Senior Product Manager – Aroma Chemicals

We are supporting a global ingredients business with the appointment of a Senior Product Manager to take ownership of its North American Aroma Chemicals portfolio.

This is much broader than a traditional product management position.

You will effectively operate as the business manager for the category, taking responsibility for commercial performance, P&L, pricing, purchasing strategy, supplier relationships, inventory, market positioning and ultimately the continued growth of an established portfolio.

The business operates with a lean, entrepreneurial structure, so this opportunity will suit someone who enjoys autonomy, makes commercial decisions confidently and wants genuine ownership rather than operating within a narrow corporate remit.

The Role

You will take responsibility for the commercial and strategic management of the Aroma Chemicals portfolio across the US and Canada.

This will include:

• Owning and developing the category P&L, with responsibility for revenue, gross margin and profitability
• Developing the portfolio and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth
• Monitoring global market conditions and using this insight to guide pricing, purchasing and inventory decisions
• Managing trading exposure, including appropriate long and short positions within agreed parameters
• Negotiating pricing, supply agreements and commercial terms with producers
• Building strong, long-term relationships with global suppliers and manufacturing partners
• Working closely with international sourcing teams across markets including China, India and Indonesia
• Maintaining appropriate inventory levels, stock turns and contractual supply positions
• Supporting Account Managers with pricing, product knowledge and commercial strategy
• Working directly with customers where your market or technical expertise adds value
• Identifying and evaluating new products, suppliers and market opportunities
• Collaborating with Sales and Commercial leadership on strategic accounts and growth opportunities
• Developing relationships across the flavour, fragrance, personal care and wider ingredients markets
• Representing the business at customer meetings, supplier visits and relevant industry events

This is a role where commercial judgement matters. Aroma Chemicals can be a volatile market, and you will need to understand when to take a position, how to manage risk and how market movements can be turned into profitable opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone with genuine depth of experience within the Aroma Chemicals industry.

You will ideally have:

• At least 5–8 years' relevant Aroma Chemicals experience
• A strong commercial background within sales, trading, product or category management
• Detailed knowledge of the North American Aroma Chemicals market
• Demonstrable experience managing pricing, purchasing, inventory and commercial risk
• Evidence of successfully growing revenue, gross margin or profitability within a product portfolio
• Strong relationships across customers, suppliers and the wider industry
• The confidence to negotiate with producers and make independent commercial decisions
• Strong communication and relationship-management skills
• An entrepreneurial, self-directed approach and willingness to take ownership
• The ability to operate effectively across global time zones and international supply markets

Experience working directly with supply partners in Asia would be advantageous, as would a technical or scientific background, although commercial capability is the priority.

This opportunity is unlikely to suit someone looking for a highly siloed position where procurement, pricing, inventory, sales and supplier management are handled by separate functions.

The successful person will need to be comfortable owning the whole category.

The Opportunity

The existing Aroma Chemicals portfolio provides a substantial platform from which to grow.

You will join a global business with deep relationships at supply origin, an established North American customer base and the infrastructure to support further expansion.

Importantly, you will be given the autonomy to influence how that growth happens.

Success will ultimately be measured by the development of the category: increasing profitability, strengthening customer and supplier relationships, expanding market penetration and building the portfolio beyond where it sits today.

The preferred location is New Jersey, where the core Aroma Chemicals team is based, with Chicago also an option. Remote candidates may be considered where the experience is particularly compelling.

For someone who knows the Aroma Chemicals market and wants the opportunity to genuinely own and build a significant North American business, this is a rare opportunity.