Application and Business Development Manager, Composites

Overview

Trinseo is a different kind of global materials company – at the intersection of people, technology, and customers. We are a world leader in the production of plastics and latex binders. Our culture is built on passion and innovation.

A career at Trinseo presents a unique opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment. Helping customers solve their most complex material challenges is the reason we come to work each day. We are seeking innovative thinkers – ready to tackle any challenge and passionate about delivering value.

As a global materials solutions provider focused on delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers, we need people to feel respected and included so they can be more creative, innovative, and successful. We strive to create workplaces that reflect all communities and customers we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. That's why we're fully committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience to drive us forward every day.

Role Overview:

The purpose of this job is to fuel organic growth for the company by developing a continuous pipeline of opportunities in the composite’s application space in non-auto markets.

New Business Acquisition ("Hunting"):

. Responsible for identifying, positioning and developing new high value opportunities in the composite’s application space in non-auto markets for sustainable and profitable growth by working with key or developmental Brand owners’ / OEM customers (established and start-up companies). 

. Prospect new OEM accounts, Tier-1 suppliers, and custom molders via cold outreach, industry networking, and technical trade shows.

. Search and understand the current and future needs of market, identify players, define a participation plan (customer prioritization, network mapping), and implement Trinseo’ s value positioning strategy.

. Prioritize and lead the application development projects from the advanced development (ideation) to its implementation (Start-Of-Production). Work closely with T&I and sales to ensure successful product trials, validation and nomination for the prioritized applications.

. Be a key interface between the Brand owners / OEMs and Trinseo technical and commercial functions.

Full-Funnel Management:

. Build, maintain, and convert a robust pipeline of application opportunities. Oversee projects from initial sampling to material qualification and support commercial conversion in coordination with Sales.

. Identify, prioritize and organize the key projects for Trinseo: project planning including goals, milestones, network maps to offer appropriate solution to the OEM and at the Tiers.

. Track opportunity progress, drive internal alignment, and ensure accurate reporting via a CRM tool such as Salesforce (SFDC).

Application Engineering Support: Partner with customers to match thermoplastic composite solutions (e.g., unidirectional tapes, semi-pregs, etc.) to structural lightweighting and recyclability goals

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align internal R&D, operations, product management, and technical service teams to deliver custom material formulations or process adjustment

Minimum Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering.

Minimum Experience

• 10+ years of experience in the following areas:
• Composites – Demonstrated Application Development Skills
• Engineering Plastics Market
• Project Management / business development / application development
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Technical:
• Deep level of technical understanding of material performance (polymer and material engineering), customer’s functional and material requirements for an application, market trends and solid understanding of composites in non-auto markets.

Behavioral:

• Market/customer orientation
• Excellent networking skills
• Understanding of work-processes and tools used for effective project management and informal team leadership are critical to the job. This includes good interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand and communicate with different cultures styles (American, European and Asian)
• Ability to think and act in a strategic and tactical way. Gathers input and gains consensus when taking actions and making decisions. Critical thinking, but open and constructive behavior.
• Result and value oriented

Communication:

• English is mandatory, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate strategic plans, needs and progress clearly at various organization levels
• Flexible working hours (early or late internal conference calls with the other regions)

Challenges:

• Balance of actions at OEMs (where the initial requirements are defined) and Tiers (where the validation and final decision is taken in most cases)
• Combination of project management skills (organization of product validation in the lab), marketing skills (understanding of future customer needs), and “value selling” skills (promoting and obtaining product nominations)
• Combination of strategic thinking and operational skills
• Coordination of new targets through the OEM to the tier molders
• Overcoming key competitors that already exist in the market

Equity and Inclusion

With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives, experiences, and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day. Race, gender, ethnicity, country of origin, age, personal style, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, work and life experiences and many more factors contribute to this diversity. We welcome all applicants, regardless of their backgrounds, and are committed to a fair and inclusive hiring process.