Assistant Product Manager

The Company

Meridian Adhesives Group is a leading adhesive manufacturer with a wide range of branded, private label, and contract-manufactured adhesives and sealants. Our products are used for product assembly in a wide range of applications and markets, including industrial, engineering, MRO, transportation, automotive, electronics, telecommunications, residential and commercial building construction.

The Division

Our Infrastructure division is a rapidly growing solution provider in the building and construction industry.

The Position

The Assistant Product Manager will support the Product Manager in setting strategy, driving innovation, and managing profitability across assigned product categories. This role is responsible for assisting with all aspects of the product lifecycle—from concept through commercialization—and will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across the organization.

The position is on-site at our Fort Wayne, IN location and will require occasional travel (approximately 20%) to company locations across North America

Duties And Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of product portfolio strategies to optimize mix, pricing, and profitability.
• Participate in capacity planning efforts in coordination with Operations and Engineering.
• Assist in product line maintenance, including SKU rationalization and simplification to improve performance.
• Manage portfolio-related projects, ensuring timely execution of initiatives, tracking deliverables, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to achieve defined objectives.
• Maintain ISO process control documentation related to product families, ensuring all portfolio changes are properly recorded, approved, and compliant with quality management standards.
  
  

Innovation

• Help execute the new product development roadmap and participate in the Innovation stage-gate process.
• Coordinate project timelines, milestones, and resource allocation to support new product introductions and product improvements.
• Support new product launches, including forecasting, market validation, marketing coordination, and sales training.
• Manage documentation and support the Management of Change (MOC) process for new and updated products.
• Ensure ISO-compliant documentation is developed and maintained for all new products, including control plans, formulation revisions, and validation records.
• Facilitate cross-functional project meetings to ensure alignment between R&D, Operations, Marketing, and Sales on scope, risks, and deliverables.
• Assist in internal and external audits related to product development, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 and other applicable standards.
  
  

End User Intimacy

• Conduct market research to understand customer needs and gather voice-of-customer insights.
• Partner with sales teams to qualify customer requirements and performance standards.
• Support segmentation analysis to ensure proper targeting and prioritization of end users.
• Use project management tools and structured documentation to track customer-driven initiatives and ensure timely completion of validation trials.
• Document customer feedback and validation results per ISO quality protocols to ensure traceability and continuous improvement.
  
  

Market Landscape

• Assist in monitoring market dynamics, competitive trends, and customer behavior to inform strategy.
• Support development of market share analyses and competitive assessments.
• Identify opportunities for product improvements or new product introductions.
• Develop project charters and action plans for competitive or market-driven initiatives to ensure structured execution and follow-through.
• Maintain proper ISO documentation for market-related technical data, ensuring consistency between commercial claims and validated product performance.
  
  

Customer Support

• Provide technical and product-related support to the sales team and customers.
• Participate in product trials and customer visits as needed.
• Assist in resolving customer inquiries and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Manage customer-facing projects, ensuring alignment on timelines, deliverables, and post-launch performance tracking.
• Ensure field trial data, feedback, and corrective actions are documented per ISO quality procedures to support traceability and compliance.
  
  

Reporting and Analysis

• Maintain accurate product and market data, including product data sheets and forecasts.
• Support the preparation of business reports, opportunity updates, and performance summaries.
• Track and report on project status, risks, and milestones to ensure leadership visibility and timely decision-making.
• Maintain and update ISO-controlled documents (e.g., product specifications, process sheets, and technical data sheets) to reflect the latest approved revisions.
• Continuously build knowledge of product lines, applications, and competitive products.
  
  

Skills & Abilities

• Strong financial and analytical acumen.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and project management tools.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives from planning to completion.
• Strong understanding of ISO 9001 process control documentation, including document control, corrective actions, and change management procedures.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience using structured project management methodologies (e.g., Gantt charts, dashboards, or stage-gate tools).
• Entrepreneurial mindset with curiosity, creativity, and a positive attitude
  
  

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Marketing, or related field required; MBA preferred
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in product management, marketing, or new product development preferred
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to travel 20% to our other sites in North America.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
  
  

Pay: This position has a salary range of $60,000.00 – 62,500.00. The salary range represents the expected range for this position. The actual salary may vary based upon several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant skills/experience, time in the role, business line, and geographic location.

Bonus Pay: Meridian offers a performance-based incentive plan tied to company success. Eligible employees have the opportunity to earn a percentage of their salary, with bonus payments distributed yearly.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• STD & LTD
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
  
  

Why Join US

Meridian is a leading name in the adhesives industry, renowned for delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to clients worldwide. Guided by our core values - Safety & Sustainability, Respect, Integrity, Accountability, and Teamwork - we are driven to make a meaningful impact in everything we do. When you join Meridian, you become part of a dynamic team that values diverse perspectives, fosters professional growth, and encourages bold ideas. We’re committed to creating a supportive environment where you can thrive, grow, contribute to groundbreaking projects, and help shape the future of our industry.

• No 3rd Party Recruiters/Agencies
  
  

Check out our website!

https://meridianadhesives.com/careers/

Meridian Adhesives Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We maintain a drug-free workplace and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.