Product Innovation Manager Jobs
Product Innovation Manager jobs are open across consumer goods, technology, healthcare, and financial services, from mid-level to director, with specializations in design thinking, go-to-market strategy, and R&D pipeline management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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We currently have an opportunity for a Director, Materials & Product Innovation at our Corporate Headquarters in Lake Forest, IL.
The Director, Materials and Product Innovation defines and leads the breakthrough innovation strategy for waste bags, polyethylene films, resin systems, and related raw materials. This position advances long-term growth through differentiated product platforms, material productivity, downgauging, recycled and alternative feedstocks, circular design, and emerging technologies. Applying deep expertise in polymer science, rheology, material performance, and manufacturing processes, the Director translates consumer, customer, market, and technical insights into scalable commercial solutions. The position provides strategic and technical leadership across Research and Development, Operations, Procurement, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Quality, Legal, and Sustainability. Through cross-functional partnerships and external innovation networks, the Director strengthens product performance, cost competitiveness, supply resilience, and sustainability while building technical capabilities that support long-term business growth.
You Will Have the Opportunity to Make Great Things Happen!
- Establish and advance a three- to five-year breakthrough innovation pipeline for waste bags, tall kitchen bags, contractor bags, specialty liners, and related film-based product platforms.
- Translate consumer, retailer, competitive, regulatory, sustainability, and manufacturing insights into differentiated innovation strategies and validated project charters.
- Refine and implement stage-gate and technical risk management processes that prioritize projects based on business opportunity, strategic fit, consumer benefit, technical feasibility, intellectual property position, capital requirements, and financial return.
- Present technical recommendations, business cases, project updates, competitive assessments, and investment proposals to senior leadership and cross-functional governance teams.
- Identify and commercialize raw material, resin, additive, colorant, tie-layer, recycled content, bio-circular, and alternative feedstock technologies that improve performance, cost, sustainability, and supply resilience.
- Direct rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including melt flow behavior, molecular weight distribution indicators, shear response, extensional behavior, viscosity, elasticity, and processability relationships to improve resin selection, film extrusion performance, and finished bag properties.
- Drive innovation in blown film structures, coextrusion design, downgauging, draw tape systems, odor control, puncture and tear resistance, seal strength, stretch, aesthetics, and consumer-use performance.
- Develop material specifications, testing strategies, qualification protocols, and performance standards for new resin systems, recycled content streams, film structures, and converting technologies.
- Lead cross-functional teams through the commercialization lifecycle, from discovery and ideation through benchtop trials, pilot trials, plant trials, qualification, scale-up, launch readiness, and post-launch learning.
- Partner with Procurement and Operations to improve raw material optionality, mitigate supply risk, qualify alternate sources, and support productivity initiatives without compromising product performance or brand equity.
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with resin suppliers, recyclers, compounders, additive providers, equipment suppliers, universities, startups, converters, and other external innovation partners.
- Apply open innovation, technology scouting, technology roadmapping, and supplier collaboration to identify emerging materials, process technologies, and circularity solutions for potential implementation in polyethylene operations.
- Champion design for circularity, recycled content feasibility, packaging and product recyclability considerations, lifecycle impact thinking, and sustainability-linked material innovation.
- Advance material productivity, cost reduction, product performance, and manufacturing feasibility through technical innovation and material optimization.
- Build, mentor, and develop technical talent while strengthening innovation capability, experimentation discipline, and a culture of speed, learning, collaboration, and accountability.
You Will Love It Here If…
- You listen, learn, and evolve
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment
- You put safety first, always
- You are passionate about collaboration, teamwork, and achieving shared goals
- You believe in treating all people with respect, operating ethically, and growing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
- You are committed to improving our impact on local communities and creating positive experiences
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in product innovation, materials science, polymer engineering, packaging, converting, operations, or technical commercialization, including demonstrated success leading technical teams and cross-functional programs from concept through commercialization.
- Ability to travel up to 25% to manufacturing sites, suppliers, recyclers, industry conferences, universities, equipment vendors, and customer or market-related events.
- Experience developing and commercializing polyethylene film, flexible packaging, waste bags, liners, resin systems, additives, recycled content, or related plastic products strongly preferred.
- Deep understanding of blown film extrusion, coextrusion, film converting, sealing, draw tape or closure systems, material qualification, and plant-scale commercialization desirable.
