Director, Core Business Center - Cabinet Efficiency

Summary

The Director, Cabinet Efficiency is responsible for leading the Cabinet Efficiency business, with full accountability for strategic direction, operational execution, and financial performance across sales, product marketing, business development, and field service operations. This role drives sustainable revenue growth, profitability, market expansion, and customer satisfaction by ensuring strong cross-functional alignment and disciplined execution of business strategies that support both near-term objectives and long-term organizational success.  This role serves as the primary business leader for the Cabinet Efficiency portfolio, overseeing the development and execution of market-driven strategies that enhance customer value through innovative cabinet cooling, climate control, thermal management, power distribution, and energy-efficient enclosure solutions. The Director is responsible for identifying growth opportunities, expanding market penetration, strengthening competitive positioning, and driving customer adoption of Cabinet Efficiency solutions across key industries and market segments.  The Director plays a critical leadership role in new product introduction (NPI), market intelligence, customer engagement, and demand planning, ensuring alignment between global product strategies, regional market requirements, and commercial execution. This role translates voice-of-customer insights, market trends, application requirements, competitive intelligence, and channel feedback into actionable business strategies and product requirements that influence portfolio development and accelerate market growth.  Operating at a Director level, this role maintains ownership of the USA Cabinet Efficiency business P&L and leads cross-functional teams to achieve strategic and financial objectives. The Director ensures optimal product availability, commercial responsiveness, and customer experience through the integration of forecasting, inventory strategy, pricing strategy, competitive positioning, and portfolio lifecycle management into overall business operations.  The Director collaborates closely with global business units, product management, sales leadership, marketing, operations, supply chain, and engineering teams to drive business performance, strengthen organizational capabilities, and support long-term growth initiatives. Through strategic leadership, market expertise, and operational excellence, this role contributes directly to the organization's market leadership, customer success, and sustainable business growth within the Cabinet Efficiency portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Cabinet Efficiency business with full accountability for strategic direction, operational execution, market growth, and overall financial performance.
• Own U.S. P&L responsibility for the Cabinet Efficiency business, including budgeting, forecasting, revenue growth, profitability, cost control, and performance management through KPIs and business analytics.
• Establish and deliver annual sales targets, forecasts, business plans, and growth strategies aligned with organizational objectives and long-term market opportunities.
• Translate corporate and regional strategies into actionable business plans with clear priorities, measurable objectives, and defined success metrics.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for the Cabinet Efficiency portfolio, including cabinet cooling, climate control, thermal management, power distribution, monitoring, and enclosure optimization solutions.
• Drive business growth by identifying and capitalizing on opportunities that improve energy efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and operational performance within industrial control cabinets and electrical infrastructure.
• Lead new product introduction (NPI) planning and execution, ensuring alignment between global product strategy, regional market requirements, and commercialization efforts.
• Partner with Global Product Management and Engineering teams to influence product roadmaps, solution development, and lifecycle management strategies based on regional market needs and customer requirements.
• Translate customer, market, and industry requirements into actionable business cases and product enhancement opportunities that support growth and competitive differentiation.
• Drive Voice of Customer (VOC) initiatives to identify customer challenges, emerging application needs, and opportunities for solution expansion.
• Conduct market segmentation, application analysis, competitive intelligence, and ecosystem evaluations to identify growth opportunities and optimize market positioning.
• Analyze industry trends related to industrial automation, cabinet infrastructure, thermal management, energy efficiency, electrification, digitalization, and control panel design to inform business strategy.
• Develop and execute portfolio positioning, value proposition development, pricing strategies, and market messaging in partnership with Product Marketing and Sales teams.
• Own demand planning, forecast management, sales pipeline visibility, and market opportunity analysis for the Cabinet Efficiency portfolio.
• Utilize market analytics, business intelligence, and customer data to improve forecast accuracy, inventory planning, and strategic decision-making.
• Provide inventory and supply chain decision support to ensure product availability, service levels, and working capital optimization.
• Lead, coach, and develop sales teams to strengthen pipeline development, increase solution selling capabilities, improve win rates, and expand market penetration.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with customers, strategic partners, consultants, system integrators, OEMs, panel builders, and key channel partners.
• Lead high-value customer negotiations and strategic account engagements involving Cabinet Efficiency solutions and services.
• Support channel development strategies and expand market presence through distribution partners, integrators, and targeted market initiatives.
• Oversee pricing strategies, competitive positioning tools, cross-reference programs, and special pricing initiatives to maximize revenue and profitability.
• Ensure effective deployment and utilization of commercial tools and processes that enhance customer responsiveness and operational efficiency.
• Lead commercial decision-making related to business opportunities, escalations, exceptions, and strategic customer requirements.
• Oversee the development and qualification of engineered and application-specific solutions that address customer operational, environmental, and energy-efficiency challenges.
• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, and Headquarters teams to deliver integrated customer solutions.
• Support commercial and technical proposal development to ensure alignment with customer requirements and business objectives.
• Lead resolution of significant customer escalations, quality concerns, service issues, and business risks impacting customer satisfaction or business performance.
• Ensure exceptional customer experience through proactive engagement, value-based solution selling, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, regulatory, environmental, quality, and industry standards affecting Cabinet Efficiency solutions and operations.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, market expansions, and adjacent growth initiatives.
• Evaluate and recommend strategic investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and market expansion opportunities that support long-term business growth.
• Drive alignment across Sales, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, Product Management, Finance, and Customer Service functions.
• Ensure successful execution of business strategies through strong cross-functional collaboration, accountability, and operational discipline.
• Optimize organizational resources, budgets, talent, and operational capabilities to maximize business performance.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategic planning, business performance reviews, investment decisions, risk management, and organizational priorities.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing cross-functional teams focused on business growth, customer success, and operational excellence.
• Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and development opportunities that strengthen organizational capability and succession
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive employee engagement, talent development, and succession planning to ensure organizational sustainability and leadership pipeline strength.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and effectively manage business transformation efforts within a dynamic market environment.
• Drive operational efficiency improvements through performance metrics, process optimization, standardization, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ensure governance, communication, and alignment of organizational initiatives impacting the Cabinet Efficiency business.
• Serve as the primary leader accountable for Cabinet Efficiency business performance, strategic outcomes, customer success, and financial results.
• Drive disciplined execution, ownership, and accountability across all business functions and strategic initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned by the manager.

 Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field. Master's degree in Engineering or Business preferred. 

• 10+ years in product marketing management, product management, business leadership, or closely related engineering/market disciplines within industrial automation, connectivity, networking, or related technology industries, with 5+ years in leadership roles.

• Experience leading a connectivity, networking, industrial communications, or automation- related product portfolio.

• Proven P&L ownership experience

• Experience working in global product organizations and influencing cross-regional stakeholders

• Knowledge of pricing strategy, commercial tools, or competitive positioning frameworks

• Experience managing or supporting custom/engineered solution opportunities

• Experience leading cross-functional teams

• Certifications (Preferred):

• PMP or Agile/SAFe certification

• Functional Safety Certification (e.g., TÜV).

• Experience leading new product introduction (NPI) processes and go-to-market execution

• Strong background in demand planning, forecasting, and inventory strategy

• Demonstrated ability to leverage market insights, voice-of-customer (VOC), and analytics to drive business decisions

• Proven record of accomplishment driving portfolio strategy, successful launches, and profitability

• Strategic thinking with the ability to influence at executive level

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Certifications (Preferred): [e.g., PMP or Agile/SAFe; Functional Safety (TÜV)

• Behavioral Competencies:

• Strategic Orientation: Ability to set long-term vision and align resources

• Influence & Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across functions and geographies

• Innovation: Drives continuous improvement and adoption of emerging technologies

• Results Focus: Delivers have measurable business outcomes and operational efficiency

• Leads with an enterprise perspective, effectively balancing strategic priorities with operational execution across multiple functions and stakeholders

• Exhibits strong business and financial acumen, including the ability to make data-driven decisions and manage complex trade-offs impacting P&L performance

• Drives alignment across cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring accountability and clarity in roles, responsibilities, and decision-making (RACI)

Essential Job Functions

• Ability to lead in a dynamic, cross-functional environment
• Strong communication and decision-making skills
• Must be fluent in English
• Must be able to travel in vehicles (automobiles, trains, & planes) for up to 12 hours
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to travel via automobile for up to six hours
• Must be able to travel internationally and nationally for up to 2 weeks or more as dictated by circumstances
• Must be able to work on a computer for extended periods of time (up to 4 hours at a time)
• Must be able to sit/and or stand for extended periods of time (2-4 hours at a time)
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Regular and on-time attendance
• This is a hybrid position unless otherwise specified requiring 3 days in the office

Perks & Benefits

Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 10 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, assistance, and more!

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