Senior Brand Manager - Light Duty Lubricants Strategy & Innovation

Valvoline Global•Lexington, KY

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Valvoline Global Operations, founded in 1866, is the Original Motor Oil and a pioneer in automotive and industrial solutions. As an affiliate of Aramco, we are driven by innovation and committed to creating sustainable solutions. With a global presence, we develop future-ready products and provide best-in-class services. Our corporate values are Care, Integrity, Passion, Unity, and Excellence. We are seeking a Senior Brand Manager for Light Duty Lubricants Strategy & Innovations to manage Valvoline Global Operations' light duty portfolio in the Americas. This role acts as a liaison between regional business units and the supply chain to drive growth, inputting into and driving global strategy at a regional level. The role utilizes global processes for innovation, builds cross-functional collaboration, and mentors two direct reports. The position is based in Lexington, KY, with a preference for local candidates working in-office 3 days per week, or semi-local candidates working 2 days per week. Relocation assistance is available for non-local candidates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Management, or related discipline.
5 - 10 years of progressive professional experience in a fast-paced or growth-oriented environment.
Proven management experience leading teams, developing talent, and driving operational results.
Exceptional cross-functional communication skills with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build alignment across diverse teams.
Strategic thinking and intellectual curiosity with a demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems, identify opportunities, and propose innovative solutions.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred

Responsibilities

Implement the 3 main pillars of Product Strategy: Product Discovery (identifying customer unmet needs), Product Planning (creating the innovation roadmap), and Product Development (New Solutions Development Process).
Ensure direct reports understand the execution strategy and implement a cohesive innovation master plan locally, connecting to the global vision while meeting regional needs.
Conduct regular meetings with regional leaders (Channel Marketing, R&D, Pricing, Equity, etc.) to ensure support for the innovation master plan, portfolio recommendations, and enhancements.
Serve as the subject matter expert on portfolio innovation within Product Strategy & Management.
Utilize market, enterprise, and business unit data to build a vision for the global future of the VGO commercial and industrial product portfolio.
Drive consumer research to identify unmet needs and answer critical business questions to unlock innovation pathways.
Evaluate the competitive landscape, identify portfolio gaps, and develop claims that drive product superiority.
Create a long-term product portfolio vision and a 5-year innovation roadmap (product, package, portfolio) aligned with corporate and business unit strategies.
Prioritize product-related projects and maximize product profitability by identifying and maintaining regional target margins.
Follow the New Solutions Development stage gate process for all new initiatives and create gate documents for products on the innovation master plan.
Lead key initiatives globally to drive international harmonization of the Valvoline product portfolio.
Conduct Strategic Portfolio Reviews to determine long-term strategic fit, competition, and market opportunities for innovation refinement.
Ensure global vision is understood and executed by direct reports, meeting all regional needs and maintaining strong connections with local counterparts.
Teach, train, and mentor direct reports to foster future organizational leaders and growth.