Innovation Manager - Account/Project

Job Description

Innovation Account Manager – Deltar Fasteners will report to the Innovation Director – ITW NA Automotive Fasteners and will be responsible for driving new business / product opportunities through the innovation team. The primary focus will be to work closely with our key customer contacts and/or customer advanced development teams to understand their future needs, identify what opportunities will be pursued, and manage those opportunities from initial discussion to transition through launch.

• Identifying technology and growth trends and forecasting market potentials.
• Staying abreast of market trends and identifying the implications and potential opportunities these might create for new product developments.
• Identifying/developing new product opportunities for unmet market/application needs to bring profitable, sustainable growth, working with all teams within the division.
• Prioritizing new opportunities with Innovation Director and Engineering Product Manager
• Determining resource requirements to successfully execute the division’s innovation projects.
• Leading multi-disciplined teams and staff through guidance and coaching as well as influencing a broad scope of cross-functional resources utilizing the ITW innovation processes.
• Driving decisions and accountability using business case criteria and balanced risk analysis.
• Setting and executing both short and long term plans and managing expectations through technical expertise and bringing win-win solutions for customers and ITW.
• Creating and presenting formal presentations to all levels of the customer and ITW.
• Interfacing extensively and transferring knowledge of the innovation process to key ITW personnel within and external to the division.
• Applying ITW innovation strategies to deliver results, utilizing the ITW Toolbox.
• Using ITW “Customer-Back” approach to identify opportunities for unique and differentiated solutions.
• Cultivating key customer relationships – specifically with advanced strategy, vehicle development, and product engineering groups.
• Other tasks, duties, and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• B.S. Degree required in Engineering, Marketing, or Business, Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years engineering, sales/marketing, and/or project management experience.
  • Traditional automotive industry experience or other similar markets.
  • Knowledge/experience with injection-molded plastics, metal stampings and cold-headed products, especially fasteners.
• Strong project management and technical marketing skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to prioritize, work independently, and make well-thought-out decisions.
  • High level of integrity and sensitivity to confidential information.
  • Strong organizational abilities and attention to detail.
  • Proficient computer skills from in-depth data analysis to presentation creation.
• Proven track record of identifying market opportunities and commercializing solutions.
  • Experience in dealing with customers and vendors.
  • Proven experience in customer and market research.
  • Experience in all aspects of developing and implementing commercialization plans.
  • Technical understanding of customer design requirements and analysis against competitor products.
• Preferred experience
  • Supervisory experience of professional staff.
  • Track record with Japanese OEM customers and/or EV customers in North America, especially related to EV battery pack and components.
  • Understanding of the NA and global fastener competitive landscape.
• Up to 30% travel, predominantly North America, some International.

• Driven for Results: Initiator, Connector & Problem Solver (keen situational analysis).
• Strong internal/external relationship building skills with an ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Organized, planner, and strategic decision-maker that can dig in and follow through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, formal and informal.
• Innovator, market/customer focus. Driven by curiosity to understand and solve problems.
• Proficient with interfacing at multiple organizational levels internally and at customers.
• Strong analytic skills toward sales and market analysis.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with understanding of responsibility to enterprise.
• Exceptional listening skills and ability to garner stated and unstated needs.
• Adaptability to dynamic environments & proficiency with remote marketing/interface tools.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.