Product Manager

About AkzoNobel Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together. For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com © 2026 Akzo Nobel N.
V. All rights reserved. Job Purpose The purpose of this job is to manage and develop the overall AkzoNobel product portfolio across Retail and Professional channel as a source of sustainable growth. The role leads the end-to-end product development and portfolio management agenda, from portfolio strategy and innovation pipeline through technical development, commercialization, launch and post-launch optimization, working across functions in country and Regional Product Management Key Accountabilities Portfolio Strategy & Business Planning Consumer & Market Understanding Innovation & Product Development Product Commercialization & Launch Readiness
• Establish and manage cross-functional project teams for product development and portfolio initiatives.
• Align stakeholders on project objectives, scope, timelines, roles, responsibilities and expected outcomes.
• Proactively manage project risks, issues, dependencies and changes in scope.
• Facilitate project meetings and ensure clear documentation, follow-up and decision-making.
• Escalate critical issues and decision points to the appropriate management level.
• Drive project execution without direct authority through strong stakeholder management, influencing and collaboration.
• Ensure projects remain on track against agreed timelines, milestones and business objectives. Key Activities
• Develop and execute the annual product portfolio strategy aligned with overall business objectives and category growth priorities.
• Identify portfolio growth opportunities based on consumer needs, market trends, competitive landscape, technology development and business performance.
• Define and manage product portfolio, proposition, architecture and lifecycle priorities to support category growth.
• Develop and maintain the 12Q Plan / 3-Year Rolling Portfolio Roadmap covering innovation, renovation, portfolio optimization, phase-in and phase-out initiatives.
• Track and monitor portfolio strategy performance through IBP processes, including PMR, DMR and COR, and translate findings into clear portfolio actions.
• Work closely with Regional Product Management and Country Marketing teams to align portfolio priorities and execution.
• Translate consumer, customer, painter/influencer and market needs into actionable product development opportunities.
• Monitor market trends, competitor innovation, product propositions, technologies, claims, pack formats and price architecture.
• Utilize consumer research, product testing, sales performance and market intelligence to identify portfolio opportunities and risks.
• Develop clear product requirements and consumer/product benefit propositions to guide innovation and renovation projects.
• Provide product and portfolio insights to Brand Managers to support relevant brand positioning and communication
• Lead the development and execution of innovation, renovation and portfolio optimization initiatives across the country, aligned with Regional Product Management priorities.
• Identify opportunities for new products, product improvements, pack/format changes, product upgrades, SKU rationalization and portfolio optimization.
• Own the end-to-end New Product Innovation (NPI) / renovation process from concept ideation through commercialization and post-launch evaluation.
• Lead the Innovation Gate Review (IGR) / Stage-Gate process, ensuring all required deliverables, decisions and approvals are completed at each stage.
• Develop and coordinate project briefs, timelines, milestones, deliverables, resources, dependencies and critical paths for each product development project
• Coordinate Marketing and Commercial teams to align product proposition, pricing, channel strategy, launch requirements and route-to-market plans.
• Act as the central project owner, ensuring clear accountability, timely decision-making, risk management and escalation throughout product development.
• Lead cross-functional commercialization readiness for new and renovated products.
• Ensure product specifications, packaging, artwork, claims, pricing, master data and regulatory requirements are completed prior to launch.
• Coordinate phase-in / phase-out activities and minimize business disruption during portfolio transitions.
• Partner with Brand and Customer Marketing teams to ensure product launches are supported by relevant communication and activation plans.
• Ensure launches are delivered according to agreed timeline, scope, quality and approved business case
• Analyze product performnitor and evaluate post-launch performance against approved business cases and launch objectives.
• Recommend and drive gap-closing actions where performance is below expectations.
• Identify opportunities for product renovation, reformulation, repackaging, repricing, migration or discontinuation.
• Conduct post-launch reviews and incorporate learnings into future innovation and portfolio development.
• Continuously optimize the product portfolio to improve growth, competitiveness and profitability. Experience RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Minimum 7–10 years of relevant experience in Product Management, Product Development, Innovation, Portfolio Management, R&D / Technical Marketing or Project Management, preferably within FMCG, consumer goods, building materials, chemicals or other product-driven industries.
• Proven experience managing end-to-end product development projects.
• Strong experience in cross-functional project management and stakeholder management.
• Experience working with R&D / Technical, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality and Regulatory functions.
• Experience managing product lifecycle including innovation, renovation, phase-in, phase-out and rationalization.
• Experience developing business cases and evaluating product economics.
• Regional / multinational experience is an advantage PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS & BEHAVIOURS Functional
• Strong product and portfolio management capability.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, critical path, risk and issue management.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills; able to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commercial acumen with good understanding of COGS, pricing, P&L and product profitability.
• Good understanding of product development, technical feasibility, testing, validation and commercialization processes.
• Good command of English, written and spoken. Personal
• High energy.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Strong ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative and assertive.
• Action oriented and execution focused.
• Resilient and comfortable managing ambiguity.
• Strong communicator and presenter.
• Structured problem solver. Education Educational Qualifications Bachelor degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Science or related discipline. Master degree is an advantage. At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.