Product Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Product Manager

Location: Chicago, IL / Downers Grove, IL / Phoenix, IL

Company: Sterling Site Access

Division: Innovation

Position Summary:

This product management role drives new product development from concept through commercialization, overseeing strategic planning, technical development, testing, and market implementation. In addition, this role will support existing products, product lines and extenstions to match customer and market opportuinites. The position requires strong cross-functional leadership to deliver innovative products that meet customer needs while maintaining safety, quality, and profitability.

Travel Requirements:

Overnight travel is required up to 25% of time.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Planning : Own the complete product roadmap, identify market opportunities through customer engagement and market research, develop financial models and business cases, set pricing strategies, and maintain competitive intelligence while facilitating key go/no-go decisions throughout the product development lifecycle.

Product Development & Technical Oversight : Lead the end-to-end New Product Development/product extension process, coordinating cross-functional teams while working closely with internal teams on design specifications, manufacturing feasibility, and quality control parameters. Review and approve all technical requirements, safety factors, and final product specifications.

Testing & Quality Assurance : Define and oversee internal testing requirements, manage external testing and beta customer programs, ensure proper documentation of test results, and validate that all data supports marketing claims while maintaining rigorous quality control standards.

Customer & Market Engagement : Conduct customer interviews and site visits, gather and document requirements, maintain relationships with key beta customers, and translate customer feedback and pain points into product improvements while supporting sales team on technical product discussions.

Commercial Implementation & Performance : Collaborate with marketing to develop comprehensive launch plans, create product documentation, train sales teams, establish pricing structures, and continuously monitor product performance metrics, customer satisfaction, and lifecycle data to identify improvement opportunities.

Risk & Compliance Management : Maintain risk assessment matrices, monitor supply chain risks, track compliance requirements, manage product liability exposure, establish documentation processes, and ensure proper certification maintenance while protecting intellectual property.

Financial & Program Management : Track product costs, margins, and development expenses, project revenue and profitability, justify capital expenditures, and lead regular development meetings while coordinating between manufacturing, sales, and marketing teams to ensure aligned execution.

Leading and Tracking Value Engineering: Assessing internal/external manufacturing, alternative materials, suppliers and determining the path forward to reduce costs while maintaining production quality, volume, and consistency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Construction Management, or similar experience that marries technical understanding with business requirements.
• 3-5 years of experience in product management, preferably but not required in building materials, wood products, or construction industries
• Proven track record of successfully launching new products in B2B/B2C environments
• Experience with or knowledge of construction codes, industry standards (ASTM, ANSI), and certification processes
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and test results
• Project management experience, including budget and timeline management
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including R&D, manufacturing, marketing and sales

Work Environment:

This position is primarily located within an office although will be required to go out onto the production floor, travel on occasion including to field and site locations.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee within an office environment.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and/or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. By signature below, the employee affirms their understanding of the position expectations as outlined within. Further, the employee confirms they can perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be provided where able and absent undue hardship.