Role Overview for Chief Product Officer, Industrial Products – Chicago, IL
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a globally recognized, market-leading industrial products corporation in their search for a transformative Chief Product Officer (CPO). Based in their corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL, this executive will serve as a pivotal member of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Our client is a multi-billion dollar enterprise renowned for its commitment to quality, innovation, and engineering excellence across a diverse portfolio of products serving the construction, aerospace, energy, and heavy machinery sectors.
The Chief Product Officer will be the central visionary force behind the company’s entire product portfolio. This role is not merely about managing existing product lines; it is about architecting the future. You will be responsible for crafting and executing a cohesive, forward-thinking product strategy that anticipates market shifts, capitalizes on technological advancements, and solidifies the company’s position as an industry pioneer. You will lead a large, multi-disciplinary organization encompassing Product Management, Product Design (UI/UX for digital interfaces), and Market Research, fostering a culture of customer-centricity, data-driven decision-making, and relentless innovation.
This is a career-defining opportunity for a seasoned product leader to make a substantial impact on a global scale. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the industrial B2B landscape, a proven track record of launching successful hardware and software-integrated products, and the executive presence to inspire teams and influence stakeholders across the organization. You will be the champion of the product, the voice of the customer, and a key driver of the company’s long-term profitable growth.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Product Officer, Industrial Products – Chicago, IL
Product Vision and Strategic Roadmap
Develop, articulate, and champion a compelling long-term product vision and strategy that aligns with the company’s overall business objectives. Translate this vision into a prioritized, multi-year product roadmap that balances innovation, customer needs, and commercial viability.
Market Intelligence and Opportunity Analysis
Lead comprehensive market research, competitive analysis, and customer feedback initiatives to identify unmet needs and emerging opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve on the latest industrial manufacturing trends, including IoT integration, sustainability, AI-driven automation, and advanced materials.
Full-Lifecycle Product Management
Oversee the entire product lifecycle from concept to end-of-life. Implement and refine best-in-class product development processes (e.g., Stage-Gate, Agile for software components) to ensure timely, on-budget, and high-quality product launches.
Team Leadership and Talent Development
Build, mentor, and lead a world-class global product organization. Foster a dynamic, collaborative, and high-performance culture. Set clear goals, provide regular feedback, and create development opportunities to grow talent from within.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Influence
Serve as the primary liaison between the product organization and other key departments, including Engineering, R&D, Sales, Marketing, and Operations. Ensure seamless alignment on product requirements, go-to-market strategies, and sales enablement to maximize commercial success.
Financial Acumen and P&L Ownership
Take full ownership of the product portfolio’s financial performance. Develop pricing strategies, create business cases for new investments, manage departmental budgets, and be accountable for revenue growth and profitability targets.
Customer Advocacy
Act as the ultimate voice of the customer within the executive team. Establish robust mechanisms for gathering customer insights and ensure that this feedback is integrated into every stage of the product development process.
Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy
Collaborate closely with the Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales to define and execute powerful GTM strategies for new products and major releases, ensuring successful market penetration and adoption.
Requirements for the Chief Product Officer, Industrial Products – Chicago, IL
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15-20 years of progressive experience in product management, with at least 7-10 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., VP of Product, Head of Product) overseeing large, complex product portfolios.
Industry Expertise
Demonstrable experience within the industrial manufacturing, B2B hardware, heavy equipment, automotive, or a related complex engineering sector is mandatory. A deep understanding of industrial customer needs and channel dynamics is critical.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.
Strategic and Visionary Leadership
Proven ability to set a compelling vision and strategy for a product organization and to translate that strategy into actionable roadmaps and successful product launches.
Technical and Business Acumen
Strong technical aptitude with the ability to engage in deep conversations with engineering teams, combined with exceptional business and financial acumen, including direct P&L management experience.
Leadership and Influence
A track record of building, scaling, and mentoring high-performing, globally distributed product teams. Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build consensus among executive peers and the board of directors.
Data-Driven Approach
A strong analytical mindset with a history of using data and key metrics (KPIs) to inform product decisions, drive prioritization, and measure success.
Global Mindset
Experience managing products for a global market, with an understanding of regional nuances and international compliance standards.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their people and offers a comprehensive executive compensation and benefits package designed to attract and retain top-tier talent. This includes:
Executive Compensation
A highly competitive base salary, a significant annual performance-based bonus, and a substantial long-term incentive plan (e.g., stock options, restricted stock units).
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premier medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents, along with a robust wellness program, mental health resources, and fitness subsidies.
Retirement Planning
A best-in-class 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company match and access to financial planning services.
Work-Life Integration
A generous paid time off (PTO) policy, paid company holidays, and parental leave programs to support a healthy work-life balance.
Professional Growth
A dedicated budget for executive coaching, professional development, industry conferences, and continuing education to support your growth as a leader.
Relocation
A comprehensive relocation package is available for the successful candidate and their family.
Additional Perks
Executive car allowance, life and disability insurance, and other perquisites befitting a senior executive role.
How to Apply
This is an exclusive, retained search being conducted by JRG Partners. If you are a visionary product leader with the experience and drive to shape the future of a global industrial powerhouse, we invite you to apply. To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and strategic product philosophy.
For more information about our expertise in this sector, please visit the JRG Partners’ Product Design and Development Recruiters practice page. We look forward to reviewing your application. Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
