Commercialization Partner

About the role

The Commercialization Partner is a key part of our sales support team. This role drives new business account transitions, manages product development timelines / deliverables to ensure key milestones are met, and ensures accuracy of new item specs. This role leverages organizational tools, knowledge of products, applications, techniques, and standard processes to effectively manage new items through the process of designing, estimating/pricing, routing, building specs, building tools and pre-production readiness/communication activities resulting in profitable, timely, and error-free new business launches. This role is responsible for driving margin/process improvement initiatives through an account review process. This full-time position will report to the Manager, Commercialization Texas and will sit at our facility located in Houston, TX.

Responsibilities

• Lead sales representatives and customer partners through definition and completion of project requirements and objectives (e.g. new customer onboarding, new product development, cost savings initiatives, existing product revision, etc.); develop project plans, timelines, and deliverables to ensure smooth project execution.
• Manage Workflow process by initiating new items, building specs, proofing, estimating costs, calculating pricing, and ordering tooling and other production supplies.
• Leverage systems and standard work procedures to generate build specifications for new corrugated products, considering customer requirements, technical feasibility, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Utilize product knowledge, manufacturing processes, and established tools to prepare detailed cost estimates and pricing for projects based on established pricing strategies and customer requirements.
• Balance pricing and estimating responsibilities with internal margin improvement initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with pricing function for atypical situations.
• Collaborate with suppliers to obtain quotes and place orders for tooling and materials as needed.
• Serve as the main point of contact for customers through the new item lifecycle: establish quotes, provide regular updates on project status and timelines, and resolve issues that arise.
• Coordinate with Design on structural optimization and art/graphics integrity as needed.
• Engage with Production and Scheduling teams as needed during box structure design and routing to machines, ensuring maximum efficiency of equipment and minimal waste.
• Collaborate with sales and customer service teams to ensure excellent customer satisfaction (e.g. ensuring accounts and items are set up timely and accurately, achieve successful transitions, and alignment with customer agreements, etc.)
• Own customer scorecard for assigned client groups. Ensure metrics (OTD, quality PPM, NCR, Credit spend, cost savings progress) are tracked and updated. Lead internal and external scorecard meetings to hold business accountable for delivery.
• Manage project flow and deliverables associated with cost savings commitments, ensure cost savings commitments remain on track and that all internal and external partners are included in status updates.
• Other duties, as assigned

Requirements

• Associate’s degree and 3+ years’ comparable business experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3+ years product development, commercialization, or customer-facing experience
• Prior experience working on complex collaborative projects involving internal and external stakeholders
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Detail oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple projects
• Physical demands: regular sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day; manual and finger dexterity used regularly with some repetitive finger motions