Product Specialist

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Materion Precision Optics offers its customers tailor-made technical solutions based on complex production processes and products. In order to create maximum added value for our customers and at the same time achieve maximum profitability for Materion, we need Product Management that is geared to the needs of the respective markets on the one hand, but also to the current and future capabilities of our locations on the other. This requires permanent support of our product portfolio and technical support for our customers.

As a technically experienced Product Specialist, you will drive the strategy of the optical filter products in order to drive business growth and strengthen our market presence in Life Science and Industrial markets. The team of experienced Product Managers and the Commercial Director will support you in this. As a product specialist, you will ensure that we create added value for our customers today and in the future, gain further market share and contribute to Materion's success with growing sales and increasing profitability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

30%

Responsible for developing competitive quotes and gross margin expansion based on the Assessment of fit between customer needs and MPO product portfolio. Clarify customer specifications and verification of needs, prepare them in a structured manner and transmit to Operations.

Support Operations and T&I with open questions and clarification needed to prepare the cost calculation.

20%

Interface between sales / customer project manager / customer and operations during the product life cycle. (Quotation phase, orders, after production and if necessary, when phasing out the product for a customer)

15%

Develop and drive product portfolio (market share, VA, Gross Margin) from a global market (penetration) perspective and gain global market share in line with Market Segment and Business Unit Strategy and define the global product roadmap with support from the Centre of Expertise on Technology & Capabilities.

15%

Strategic Customer Management under the direction of the Commercial Director (e.g. understand customer corporate strategy and embed into Materion commercial strategy) and in defined cases point of contact for customers Base Business. Active relationship management with technological key stakeholders of key customers.

10%

For products assigned with production at multiple sites, coordinate activities at all MPO sites and maximize EBIT (Gross Margin) for the whole BU, additionally driving technology transfers to target site(s).

10%

Educate Sales Managers and Customer Project Managers on (market) relevant product knowledge and Provide marketing with market-specific product information and work with the marketing team and product managers from other market segments to develop marketing materials to utilize modern marketing platforms and for use at business-relevant trade fairs or for customer visits.

100%

Quantitative Data

Include quantitative data that clarifies the size, scope and complexity of the position. Examples of data: total annual revenue, sales goals, financial responsibilities, production volume, budget, scope of project ($$, team size, duration).

• Revenue and Revenue development of market relevant product portfolio
• Sales budget and degree of fulfillment of the sales budget
• Gross margin
• Time to offer
• Quote hit rate
• Share of wallet at top 5 customers
• Customer Satisfaction

Qualifications

Education - Indicate the level of education required and preferred for this position, including major area of study, special training & certifications.

• Required; Education in the field of precision engineering with experience in the field of production technology or process engineering and business management education.
• Preferred: University degree in engineering, optics, physics, or similar.

Experience - Describe experience required and preferred, including years of experience. Experience can include types of work, prolonged schooling, environments or situations/settings.

• Preferred: Experience in working at optics companies, preferably through education or working at well-known first-class production technology companies
• Preferred; Experienced (> 5 years) in high technology areas, most preferably within the Optical Sensor / Photonics market and/or alternatively in Semiconductor and/or Life Science and/or Industrial Automation industry or Automotive industry,
• Preferred: Product management experience and/or experienced in commercial sales of technology based products

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Describe skills and abilities required, including functional, technical and managerial. List the required and preferred skills, making a clear differentiation between them.

• Required: The ability to acquire basic knowledge of optical thin film coatings, structuring processes, assembly processes and corresponding modern process technology and measurement technology
• Required: The ability to combine technical complexity and business results-oriented requirements
• Required: Potential to understand cultural aspects in Europe, Americas & Asia and is ability to cooperate with colleagues / teams / customers from these regions in order to drive growth
• Required: Affinity to work with global teams.
• Required: Willingness to worldwide travel for site or customer visits and to take part on international trade fairs and exhibitions.
• Preferred: Basic knowhow in optical coatings/ vacuum technology or optic manufacturing and production technology.

Salary range: $85,000-105,000*

• The salary range listed is a guide for this position and may vary depending on experience, education, geographic location, and other qualifications. The final offer will be determined based on the candidate's individual merits and the company's compensation policies.

The selection of the person to be hired for this position is contingent on the candidate having export compliance eligibility for access to U.S. controlled technology which comes under the licensing jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of State, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

The candidate selected will have to qualify as either a U.S. citizen, a U.S. National, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a Person Admitted into the U.S. as an Asylee or Refugee., a National of a country that is not prohibited from having access to U.S. controlled technology (via a letter of assurance), or a Person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on Materion's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with Materion's business requirements.

Materion Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Company") is an equal employment opportunity employer. It is the Company's policy to not unlawfully discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants and employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also the Company's policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity and maintain employment statistics on applicants.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Materion's Veteran Employee Resource group supports veterans and promotes the benefits of hiring veterans in the workplace. We honor all those who have served and are a military friendly company. Veterans are encouraged to apply and military experience and skills are transferrable to Materion careers.

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