Market Manager

Kuraray America•Fort Mill, SC

About The Position

The Vectran Market Manage r is responsible for leading market development, sales support, and marketing strategy for Vectran products across North America. This role serves as the primary liaison between customers, sales, technical teams, and global stakeholders to drive sustainable growth, pricing strategy, and competitive positioning. The position represents North America within the broader sales organization and contributes to the development of policies, procedures, and long-term objectives related to the marketing and sale of Vectran products and services. This role is based in the Fort Mill, South Carolina area. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to Fort Mill or the surrounding area

Requirements

BS in Engineering (chemical, mechanical, polymer, textile) or a Technical Field is required.
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in sales and marketing/market development in technical fiber, textile markets, or related industries
Up to 50% travel, including international (Europe & Asia).
Strong knowledge of core business topics, including finance, legal (contracts, intellectual property, and risk management), and sales and marketing.
Proven ability to multitask and work effectively with people across functions.
Thorough technical understanding of fibers and textiles, as well as related products (e.g., ropes, tethers), and their manufacturing processes.
Familiarity with technical sales/marketing techniques (e.g. box sales).
Excellent communication skills with a demonstrated record of conference presentations, technical talks, or panel participation.
Experience contributing to industry-relevant white papers or other published technical documents.
Proficiency in PC and business tools, including Power BI, Power Query, SAP, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
Strong skills in problem solving, data analysis, budgeting, and financial modeling

Nice To Haves

Advanced technical degree ( PhD) in polymer, chemical, mechanical, or textile engineering or a related technical discipline.
Track record of successful business growth outside of the USA.
Working knowledge of relevant technical standards (ropes and cables) and relevant test methods
Previous experience in standards committees (ISO, CI)
Basic knowledge around finite element analysis
Statistical analysis/designed experiment experience

Responsibilities

Business Development & Customer Management Develop new business opportunities within the North American market.
Conduct sales calls and manage ongoing engagement with existing and prospective customers.
Schedule and execute promotional activities to support market growth.
Identify and clarify key issues and opportunities within large, complex customer accounts.
Navigate and manage complex supply chains and new or emerging territories.
Prepare price quotations and customer proposals.
Communicate terms of sale, contract conditions, and delivery timelines to customers.
Compile and analyze data related to market trends and competitive products.
Technical & Customer Support Provide technical support for major customer accounts in the U.S. and internationally.
Coordinate with North American and Japanese technical resources to support customers.
Analyze customer products, competitive offerings, and manufacturing processes.
Support customer process improvement initiatives.
Contribute to new fiber product development efforts in collaboration with technical teams.
Participate in relevant industry standards development committees such as ISO and Cordage Institute.
Statistical analysis and development of Designed Experiments.
New Product Development & Market Intelligence Support new product development by identifying customer needs and market opportunities.
Gather and evaluate customer ideas and feedback to inform innovation efforts.
Analyze market trends and intellectual property developments.
Communicate insights to technical and R&D teams to enable targeted research activities.
Business Planning & Forecasting Lead business planning activities, including sales forecasting and multi-year budgeting.
Develop and manage pricing plans over multi-year periods.
Maintain and update customer sales databases.
Support inventory management and production planning through accurate forecasting and data analysis
Pricing & Financial Management Lead pricing strategy development and internal pricing discussions.
Evaluate pricing competitiveness and profitability.
Develop and manage SG&A budgets related to sales and marketing activities.
Oversee SG&A projects to ensure alignment with business objectives and financial targets.
Marketing Strategy & Promotion Develop and execute marketing strategies to support sales growth.
Develop relevant intellectual property.
Manage cooperative marketing support initiatives with customers.
Support joint customer advertising and promotional campaigns.
Plan and implement direct advertising and promotional activities to strengthen market presence.