- Experience leading raw material qualification, supplier technical collaboration, resin optimization, downgauging, cost reduction, sustainability, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with physical and analytical test methods for polymer films, resins, recycled content, additives, and finished bag performance desirable.
- Hands-on experience with rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including melt index interpretation, capillary or rotational rheometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, extensional rheology, or equivalent analytical methods preferred.
- Experience in consumer packaged goods, private label or branded retail products, manufacturing environments, and customer-facing technical support a plus.
- Strong expertise in rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including the ability to connect melt flow, viscosity, elasticity, molecular architecture, processability, film extrusion behavior, and end-use bag performance.
- Proficient in MS Office and capable of using data, technical reports, financial models, and project management tools to communicate recommendations.
- Broad technical knowledge of plastics processing, polyethylene resin families, recycled resin streams, additives, film structures, converting equipment, and product performance testing.
- Strong understanding of innovation strategy, technology scouting, intellectual property awareness, supplier collaboration, stage-gate management, technical risk reduction, and commercialization discipline.
- Demonstrates strong market, competitive, consumer, customer, and sustainability awareness, with the ability to accelerate speed to market while balancing quality, cost, supply continuity, and operational feasibility.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills and the ability to influence executive leadership, technical experts, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and commercial partners.
- Advanced knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, including DOE, SPC, trial design, measurement system analysis, and structured problem solving.
- Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, productivity, and scale-up methods in a manufacturing environment.
- Self-directed with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple accountabilities, ambiguous technical challenges, and multiple internal customers.
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail, technical rigor, documentation quality, and action follow-through.
- Advanced project and portfolio management capabilities with the ability to organize and manage multiple innovations, raw material, and commercialization projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule during trials, key business deadlines, plant start-ups, and commercialization milestones.
- Must be team oriented with the ability to lead high-collaboration, high-performance teams across functions, geographies, and external partners.
- Strategic Mindset – Establishes a long-term innovation vision that aligns material technology investments and product development priorities with business strategy and growth objectives.
- Decision Quality – Evaluates complex technical, financial, and operational information to make sound, data-driven decisions that balance innovation opportunities with business risks.
- Innovation – Identifies emerging materials, technologies, and product concepts that challenge conventional approaches and create differentiated commercial value.
- Collaborates – Builds productive partnerships across functions, technical disciplines, suppliers, and external innovation networks to accelerate commercialization.
- Develops Talent – Strengthens technical capabilities through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and accountability while fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.
- Communicates Effectively – Translates complex technical findings, business cases, and strategic recommendations into clear, persuasive communications for executive leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Apply today to join a fast-growing innovative company!
No unsolicited recruiter or agency inquiries, please.
RCP affords equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability status, sex, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, national origin, genetics, genetic information, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. RCP conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
We currently have an opportunity for a Director, Materials & Product Innovation at our Corporate Headquarters in Lake Forest, IL.
The Director, Materials and Product Innovation defines and leads the breakthrough innovation strategy for waste bags, polyethylene films, resin systems, and related raw materials. This position advances long-term growth through differentiated product platforms, material productivity, downgauging, recycled and alternative feedstocks, circular design, and emerging technologies. Applying deep expertise in polymer science, rheology, material performance, and manufacturing processes, the Director translates consumer, customer, market, and technical insights into scalable commercial solutions. The position provides strategic and technical leadership across Research and Development, Operations, Procurement, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Quality, Legal, and Sustainability. Through cross-functional partnerships and external innovation networks, the Director strengthens product performance, cost competitiveness, supply resilience, and sustainability while building technical capabilities that support long-term business growth.
You Will Have the Opportunity to Make Great Things Happen!
- Establish and advance a three- to five-year breakthrough innovation pipeline for waste bags, tall kitchen bags, contractor bags, specialty liners, and related film-based product platforms.
- Translate consumer, retailer, competitive, regulatory, sustainability, and manufacturing insights into differentiated innovation strategies and validated project charters.
- Refine and implement stage-gate and technical risk management processes that prioritize projects based on business opportunity, strategic fit, consumer benefit, technical feasibility, intellectual property position, capital requirements, and financial return.
- Present technical recommendations, business cases, project updates, competitive assessments, and investment proposals to senior leadership and cross-functional governance teams.
- Identify and commercialize raw material, resin, additive, colorant, tie-layer, recycled content, bio-circular, and alternative feedstock technologies that improve performance, cost, sustainability, and supply resilience.
