Product Manager, Specialty Products

Hayward Industries•North Kingstown, RI

About The Position

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China. This role is based in N. Kingstown, RI. Hayward Holdings is seeking a dynamic and strategic Product Manager to lead our Specialty products portfolio. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing the transition strategy for acquired businesses across categories such as landscape lighting and in-floor cleaning, ensuring seamless integration into Hayward’s brand, systems, processes, and commercial channels. The role requires strong cross-functional leadership across R&D, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Customer Support to ensure smooth integration, minimize disruption, and unlock growth synergies. You will define the product roadmap and harmonization strategy that balances continuity for existing customers with long-term portfolio optimization. This includes aligning product positioning, pricing architecture, and development pipelines to Hayward standards while preserving the core value propositions that made these businesses successful.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in product management, ideally within Consumer Products, ideally durable goods or hardware-based categories
Experience managing B2B or B2C products preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Product Management, or a related field (Master’s degree is a plus).
Experience with Business acquisition or integration post-acquisition
Proven track record of bringing products from concept to launch with measurable success.
Strong analytical skills and experience with market research, customer insights, and data-driven decision-making.
Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills to align stakeholders and drive execution.
Experience with Agile methodologies and product management tools.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining focus on quality and compliance.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and launching Specialty Products in industrial, commercial, or healthcare markets.
Familiarity with sustainability initiatives in the sanitization industry.
Product Management certification (e.g., Certified Scrum Product Owner, Pragmatic Institute).

Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Roadmap
Define and drive the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Specialty Products, ensuring alignment with business goals and market trends.
Develop data-driven strategies that enhance product differentiation and value.
Build business cases for new growth initiatives, including financial modeling, pricing strategy, and cannibalization risk assessment.
Monitor competitive activity and emerging technologies to proactively inform roadmap prioritization and defensive strategies.
Business Development
Support acquisition due diligence efforts, including market sizing, competitive landscape analysis, product portfolio assessment, and synergy modeling.
Develop integration playbooks that accelerate revenue capture, margin improvement, and brand alignment following acquisition close.
Partner with Sales leadership to uncover channel expansion opportunities and improve portfolio attachment rates within the Hayward bundle.
Market Research & Analysis
Conduct in-depth market research to understand customer needs, industry trends, and competitor offerings in the sanitization space.
Leverage customer insights and analytics to inform product development and strategic decision-making.
Product Development & Innovation
Collaborate with engineering and design teams to develop, test, and launch high-quality Specialty Products that comply with safety and regulatory standards.
Drive customer-centric innovation by integrating feedback into continuous product improvements.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Partner with sales, marketing, and operations teams to drive product adoption, customer satisfaction, and market expansion.
Ensure seamless product launches through effective communication and collaboration.
Product Lifecycle Management
Oversee the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and development to launch and ongoing optimization.
Monitor post-launch performance, analyze key metrics, and implement enhancements to maximize product success.
Performance Analysis & Continuous Improvement
Analyze product performance metrics, identify areas for enhancement, and implement iterative improvements based on data insights.
Utilize Agile methodologies and product management tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.