PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

Vybond•Franklin, KY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Product Development Manager, Building & Construction, leads innovation, product development, and commercialization activities supporting growth in residential and commercial building and construction markets. The role identifies market and customer needs, develops differentiated product solutions, and leads projects from concept through launch and commercial adoption. The manager provides leadership, technical direction, and development support to team members assigned to the Building & Construction portfolio. The position works cross-functionally with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Regulatory resources, and serves as a technical and innovation partner for strategic customers. It oversees development programs from concept and feasibility through validation, manufacturing scale-up, launch, and post-launch review, while ensuring products are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, validated, and appropriately documented. The role is based in Franklin, Kentucky, and may require travel to customers, jobsites, manufacturing facilities, suppliers, trade shows, and industry events.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Building Science, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related technical discipline.
Seven or more years of progressive experience in product development, innovation, technical product management, or a related role supporting residential or commercial building and construction markets.
Proven track record of developing and bringing market-accepted products to market for building and construction applications.
Strong understanding of product development and commercialization, from market need and concept development through validation, manufacturing scale-up, launch, and post-launch support.
Experience translating customer, contractor, installer, architect, or market requirements into product specifications and development plans.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional development projects and influence technical, manufacturing, and commercial stakeholders.
Experience managing, coaching, or developing engineers, scientists, technicians, or other technical professionals.
Strong business acumen, analytical problem-solving capability, and ability to connect technical development to market growth, customer value, and financial results.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage customers, operations personnel, technical teams, commercial leaders, and senior management.
Ability to manage multiple priorities with urgency and willingness to travel to customers, jobsites, manufacturing facilities, suppliers, trade shows, and industry events as required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of building codes, industry standards, test methods, certification requirements, or installation practices applicable to residential or commercial construction products.
Experience with pressure-sensitive adhesives, tapes, coatings, sealants, polymers, films, foils, nonwovens, or related building materials.

Responsibilities

Lead innovation and product development supporting growth in residential and commercial building and construction markets.
Develop understanding of customer needs, application requirements, market trends, competitive products, building practices, and unmet market needs.
Partner with Product Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to establish and execute the Building & Construction innovation roadmap.
Identify opportunities for new products, product-line extensions, portfolio improvements, and differentiated customer solutions.
Translate market and customer requirements into product-design objectives, technical specifications, development plans, and commercialization strategies.
Develop business cases defining customer need, market opportunity, product proposition, technical feasibility, development requirements, risks, timing, and expected commercial value.
Lead product-development programs from concept and feasibility through validation, manufacturing scale-up, launch, and post-launch review.
Develop and manage project plans covering scope, technical requirements, milestones, resources, risks, costs, and commercialization timing.
Work with customers, contractors, installers, channel partners, and internal commercial teams to understand application needs and develop product solutions.
Coordinate laboratory evaluations, application testing, customer trials, field evaluations, pilot trials, and full-scale production trials.
Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory resources to ensure products are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, validated, and supported by appropriate technical documentation.
Manage assigned Product Development Engineers, Technicians, and other technical professionals, including workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, goal setting, performance reviews, development planning, recognition, and corrective action in accordance with company policies.
Establish priorities and performance expectations, coach team members, and foster ownership, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Balance resources across the Building & Construction portfolio according to strategic priority, business value, customer urgency, and technical risk.
Serve as a technical and innovation partner for strategic Building & Construction customers through meetings, jobsite visits, application reviews, field trials, and technical presentations.
Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, material optimization, product simplification, and manufacturing efficiency while maintaining product performance and quality.
Communicate project status, decisions, risks, resource needs, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Support safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements and perform additional duties as needed.