Senior Manager - Global Product Innovation

Wego Chemical Group is a global distributor and sourcing partner of chemicals and ingredients. We are an established player in the global specialty chemical markets, providing end-use manufacturers across industries in North America, LATAM, & EMEA with end-to-end supply chain solutions from across the globe. Our team has been operating for over 45 years, serving customers in over 25 countries, with 200 professionals in 9 offices strategically located across 4 continents. Proudly family-owned and operated, Wego is led by two generations of leadership who bring passion, vision, and a long-term commitment to our partners' success.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager of Product Innovation leads the development and execution of strategies that drive product innovation and growth. This role oversees research and concept development initiatives to identify new opportunities and deliver differentiated products that align with organizational goals.
Key responsibilities include conducting market and customer analyses to define requirements, shape value propositions, and guide the product roadmap. The Senior Manager collaborates closely with Marketing, Sales, and Product Management to ensure product initiatives support strategic and financial objectives.
This position also develops and mentors high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in product development.
Key Responsibilities

• Market Analysis & Opportunity Identification
• Conduct market intelligence, trend tracking, and customer insight analysis to identify unmet needs and emerging product categories.
• Develop business cases (SOM /SOW analysis) for new product opportunities with clear financial, technical, and commercial rationales.
• Benchmark competitor portfolios and identify white-space opportunities for profitable differentiation.
• Product Innovation & Portfolio Strategy
• Collaborate with Product Managers and Marketing to prioritize and validate product opportunities aligned with growth strategy.
• Build product launch roadmaps and innovation pipelines that balance near-term wins and long-term bets.
• Ensure alignment with corporate strategy, regulatory requirements, and sustainability initiatives.
• Supplier & Sourcing Collaboration
• Partner with Sourcing to evaluate potential suppliers, negotiate initial terms, and establish win–win partnerships.
• Assess supplier reliability, cost competitiveness, and innovation capabilities.
• Support onboarding and commercialization of new suppliers and products.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution
• Partner with Business Unit Leaders to Identify new opportunities, and operationalize the products – 4Ps (Product, Price, Placement, Promotion) as part of Business Unit Portfolio
• Act as an internal champion for innovation, influencing cross-functional stakeholders and gaining alignment.
• Lead structured go/no-go processes for new product introduction.
• Support Marketing and Sales with positioning, messaging, and training for new launches.
  

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in product management, innovation, sourcing, or strategy—ideally within chemicals, distribution, or industrial B2B sectors.
• Distribution experience and working with suppliers all over the world
• Strong business acumen with proven experience in market analysis, supplier evaluation, and P&L impact assessment.
• Exceptional ability to think both strategically and analytically—methodical, data-driven, yet entrepreneurial and creative.
• Demonstrated leadership and cross-functional influence in matrix organizations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills