PPG Industries

Principal Digital Product Manager - Formulation AI Activation

PPG Industries • $120K — $150K *
Pittsburgh, PA 15237Hybrid
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
1 week ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years' experience in digital product management or AI/ML activation.
  • Background in formulations, materials science, chemistry, or process engineering.
  • Experience with scaled activation and change management initiatives.
  • Strong Agile/SAFe methodology experience.
  • Openness to 20-30% travel.

Responsibilities

  • Define enterprise activation strategy and roadmap for Formulation AI.
  • Translate operational and commercial needs into actionable activation requirements.
  • Lead product discovery for adoption challenges, executing experiments and pilots.
  • Develop activation playbooks and training materials for users.
  • Utilize data analytics for decision-making in governance and compliance.
  • Prioritize user stories and manage team backlogs for activation initiatives.
  • Build stakeholder networks and manage financial planning for activation programs.

Benefits

  • In-person collaboration Monday through Thursday, with flexible remote work on Fridays.
  • Opportunities for career development and cross-functional teamwork.
Full Job Description
PPG is scaling Formulation AI to transform how we design, validate, and commercialize coatings. As Principal Digital Product Manager - Formulation AI Activation, you will set the enterprise activation strategy, influence functional direction, and drive adoption across S&T labs, manufacturing plants, and adjacent commercial workflows. You will operate with substantial latitude on broad, complex, and high-impact initiatives. It requires advanced judgment, cross-functional influence, and the ability to create scalable solutions. These solutions shape our AI-enabled future.

Key Responsibilities

Activation Strategy & Vision
  • Define the enterprise activation strategy and roadmap for Formulation AI; set quarterly OKRs and success metrics for awareness, onboarding, enablement, expansion, and realized value.
  • Translate scientific, operational, and commercial needs into activation requirements; articulate value propositions by persona and business context, including formulators, lab managers, process engineers, product managers, and senior functional leaders.
  • Apply deep understanding of coatings technology, AI/ML, data ecosystems, and product activation to guide priorities, resolve unusually complex issues, and contribute thought leadership that advances the AI product discipline.

Discovery, Product-Led & Change Management
  • Lead product discovery for broad and ambiguous adoption challenges; prioritize hypotheses and run experiments, pilots, and lighthouse deployments to de-risk adoption and maximize value delivery to internal customers.
  • Build and iterate activation playbooks (pilot designs, lighthouse labs, cohort rollouts), including training curricula, office hours, "champions" networks, and in-product guidance.
  • Anticipate internal and external business trends, identify process changes needed for organization-wide adoption, and partner with HR/L&D, Communications, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders on enablement and change narratives.

Data, Integrations & Governance
  • Use analytics and advanced judgment to inform decisions across master data sources, data quality, integrations, and automation opportunities; establish telemetry for activation funnels, feature usage, value capture, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure model governance, compliance, safety, data access controls, provenance, auditability, and human-in-the-loop controls are embedded in activation motions and scalable operating procedures.

Delivery & Backlog Leadership
  • Define and prioritize user stories across multiple team backlogs aligned to the activation roadmap; determine methods and procedures for new or special assignments and maintain features/components that enable scale, including onboarding, guidance, feedback loops, and reusable activation assets.
  • Review completed work and accept stories; exercise independent judgment in resolving delivery tradeoffs and ensure cross-functional testing plans and UAT for new features that impact activation.

Stakeholder, Financials & Operating Model
  • Build and manage senior stakeholder networks across S&T, IT, Data/ML, manufacturing, commercial, legal/compliance, and external partners; provide clear updates, manage expectations, and influence decisions throughout the lifecycle of activation initiatives.
  • Own financial planning and value realization for activation programs, including capital requests, OPEX planning, spend-rate monitoring, partner SOWs, vendor performance, budget tradeoffs, and quantified ROI.
  • Coordinate across IT, Data, ML platform, business, and vendor teams; identify and resolve dependencies spanning data scientists, ML engineers, developers, product teams, and business users.
  • Coach, mentor, and formally uplevel employees with less experience; develop playbooks, training materials, and best practices that strengthen PPG's AI product and activation discipline.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or global equivalent in a related discipline required; Master's degree, MBA, PhD, or global equivalent preferred.
  • 10+ years of increasing responsibility and complexity in digital product management, AI/ML product activation or coatings development.
  • Background in formulations, materials science, chemistry, or process engineering.
  • Experience leading scaled activation, change management, AI/ML adoption, and complex cross-functional transformation initiatives.
  • Strong Agile/SAFe expertise.
  • Willingness to travel 20-30%.


How we work: At PPG, we bring teams together to accelerate collaboration and career development, with in-person work Monday through Thursday and the opportunity to work remotely on Flexible Fridays. Schedules may vary by location.

About PPG Industries

PPG Industrial Coatings is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, and building materials. They have been pioneering in complete solutions focused on technology and quality in the industrial market.

PPG Industries Careers

Join the vibrant team at PPG Industries, a leader in diversified coatings and specialty materials, where innovation thrives and career growth is fostered. At PPG Industries, we are committed to providing a dynamic work environment that encourages professional development and leadership.

Work You’ll Do

At PPG Industries, your work will directly contribute to the company's mission of protecting and beautifying the world. As part of our team, you will use your skills to advance coating technologies, collaborate on industry-leading projects, and help customers navigate their challenges in new and innovative ways.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Become a part of a company where diversity and inclusion fuel our success. PPG Industries is home to a global team of professionals dedicated to operational excellence and innovative solutions. Here, you can lead in the marketplace by leveraging our industry expertise and global reach.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that makes a difference. PPG Industries is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions that customers depend on to enhance their products and protect the environment. Our commitment to innovation is evident in every layer of our business, from research and development to marketing and sales.

Career Development

Future-proof your career at PPG Industries. We offer a wealth of job opportunities and paths to advancement, supported by comprehensive training and diversity programs. Whether you're seeking an internship, an entry-level position, or a leadership role, PPG provides the resources and support to help you succeed.

Be Part of a Great Team

Our culture is built on collaboration and respect, with a focus on achieving collective goals. At PPG Industries, you’ll work alongside talented individuals who share your passion for excellence and innovation. Together, we drive the industry forward, making an impact on a global scale.

Explore Job Opportunities

PPG Industries is hiring! Explore open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. From internships to full-time roles, each position offers a chance to thrive in a nurturing environment.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest career tips, industry insights, and company news—all from the people who work at PPG Industries. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails, tailored to your preferences and professional goals.

Networking and Professional Growth

Take advantage of PPG’s extensive networking opportunities. Connect with leaders and peers within the company through various platforms and events. Enhance your resume, prepare for your next interview, and build relationships that could shape the future of your career. At PPG Industries, we don’t just offer jobs—we offer careers filled with growth, support, and endless possibilities. Join us and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Learn more about PPG Industries
Size
49,300 employees
Market Cap
$29.5 billion
Industry
Food & Beverages
Net Income
$1 billion
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
+3.3%
Revenue
$13.8 billion
NASDAQ
PPG
* Ladders Estimates

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