Full Job Description
JOB SUMMARY The Director of Application Management - Extrusion is responsible for leading the technical strategy and execution for the Century Extrusion business, with a strong focus on technical applications, customer solutions, and market development. This role requires deep knowledge of extrusion processes, equipment, and applications, with the ability to understand complex customer requirements and translate them into technically sound and commercially viable solutions.
The Director works directly with customers and strategic accounts to identify application needs, develop solutions, support complex opportunities, and drive profitable growth. Working closely with Engineering, Applications, Aftermarket, Marketing, Operations, and executive leadership, this position connects customer and market needs with Century Extrusion's technical capabilities and commercial strategy.
The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise in extrusion applications and engineered capital equipment.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Develop and execute the technical strategy for the Extrusion business to achieve sales, growth, market share, and profitability objectives.
• Serve as a key technical leader for complex extrusion applications and customer opportunities.
• Work directly with customers to understand their materials, processes, production objectives, technical specifications, and application requirements.
• Evaluate customer applications and partner with Engineering and Applications resources to develop appropriate extrusion equipment configurations, process concepts, and technical solutions.
• Provide technical leadership throughout the sales process, including application reviews, equipment recommendations, technical proposals, customer presentations, and complex technical discussions.
• Apply strong knowledge of extrusion processes and equipment to support customer process development, optimization, troubleshooting, and equipment selection.
• Support and participate in customer trials, testing, demonstrations, and other application-development activities required to validate proposed solutions.
• Identify new applications and market opportunities where Century Extrusion's technology and process capabilities can provide customer value.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, strategic accounts, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Lead and support major capital equipment opportunities from initial application development through commercial negotiation and order.
• Develop and execute strategies for strategic and global accounts.
• Ensure customer technical requirements are clearly defined and effectively transferred to Engineering and Operations during project development and execution.
• Support commissioning, startup, and process optimization activities for strategic projects when additional technical or customer support is required.
• Bring the Voice of the Customer into product development, engineering, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify recurring application and customer requirements and translate those needs into opportunities for product development, differentiation, and standardization.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging applications, competitive technologies, customer investment, and market conditions to identify opportunities for growth.
• Partner with Aftermarket to identify opportunities for equipment upgrades, rebuilds, process improvements, wear components, replacement parts, and other lifecycle solutions.
• Ensure accurate pipeline management, forecasting, opportunity tracking, and reporting utilizing Salesforce.
• Support pricing strategies that balance customer value, market competitiveness, and company profitability.
• Partner with Marketing on technical content, market positioning, industry events, promotional activities, and lead-generation initiatives.
• Represent Century Extrusion at customer visits, technical conferences, trade shows, industry organizations, and other relevant events.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Applications, Aftermarket, Operations, and other functions to support customers throughout the sales and project lifecycle.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the technical extrusion team, providing the commercial and technical guidance necessary to successfully pursue complex opportunities.
• Lead and influence direct and matrixed resources to execute commercial and customer objectives.
• Travel domestically and internationally up to 50%.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant industrial experience, including technical and direct capital equipment sales experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of sales, commercial, or business leadership experience.
• Strong technical experience with twin screw extrusion equipment, processes, and applications.
• Demonstrated experience with polymer processing, plastics compounding, engineered materials, or related extrusion applications.
• Strong understanding of customer materials, process requirements, production objectives, and equipment specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate technical applications and translate customer requirements into equipment and process solutions.
• Experience supporting application development, customer trials, process optimization, commissioning, and/or troubleshooting.
• Experience managing complex engineered capital equipment opportunities and strategic customer relationships.
• Proven success developing commercial growth and market development strategies.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Applications, Manufacturing, Operations, and Aftermarket.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including pricing, margins, forecasting, budgets, and profitability.
• Strong technical problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, communication, leadership, and influencing skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead effectively within a global and matrixed organization.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Strong experience with co-rotating twin-screw extrusion equipment and processes.
• Experience within polymer, plastics, battery materials, rubber, petrochemical compounding, and/or engineered materials applications.
• Experience with extrusion process development, optimization, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Experience conducting or supporting customer trials and technical demonstrations.
• Knowledge of Engineering and Manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting global customers and international markets.
