Product Manager – Returnable Drum Program (Band 7), EMEA

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic, data-driven Product Manager (Band 7) to lead the Returnable Drum Program across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. This role is critical to developing and expanding our sustainable packaging solutions for bulk chemicals and reagents, enhancing our customer value proposition, and driving environmental impact reduction across the supply chain.

The ideal candidate will collaborate cross-functionally with operations, supply chain, commercial, EH&S, and marketing teams to deliver innovative, scalable, and compliant returnable packaging solutions tailored for regional customer needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Ownership & Strategy

• Own and evolve the EMEA Returnable Drum Program strategy in alignment with regional business needs, operational capabilities & global sustainability goals.
• Serve as the EMEA Returnable Drum program leader by driving program standardization, representing customer interests and coordinating between cross-functional partners
• Ensure customer forecasts are tracked against contract obligations & communicate demand to support site supply and capacity planning.

Product Lifecycle & Innovation

• Lead cross-functional teams through development, testing, and commercialization of new Returnable Drum program formats or technologies to drive adoption, standardization & scale across key market segments
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and stay current on sustainability packaging trends, return logistics, and regulatory shifts in EMEA.
• Lead the EMEA Returnable Drum team in proactive management of customer contracts, asset management, and program demand changes.
• Work with the Custom & Bulk Services General Manager to review new business proposals & expected investments required to support growth

Team Management & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Enable outstanding performance of the EMEA Returnable Drum team by offering coaching & removing barriers to execution
• Work closely with EMEA marketing & commercial teams to understand customer pain points and integrate returnable packaging solutions into regional sales strategies.
• Liaise with supply chain and operations to ensure logistical feasibility and return infrastructure readiness.
• Partner with EH&S, regulatory, and legal functions to ensure product compliance with local and international transport, reuse, and safety regulations.

Customer Relationship Management

• Support quarterly business reviews (QBRs), executive presentations, and customer-facing collateral.
• Gather voice-of-customer (VOC) insights to drive design thinking and solution optimization.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and stay current on sustainability packaging trends, return logistics, and regulatory shifts in EMEA.

Metrics & Reporting

• Track and communicate program KPIs, including return rates, usage trends, cost/benefit performance, and environmental impact.
• Utilize data to identify & escalate critical issues that may impact performance or customer experience to Custom & Bulk Services General Manager and site leaders

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 5+ years of product management, program management, or supply chain experience.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• Experience working in a matrixed, multinational organization.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in packaging sustainability, returnable assets, or logistics within the chemicals, life sciences, or manufacturing industries.
• Familiarity with EMEA regional regulatory compliance and supply chain operations.
• Fluency in one or more European languages is a plus.