Title: Market Manager Location: Fort Mill, SC
Who We Are Voted one of the Nations Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Kuraray America Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical fiber and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental fiber, resin, and elastomer products.
Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 32 countries and employs more than 11,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.
Why Kuraray Kuraray is building a better tomorrow today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability. As a part of Kuraray America Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service.
Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.
Position Summary The Vectran Market Manager 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.
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.
Minimum Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Competencies
Benefits We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.
Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as:
Application Requirements Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.
Learn more at: kuraray.us.com/careers
Kuraray America Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Protected Veteran status. No third-party candidates accepted.