Formulation Manager Jobs in Maple Grove, MN (NOW HIRING)

Product Manager – Resin Formulated Systems & Gel Coat

Location:  Vadnais Heights, MN (On-site)

What is IP Corporation?

IP Corporation is a privately held, family-owned chemical manufacturing organization with more than 70 years of stability, innovation, and growth.

Headquartered in Minnesota, IP Corporation supports a portfolio of operating companies that manufacture and distribute resins, gel coats, composite materials, and specialty polymer solutions used across a wide range of industrial applications.

Our operating companies—Interplastic Corporation, North American Composites, HK Research, and Molding Products—work together to deliver technical expertise, high-quality products, and long-term partnerships to customers around the world. We are known for our customer-first mindset, strong technical capabilities, and collaborative culture built on trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What is a Product Manager – Resin Formulated Systems & Gel Coat?

The Product Manager – Gel Coat & Resin Formulated Systems is responsible for driving the strategic direction, commercial success, and lifecycle management of IP Corporation's portfolio of formulated gel coats, resin systems, and other specialty polymer products. This role serves as the primary connection between customers, sales, R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, and regulatory teams to ensure products meet evolving market needs while delivering profitable growth.

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales, the Product Manager will translate customer application requirements and market insights into product strategies, lead new product development initiatives, optimize existing formulations, and guide pricing, forecasting, and portfolio decisions. This position requires a unique blend of commercial leadership, technical expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to successfully grow and manage a high-performing specialty products portfolio.

What You'll Do as a Product Manager – Resin Formulated Systems & Gel Coat:

Product & Portfolio Management

• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned gel coat, resin, and specialty formulated product lines, from concept and formulation development through commercialization, optimization, and product retirement.
• Develop and execute product roadmaps aligned with business strategy, customer needs, manufacturing capabilities, and market opportunities.
• Define product positioning, value propositions, target applications, and performance objectives.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews to identify opportunities for line extensions, reformulations, cost optimization initiatives, and portfolio rationalization.
• Identify and promote the adoption of gel coat and resin technologies across existing and emerging applications, specifications, and markets.
• Support and lead new product introductions by partnering with cross-functional teams throughout development and commercialization.

Customer & Market Leadership

• Serve as the voice of the customer by translating application requirements—including processing behavior, cure profiles, regulatory compliance, aesthetics, durability, specifications, and cost-in-use—into actionable product development priorities.
• Partner with Sales and Technical Service to support customer visits, technical discussions, product evaluations, application trials, and strategic account initiatives.
• Serve as the primary technical and commercial subject matter expert for gel coat, resin, and specialty formulated products.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customer stakeholders across both direct and distribution channels.
• Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, feedstock markets, and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities and mitigate business risks.
• Represent IP Corporation through active participation in industry associations, trade shows, customer events, and technical committees.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Develop pricing strategy recommendations that balance customer value, market competitiveness, raw material costs, and profitability.
• Monitor product line performance including sales volume, margins, profitability, and market share.
• Provide forecasting input and actively participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities to align customer demand with manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop business cases supporting new product development, reformulation initiatives, and capital investment opportunities.
• Recommend actions that improve long-term product profitability and portfolio performance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead collaboration across R&D, Manufacturing, Procurement, Quality, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to execute product strategies.
• Translate market requirements into clearly defined technical development objectives, formulation targets, and product specifications.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure formulations are scalable, manufacturable, and cost-effective across production sites.
• Support product launches through development of technical documentation, product positioning materials, customer communications, internal training, and sales enablement resources.

Technical & Regulatory Support

• Maintain strong technical knowledge of gel coat and resin chemistry, additives, fillers, pigments, inhibitors, curing technologies, and formulated systems.
• Ensure products comply with applicable regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements while supporting strong product stewardship practices.
• Lead or support reformulation initiatives driven by regulatory changes, raw material availability, supply chain challenges, or cost optimization efforts.
• Partner with laboratory and technical service teams to support product validation, troubleshooting, customer trials, performance testing, and field issue resolution.

What We're Looking For in a Product Manager – Resin Formulated Systems & Gel Coat:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Five (5) or more years of experience within specialty chemicals, formulated products, gel coats, resin manufacturing, or related industries.
• Experience in Product Management, Technical Marketing, Applications Engineering, or another customer-facing technical/commercial role.
• Strong understanding of gel coat and resin markets, product lifecycle management, application requirements, and value-based selling.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience working directly with customers, including strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to work safely and independently.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License.
• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred

• Hands-on experience with gel coat, resin, vinyl ester, unsaturated polyester (UPR), epoxy, or other thermoset resin formulations.
• Experience managing pricing strategies, feedstock volatility, and raw material sourcing within specialty chemical markets.
• Product line P&L or margin management experience.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations or global product portfolios.
• Familiarity working with distribution channel sales models.
• Experience using Salesforce or other CRM platforms.
• MBA or advanced technical degree.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong commercial mindset supported by technical credibility with customers and internal technical teams.
• Ability to balance customer performance requirements with manufacturing capabilities, supply constraints, and profitability objectives.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective problem-solving and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building abilities across cross-functional teams.
• Ability to influence decisions and drive alignment without direct reporting authority.
• Comfortable working in dynamic market environments with changing customer and feedstock conditions.

Working Conditions:

• Office-based position with regular interaction across laboratory, manufacturing, and corporate environments.
• Frequent travel (up to 50%) to customer locations, manufacturing facilities, distributors, and industry events.
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing and laboratory environments requiring appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Why Join IP Corporation?

• Be part of a stable, privately held organization with more than 70 years of innovation and market leadership.
• Work alongside technical experts and commercial leaders to shape the future of industry-leading gel coat and resin technologies.
• Competitive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous PTO, and 401(k) with company match.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a collaborative, customer-focused, and values-driven organization.

IP Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws.

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