&OP Actively manage product‑level demand forecasts and customer mix to improve margin per unit in coordination with Sales and Supply Chain Provide commercial leadership into S&OP processes to align demand, supply, inventory, and financial outcomes Help shape inventory strategies and allocation decisions during constrained supply conditions Cross‑Functional Leadership Act as the commercial focal point across Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, and Finance to deliver a unified economic view Support resolution of supply, quality, or service issues as the commercial voice Clarify decision rights and escalate trade‑offs with fact‑based recommendations and consistent commercial rigor Business Planning & Systems Contribute to AOP, rolling forecast, and long‑range planning Support standardization, simplification, and adoption of commercial processes and systems (e.g., SAP S/4HANA, analytics tools) Develop clear analytics and business narratives for executive decision‑making Progression to “Great” – What Success Looks Like An economic leader who shapes outcomes rather than reacts to them. Anticipates margin expansion or erosion before it appears in results Proactively drives pricing actions, mix improvement, and volume quality Challenges volume‑first decisions that dilute margin or strategic position Aligns cross‑functional teams around a unified economic view Serves as a trusted commercial advisor to the VP / GM Clear presentation skills of KPIs and strategies to VP/ GM and Leadership Team Elevates commercial discipline and clarity across the organization KPI Expectations & Performance Metrics Primary Financial KPIs (Highest weight; core accountability) Contribution Margin ($ and %) vs AOP and forecast Margin Rate ($/unit) vs target Price Realization / Netback vs List or Target PVM Performance Rate (price/margin) Volume Mix Volume & Mix Quality KPIs Volume vs plan by priority product Mix index (share of higher‑margin products/customers) Allocation effectiveness during constrained periods Pricing & Commercial Discipline KPIs % of volume sold at or above floor price Speed and effectiveness of cost pass‑throughs Planning & Forecasting KPIs Forecast accuracy (near‑term and rolling outlook) S&OP adherence and decision quality Inventory alignment with demand plan (in collaboration with Supply Chain) Cross‑Functional & Leadership KPIs Quality of executive‑ready analysis and recommendations Clarity of trade‑off decisions when responding to market developments Cross‑functional alignment and reduction of escalations Contribution to standardization, simplification, and systems adoption Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Science (MBA preferred 8+ years’ experience in chemicals or petrochemicals in commercial functions (Product Management, Supply Chain, Sales, Planning, Operations or Procurement) Strong understanding of commodity pricing, margin mechanics, and cost pass‑through Proven cross‑functional leadership capability Proficiency in SAP, BW, Power BI, PowerPoint and Excel Preferred Experience managing large portfolios ($200MM+) and product lines Exposure to S/4HANA or enterprise transformation initiatives Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority   Why This Role Matters This role ensures that commercial decisions are economically sound, operationally feasible, and strategically aligned. The Product Manager connects market opportunity with asset reality, protecting and growing value in a volatile, competitive environment.   The base salary range for this role is $143,800 to $215,600 annually.