- Direct rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including melt flow behavior, molecular weight distribution indicators, shear response, extensional behavior, viscosity, elasticity, and processability relationships to improve resin selection, film extrusion performance, and finished bag properties.
- Drive innovation in blown film structures, coextrusion design, downgauging, draw tape systems, odor control, puncture and tear resistance, seal strength, stretch, aesthetics, and consumer-use performance.
- Develop material specifications, testing strategies, qualification protocols, and performance standards for new resin systems, recycled content streams, film structures, and converting technologies.
- Lead cross-functional teams through the commercialization lifecycle, from discovery and ideation through benchtop trials, pilot trials, plant trials, qualification, scale-up, launch readiness, and post-launch learning.
- Partner with Procurement and Operations to improve raw material optionality, mitigate supply risk, qualify alternate sources, and support productivity initiatives without compromising product performance or brand equity.
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with resin suppliers, recyclers, compounders, additive providers, equipment suppliers, universities, startups, converters, and other external innovation partners.
- Apply open innovation, technology scouting, technology roadmapping, and supplier collaboration to identify emerging materials, process technologies, and circularity solutions for potential implementation in polyethylene operations.
- Champion design for circularity, recycled content feasibility, packaging and product recyclability considerations, lifecycle impact thinking, and sustainability-linked material innovation.
- Advance material productivity, cost reduction, product performance, and manufacturing feasibility through technical innovation and material optimization.
- Build, mentor, and develop technical talent while strengthening innovation capability, experimentation discipline, and a culture of speed, learning, collaboration, and accountability.
You Will Love It Here If…
- You listen, learn, and evolve
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment
- You put safety first, always
- You are passionate about collaboration, teamwork, and achieving shared goals
- You believe in treating all people with respect, operating ethically, and growing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
- You are committed to improving our impact on local communities and creating positive experiences
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in product innovation, materials science, polymer engineering, packaging, converting, operations, or technical commercialization, including demonstrated success leading technical teams and cross-functional programs from concept through commercialization.
- Ability to travel up to 25% to manufacturing sites, suppliers, recyclers, industry conferences, universities, equipment vendors, and customer or market-related events.
- Experience developing and commercializing polyethylene film, flexible packaging, waste bags, liners, resin systems, additives, recycled content, or related plastic products strongly preferred.
- Deep understanding of blown film extrusion, coextrusion, film converting, sealing, draw tape or closure systems, material qualification, and plant-scale commercialization desirable.
- Experience leading raw material qualification, supplier technical collaboration, resin optimization, downgauging, cost reduction, sustainability, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with physical and analytical test methods for polymer films, resins, recycled content, additives, and finished bag performance desirable.
- Hands-on experience with rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including melt index interpretation, capillary or rotational rheometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, extensional rheology, or equivalent analytical methods preferred.
- Experience in consumer packaged goods, private label or branded retail products, manufacturing environments, and customer-facing technical support a plus.
- Strong expertise in rheological characterization of polyolefin resins, including the ability to connect melt flow, viscosity, elasticity, molecular architecture, processability, film extrusion behavior, and end-use bag performance.
- Proficient in MS Office and capable of using data, technical reports, financial models, and project management tools to communicate recommendations.
- Broad technical knowledge of plastics processing, polyethylene resin families, recycled resin streams, additives, film structures, converting equipment, and product performance testing.
- Strong understanding of innovation strategy, technology scouting, intellectual property awareness, supplier collaboration, stage-gate management, technical risk reduction, and commercialization discipline.
- Demonstrates strong market, competitive, consumer, customer, and sustainability awareness, with the ability to accelerate speed to market while balancing quality, cost, supply continuity, and operational feasibility.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills and the ability to influence executive leadership, technical experts, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and commercial partners.
- Advanced knowledge of statistical techniques and methods, including DOE, SPC, trial design, measurement system analysis, and structured problem solving.
- Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, productivity, and scale-up methods in a manufacturing environment.
- Self-directed with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple accountabilities, ambiguous technical challenges, and multiple internal customers.
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail, technical rigor, documentation quality, and action follow-through.
- Advanced project and portfolio management capabilities with the ability to organize and manage multiple innovations, raw material, and commercialization projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule during trials, key business deadlines, plant start-ups, and commercialization milestones.
- Must be team oriented with the ability to lead high-collaboration, high-performance teams across functions, geographies, and external partners.
