Product Manager - Polyethylene

- Senior

Pasadena, TX

About the position

The position involves leading business optimization efforts across short to medium-term and long-term strategic initiatives within the petrochemical industry. The role requires collaboration with various functions such as Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to maximize financial results and ensure efficient demand and supply alignment. Responsibilities include optimizing product mix, managing inventory, and driving profit optimization discussions. The incumbent will also oversee the execution of business plans and product roadmaps, evaluate investment opportunities, and contribute to product portfolio innovation and pricing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead regular cross-functional reviews of product segmentation and product ranking to maximize financial results.
• Guide sales and planning teams on demand and supply alignment, ensuring efficient S&OP execution.
• Optimize product mix and sales allocations while managing inventory within target ranges.
• Lead margin velocity analysis and recommendations for implementation on optimal product mix.
• Drive profit optimization discussions across commercial, operational, and technical domains to enhance asset utilization and sales.
• Develop and enforce optimization frameworks for short-term execution, medium-term planning, and long-term strategy.
• Set and refine targets for demand, contracting volumes, inventory levels, and safety/turnaround stock to align with business plans.
• Regularly review product segmentation and ranking to guide strategic decisions.
• Lead the 5-year business plan for product mix and balancing, ensuring alignment across functions.
• Develop 10-year product roadmaps, incorporating market demand forecasts and asset strategies.
• Evaluate investment opportunities by providing business case assumptions and scenarios for leadership approval.
• Oversee the execution of business plans and roadmaps, reporting progress and initiating corrective actions as needed.
• Drive product portfolio optimization through S&OP reviews, innovation evaluations, and simplification initiatives.
• Recommend product deletions, new product developments, and manufacturing innovations to enhance asset returns.
• Support risk management efforts by contributing to product continuity planning.
• Define pricing requirements to achieve business quality targets.
• Set monthly floor prices for product groups and regions for approval, ensuring competitive positioning.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years relevant working experience in petrochemical or similar related industry in commercial, financial, and technical environment.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or economy.
• Working experience in relevant functions for at least 3 years each preferred.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in managerial role or leading by influence.
• Thorough understanding of polymer markets and products in the Americas.
• Exceptional understanding of profit drivers in business and operations.
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities in business planning and optimization.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and lead process improvements.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to align and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Proficient in MS Office, advanced Excel, and PowerPoint skills; SAP experience preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Economics/Chemistry/Engineering.
• MBA preferred.