Product Specialist

We are seeking a proactive and customer-focused Product Specialist for our Direct Thermal product line of paper and films. In this role, you will develop, execute and socialize product line road map aligned to the over-arching Appvion business strategy and objectives. As the bridge between our customers and internal teams, you'll work closely with sales, production, and R&D to ensure our products meet customer needs, achieve profitability targets and enable growth.

Employee Mission:

• Enterprise value: Increase customer satisfaction as an empathetic and expert resource and regular feedback engagement, leading to an increase in EBITDA within the next fiscal year.
• Core results: Achieve notable volume growth at accretive margin by aligning product development with customer needs and enhancing sales training.
• Organizational development. Position product management as a strategic pillar of profitable growth within both Appvion and the M2S group, via market insight assimilation, cross functional leadership and successful project execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Customer and Sales Support:

• Collaborate with the sales team to provide product expertise, helping to close deals and ensure customers receive the right solutions for their needs.
• Act as the product expert during customer meetings, providing technical guidance and addressing customer-specific product questions.
• Engage with customers regularly to gather feedback on product performance and identify opportunities for product improvements.

Drive Product Lifecycle with Customer Focus:

• Participate in the development and management of direct thermal coatings, ensuring products meet customer specifications and market demands.
• Work with the sales and marketing teams to translate customer needs into actionable product features and improvements.
• Lead product training sessions for the sales team, ensuring they are well-equipped to present the product effectively to customers as well as presenting directly to value chain partners.

Operational Alignment with Customer Requirements:

• Collaborate with the production team to ensure that product specifications match customer expectations and allow for manufacturing efficiency.
• Implement customer feedback into the product development process, ensuring that product updates reflect market needs.

Manage Customer-Driven Projects:

• Lead customer-specific projects, from initial inquiry to delivery, ensuring clear communication between the customer and internal teams.
• Work with supply chain and procurement teams to ensure that raw materials meet both performance and cost expectations.
• Manage custom product requests, ensuring operational feasibility while meeting customer expectations.

Ensure Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction:

• Regularly review quality claim data and customer feedback to ensure products meet the highest standards.
• Collaborate with the quality assurance team to address any product performance issues reported by customers.

Support Sales and Market Expansion:

• Identify opportunities to expand the product line based on customer feedback and market trends.
• Assist the sales team in identifying new business opportunities by analyzing customer needs and suggesting product applications.
• Participate in customer visits, trade shows, and industry events to represent the product line and gather market insights.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Engineering, or related field preferred but an equivalent of education and experience will be considered
• 1-4 years of experience in product management or sales support, preferably within the coatings or manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and how they impact customer product delivery.
• Excellent communication skills, with a focus on customer relationships.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with sales, operations, and technical teams.
• Experience working directly with customers and supporting sales in a technical capacity.

Key Competencies:

• Customer-Centric Approach: Ability to understand customer needs and translate them into product features and improvements.
• Sales Support: Capable of supporting the sales team with product expertise, helping to drive sales and secure customer satisfaction.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to collaborate across departments to ensure customer requirements are met efficiently.
• Problem-Solving: Strong ability to resolve customer issues, manage product expectations, and deliver solutions.

Additional Information:

• Position Type: Regular, Full-Time
• Position Location: 825 E. Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI 54912-0359
• Work Schedule: This position works between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The schedule may fluctuate and can include, but is not limited to working evenings, weekends, and holidays. However, work may be performed at any time on any day of the week to meet business needs.
• Travel: Once per quarter