Director of Sales & Market Development – Industrial Markets (Composites and Specialty Materials)

German American Chambers of Commerce

Erie, PA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$140,000–$180,000
SKILLS
Business Development, Business-to-Business (B2B), Communication Skills, Composite Materials, Customer Relations, Customer/Client Research, Develop and Maintain Customers, Distribution Channel, Electricity, Entrepreneurship, Health Plan, Leadership, Market Development, Market Segmentation, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), Onboarding, Sales, Sales Management, Scalable System Development, Territory Development, Trade Shows, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Erie, PA
POSTED
22 days ago

Location: United States. Willingness to travel across North America (approximately 40–60%). 

Please note: Further details regarding the organization and strategic context will be shared with qualified candidates. 

About the Role 

This is a highly entrepreneurial role focused on market development and commercial expansion across North America. 

You will build on an existing business foundation while actively developing new markets, customers, and applications - particularly within industrial and mobility-related sectors. 

This role is ideal for someone who is eager to take ownership, build structures, and actively shape a growing commercial organization, rather than stepping into a fully established setup. 

In parallel, you will lead and further develop a small but growing U.S. sales team, while remaining personally involved in business development and key customer relationships. This role can also be a strong next step for candidates who have successfully led regional sales or business development initiatives and are ready to take on broader leadership responsibility. 

About the Company 

The company is a globally operating, privately held manufacturer of advanced engineered materials, including electrical insulation systems, laminates, prepregs, and reinforced plastics. 

With an established commercial presence in North America (North East Coast) - including a U.S. distribution hub and a production facility in Mexico - the company is entering a decisive growth phase. 

While the Energy segment represents a stable and well-developed business, the next phase focuses on building and scaling new commercial opportunities across Mobility and Industrial applications.  

What Success Looks Like 

Within the first 12–24 months, you will have: 

  • Established measurable traction in new industrial and/or mobility markets 
  • Developed and secured new strategic customer relationships 
  • Strengthened and expanded the existing U.S. sales structure 
  • Built a scalable commercial foundation for long-term growth, including the hiring and development of additional sales resources 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Drive market development and expansion across new industrial and/or mobility applications  
  • Identify, open, and develop new customers, partners, and market segments  
  • Lead and grow a small North American sales team while remaining hands-on in business development  
  • Build strong relationships with OEMs, fabricators, distributors, and industrial customers  
  • Collaborate closely with global teams (engineering, product, leadership) to translate customer needs into commercial success  
  • Develop and execute pragmatic sales initiatives based on market feedback and opportunity  
  • Represent the company externally at customer meetings, industry events, and trade shows

What You Bring 

  • Experience in industrial B2B sales, business development, or market expansion  
  • Proven ability to build new business, enter new markets, or grow new product areas  
  • A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive topics forward independently  
  • Leadership experience (formal or informal), with the ability to guide teams while staying close to the market  
  • Strong communication and relationship-building skills across technical and commercial stakeholders  
  • Ability to operate in evolving environments with a high degree of ownership  

Deep product expertise in composites or materials is not required - the ability to learn and translate customer needs into commercial opportunities is key. 

Compensation & Benefits 

  • 100% employer-paid medical coverage 
  • Company-supported dental and vision coverage 
  • Employer-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance 
  • Retirement savings participation with company match 
  • 12–14 company-observed holidays annually 
  • A progressive paid time-off structure that increases with tenure 
  • Structured international onboarding across global production sites 

About the Company

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German American Chambers of Commerce