Product Line Manager - Wetlaid

Overview

Magnera's purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. For more than 160 years, the originating companies have delivered the material solutions their partners need to thrive. Through economic upheaval, global pandemics and changing end-user needs, they have consistently found ways to solve problems and exceed expectations. By bringing together these legacy companies, the distinct scale and comprehensive portfolio of products will bring customers more materials and choices. With a combined legacy of resilience, Magnera will build personal partnerships that withstand an ever-changing world.

Responsibilities

The Product Line Manager – Wetlaid is responsible for driving profitable and sustainable growth of the Wetlaid product portfolio by aligning market needs, product strategy, innovation, and operational capabilities.

The role acts as the central connector between the market and internal functions, ensuring that portfolio decisions, innovation priorities, and commercial strategies are clearly defined, aligned, and executed effectively.

The PLM owns the end-to-end product line performance, including portfolio management, innovation roadmap, market development, and pricing strategy, while ensuring cross-functional coordination across Sales, Product Development, Operations, and Finance.

• Portfolio Management & Strategy
• Own and manage the Wetlaid product portfolio across its full lifecycle (launch, growth, maturity, phase-out)
• Define and continuously refine the product line strategy, aligned with market needs and company priorities
• Lead portfolio reviews, identifying:
• Growth opportunities
• Rationalization / phase-out needs
• Gaps in the portfolio
• Ensure alignment between portfolio decisions and operational capabilities (assets, costs, constraints)
• Monitor product line performance (volume, margin, mix) and define actions to improve profitability
• Innovation Roadmap & Pipeline
• Define and own the innovation roadmap for Wetlaid, aligned with market opportunities and strategic priorities
• Translate market needs into clear development priorities and project scopes
• Prioritize and manage the innovation pipeline in coordination with:
• Product Development
• Front-End Innovation
• Operations
• Ensure structured governance of innovation projects (priorities, timelines, resources, trade-offs)
• Monitor and manage pipeline progress, ensuring timely and impactful delivery
• Market Development & Business Growth
• Identify and prioritize target markets, segments, and applications for Wetlaid solutions
• Work closely with Sales to:
• Develop key customer opportunities
• Support strategic projects and trials
• Define value propositions and application positioning
• Drive expansion into new applications, customers, and regions
• Act as a key interface with customers when needed (visits, workshops, validation)
• Pricing Strategy & Profitability
• Define and implement pricing strategy aligned with value proposition and market positioning
• Work with Finance and Sales to:
• Ensure margin targets are met
• Understand cost structures and profitability drivers
• Develop pricing guidelines and support strategic quotations
• Monitor price realization, mix, and margin evolution
• Identify opportunities to improve value capture and profitability
• Cross-Functional Alignment & Execution
• Act as the central coordination point between:
• Sales
• Product Development / R&D
• Operations
• Finance
• Ensure alignment on:
• Priorities
• Roadmaps
• Resource allocation
• Drive execution of key PLM initiatives and ensure:
• Clear objectives
• Structured follow-up
• Transparent communication
• Resolve trade-offs between market needs and operational constraints
• Market, Competitive & Performance Intelligence
• Build and maintain a strong understanding of:
• Market trends and dynamics
• Customer needs and application evolution
• Competitive landscape (technologies, positioning, pricing)
• Analyze product line performance, including:
• Volume, revenue, margin, and mix
• Profitability drivers and risks
• Translate data and insights into clear recommendations and actions
• Support development of dashboards and reporting tools (with Finance / BI).
  

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience across Product Management, Business Development, R&D, or Application Development, preferably within Wetlaid technologies, Nonwovens or related industries
• Proven experience managing or contributing to product portfolios and innovation pipelines
• Strong understanding of manufacturing environments, process capabilities, and cost structures
• Experience working in cross-functional, matrix organizations
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Textiles, or related field (Master’s is a plus)
• Strong financial acumen and ability to understand margin and profitability drivers
• Experience interacting with customers and commercial teams
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Strong ability to connect market needs, product strategy, and operational capabilities
• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution capability
• Analytical skills to interpret:
• Market intelligence
• Financial performance
• Portfolio dynamics
• Ability to prioritize and make decisions under uncertainty
• Strong cross-functional influence without direct authority
• Clear communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to structure complexity into clear strategies and actions
• Collaborative, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus
• Ability to work effectively in a remote environment. Location: Remote within Europe. Preference for candidates based in the UK or Germany, due to proximity to key Wetlaid sites and markets.
• Willingness to travel (~40%)