Product Manager – Special Building Materials (SBM)
PRODUCT MANAGER
SPECIAL BUILDING MATERIALS
Location: Romania | National Coverage
We are recruiting a technically credible and commercially agile Product Manager to strengthen and expand the market positioning of special mortars and advanced building systems within an international market leader.
The role is central to shaping the product strategy, influencing technical decision-makers, supporting the sales force, and ensuring high-performance SBM solutions are adopted in infrastructure, utilities (UGC), industrial, and structural repair projects.
This position requires a rare combination of technical depth, market awareness, and portfolio ownership, with the ability to navigate both strategic product development and real-world application conditions.
ROLE PURPOSE
The Product Manager will lead the development, positioning, and performance of the Special Building Materials (SBM) product portfolio, covering mortars for structural repair, grouts, anchoring systems, industrial flooring, waterproofing solutions, and UGC-related materials.
You will work cross-functionally with sales teams, design offices, contractors, applicators, and internal R&D/technical departments to ensure the portfolio is competitive, relevant, and fully aligned with market needs.
Your work directly impacts product adoption in specifications, market share, profitable growth, and launch success.
Regular market visits, customer interactions, competitive benchmarking, and participation in technical events will be part of your routine.
KEY CHALLENGES & REQUIREMENTS
- Product & Portfolio Strategy Leadership
You will define and steer the strategy for special mortars and building systems — ensuring the portfolio is aligned with market trends, competitive intelligence, and application standards.
Requirement: Solid technical foundation in construction materials (mortars, concrete repair, waterproofing, industrial flooring, grouts, anchoring, UGC systems) combined with proven product management or technical sales experience.
- Technical Influence Across the Construction Ecosystem
Success requires credibility with design engineers, contractors, applicators, and internal technical teams, translating SBM features into clear system benefits and competitive differentiation.
Requirement: Strong understanding of material behaviour on-site and the ability to explain technical advantages in a structured, persuasive manner.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Market Enablement
You will work closely with the sales force, supporting them with product training, technical presentations, commercial arguments, and competitive battlecards. You will also collaborate with R&D, marketing, logistics, and quality teams.
Requirement: Strong communication skills, the ability to simplify complex technical topics, and experience working in a matrix organization.
- Market Insight, Benchmarking & Competitive Positioning
You will continuously monitor competitor moves (Sika, Mapei, Soprema, Chryso, Master Builders Solutions, MC-Bauchemie, etc.), pricing strategies, and emerging technologies to refine product positioning.
Requirement: Analytical mindset, structured approach to product performance monitoring, and experience in market-driven decision-making.
- Product Launch Excellence & Value Proposition Development
The role requires ownership of the full launch process: defining value propositions, preparing launch materials, conducting training sessions, and supporting commercial rollout nationwide.
Requirement: Experience managing end-to-end product introductions, including technical documentation, TDS creation, application guides, and system files.
- On-Site Credibility & Application Awareness
Direct engagement with contractors and applicators is essential to validate feasibility, troubleshoot issues, and adapt systems to real-world conditions.
Requirement: Strong practical understanding of material application methods, substrate conditions, environmental constraints, and execution challenges.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related technical field.
Professional Experience
5–7+ years of experience in:
- Product Management, Technical Sales, Business Development, or Specifications in the construction materials industry
- Special mortars / repair mortars / grouts / waterproofing / industrial flooring / UGC systems
- Working with design institutes, contractors, distributors, and applicators
Technical Skills
- Understanding of relevant EN norms, technical approvals, and system design principles
- Ability to prepare clear TDS, system documents, method statements, and technical proposals
- Strong analytical skills for pricing, portfolio profitability, and market analysis
Soft Skills
- Strong stakeholder influence and relationship-building
- Clear communicator with excellent presentation skills
- Structured, analytical, commercially minded
- High autonomy, initiative, and curiosity
- Ability to work across functions and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
ATTRACTIVE ASPECTS
This role offers the opportunity to significantly influence the adoption of high-performance building materials across Romania — combining technical depth, strategic ownership, and strong market visibility.
You will work with advanced technologies, collaborate with leading engineering/design companies and contractors, and shape the SBM category in a company recognized worldwide for innovation and performance.
For a technically solid professional who enjoys both product strategy and field interaction, this role provides a unique blend of impact, autonomy, and growth potential.
APPLICATION PROCESS
If this opportunity aligns with your technical expertise and professional ambitions, please submit your CV in English.
Qualified candidates will participate in a structured evaluation process focusing on technical competence, product management capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration.
If you know someone who may be a strong fit, feel free to share this opportunity.
We welcome resumes or / and recommendations in English Language until latest FRIDAY 23.01.2025.
If, this opportunity does not interest you, but you would like to recommend a member of your professional network who might have the right profile and a potential interest in pursuing it, please don’t hesitate to forward them this ad or directly send us their coordinates.
Please consider that only the suitable candidates will be contacted for interview, but we appreciate everyone’s interest in our projects and would like to keep in touch for future projects.
Pendl & Piswanger offers HR and management advisory services in the last 40 years in CEE. As members of InterSearch, a worldwide executive search firm with more than 100 offices in 50 countries, we are amongst the top search firms globally and operate across all major industry sectors. We are experienced, innovative, and totally committed to our clients who gain competitive advantage by hiring great people. For more information, please visit www.ro.intersearch.org.