- Strategic Mindset – Establishes a long-term innovation vision that aligns material technology investments and product development priorities with business strategy and growth objectives.
- Decision Quality – Evaluates complex technical, financial, and operational information to make sound, data-driven decisions that balance innovation opportunities with business risks.
- Innovation – Identifies emerging materials, technologies, and product concepts that challenge conventional approaches and create differentiated commercial value.
- Collaborates – Builds productive partnerships across functions, technical disciplines, suppliers, and external innovation networks to accelerate commercialization.
- Develops Talent – Strengthens technical capabilities through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and accountability while fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.
- Communicates Effectively – Translates complex technical findings, business cases, and strategic recommendations into clear, persuasive communications for executive leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Apply today to join a fast-growing innovative company!
No unsolicited recruiter or agency inquiries, please.
RCP affords equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability status, sex, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, national origin, genetics, genetic information, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. RCP conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
Product Innovation Manager Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsProduct Innovation Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Education
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in product innovation manager jobs.
- 5 or more years of product development or innovation management experience
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams through full product life cycles
- Proficiency with design thinking methodologies and structured ideation frameworks
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related technical or design field
- Experience with stage-gate processes, agile development, or lean startup methods
- Strong business case development and executive stakeholder communication skills
Tips for Your Product Innovation Manager Job Search
Quantify your innovation portfolio outcomes
Hiring managers want proof of commercial impact, not just process involvement. For each project, state the revenue generated, cost reduced, or time-to-market shortened. Vague claims like 'led cross-functional teams' won't differentiate you from dozens of similar resumes.
Tailor your resume to stage-gate language
Many product innovation roles use stage-gate or agile-hybrid development frameworks. If your resume uses generic project management language, reframe your experience around ideation, prototyping, validation, and launch phases to match how hiring teams read applications.
Target companies by innovation investment signals
Filter openings by companies that have recently announced R&D expansions, new product lines, or innovation labs. These employers are actively building teams, not backfilling, which means your application lands when budget and urgency are aligned.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists product innovation manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a structured innovation case for interviews
Expect at least one scenario question asking you to walk through how you would take an ambiguous opportunity from insight to concept to business case. Prepare a real example with a clear problem definition, the validation method you used, and the decision you made based on the data.
Negotiate scope and resources, not just salary
When evaluating an offer, ask specifically about innovation budget authority, headcount access, and how much time you'll own versus support other teams' priorities. Managers who lack resource control often find the role narrower than the job description suggested.
Product Innovation Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most product innovation managers?
The most active employers for product innovation managers right now are NIKE, Mastercard, and Bain & Company, and the most openings are in California, Texas, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Consumer goods, healthcare, and technology companies tend to maintain the most consistent demand for this role.
How many product innovation manager jobs are remote?
About 90% of product innovation manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility trends in product and strategy roles. Sub-areas focused on digital product innovation and software-driven portfolios tend to have the highest share of remote-eligible positions, while roles tied to physical product development or manufacturing typically require more on-site presence.
How do you become a product innovation manager?
Most product innovation managers move into the role from adjacent functions like product management, brand management, R&D, or strategy consulting. Building a portfolio of innovation projects with measurable outcomes is more important than any single credential. Developing fluency in design thinking, business case development, and cross-functional facilitation gives you the practical toolkit most hiring teams are evaluating. Some candidates also pursue certifications in innovation frameworks or design-led strategy to formalize their background.
Can you get a product innovation manager job without direct experience in the title?
Yes, many candidates earn their first product innovation manager role by repositioning adjacent experience from product management, marketing, or strategy. The key is demonstrating that you've owned innovation cycles end to end, even informally. Highlight instances where you identified an unmet need, validated a concept, built a business case, and shepherded it toward launch. Employers weight demonstrated judgment and outcome ownership more heavily than a matching job title.
What does the product innovation manager interview process look like?
Most processes involve an initial recruiter screen, a hiring manager conversation focused on your innovation experience and leadership style, and one or more rounds with cross-functional stakeholders from R&D, marketing, or finance. Expect at least one structured case or scenario exercise where you walk through how you would develop and prioritize an innovation opportunity. Final rounds often include a presentation of a past project or a take-home business case to assess strategic thinking and communication.
Where can I find and apply to product innovation manager jobs?
You can find and apply to product innovation manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 120+ Product Innovation Manager Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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