Product Manager - Strategic Vendor & New Product Development

Parksite•Batavia, IL

11h•Onsite

About The Position

Parksite, a 100% employee-owned company, is seeking an experienced Manager of Strategic Vendor & New Product Development. This role is critical in shaping Parksite’s future by building a best-in-class vendor ecosystem and expanding the Interiors and Exteriors product portfolio. It is a highly visible, externally focused role that blends strategy, analytics, relationship-building, and execution to drive long-term growth and innovation across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, or a related field; MBA preferred
10+ years of progressive experience in vendor management, sourcing, category management, product management, or related roles
Proven success identifying, onboarding, and scaling new vendors and product lines that drive revenue growth and customer value
Strong strategic thinking with the ability to evaluate opportunities based on financial impact, operational feasibility, and market fit
Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills with experience managing complex agreements
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities and deadlines
Ability to collaborate across departments and attend meetings, presentations, and strategy sessions as needed
Capacity to engage with vendors, partners, and internal teams in both virtual and in-person settings
Domestic travel required approximately 30-40% of the time
Ability to pass pre-employment physical, drug screen, and background check
Authorization to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in a related field
Experience in building materials, distribution, or adjacent industries
Strong understanding of supply chain operations and product lifecycle management
Experience leading New Product Introduction (NPI) or product launch programs

Responsibilities

Lead Parksite’s vendor acquisition and portfolio expansion strategy aligned with corporate growth objectives and long-term market positioning.
Identify adjacent and complementary product categories that enhance value for Interiors and Exteriors customers and increase share of wallet.
Conduct market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and trend identification to uncover product gaps and high-potential supplier opportunities.
Build and maintain a structured pipeline of new product and vendor opportunities sourced from Sales, customers, vendors, and internal teams.
Develop multi-year roadmaps for vendor and product expansion to support sustained growth.
Create and present business cases for new vendors and product lines, including revenue potential, margins, investment requirements, and risk assessments.
Partner with Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, and Operations to evaluate feasibility, profitability, and strategic fit of new opportunities.
Establish and manage a rigorous vendor evaluation framework assessing quality, financial stability, reliability, and cultural alignment.
Lead cross-functional due diligence and decision-making processes for vendor selection.
Negotiate commercial terms, partnership agreements, and performance expectations with new and prospective suppliers.
Oversee end-to-end vendor onboarding and New Product Introduction (NPI) processes from approval through launch.
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure readiness across inventory, logistics, pricing, systems integration, and sales training.
Ensure successful product launches and strong adoption across all Parksite locations.
Serve as the executive point of contact for strategic vendor partners, building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.
Establish vendor performance standards, including KPIs, scorecards, and regular business reviews.
Drive continuous improvement in vendor performance, product availability, and service levels.
Identify opportunities to optimize, rationalize, or expand vendor relationships based on performance and strategic alignment.
Co-develop growth opportunities, pilot programs, exclusive partnerships, and product expansion initiatives with key vendors.
Ensure smooth transition of new vendors and products into steady-state ownership by Category/Product Management.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with Sales leadership to identify customer needs and new product opportunities.
Partner with Marketing and Sales to support product positioning, launch strategies, and customer communication.
Coordinate development of sales enablement materials to ensure teams are prepared to sell new products effectively.
Lead cross-functional NPI and launch teams, ensuring alignment on timelines, deliverables, and execution readiness.
Serve as the internal expert and primary contact for newly introduced vendors, brands, and product lines.
Communicate launch timelines, milestones, and expectations clearly across all stakeholders.
Leverage analytics to estimate demand, size opportunities, and track KPIs for new vendor and product performance.
Provide insights to refine future vendor selection and product strategy based on performance data.