Packaging Application Engineering Manager

About the role

The Packaging Application Engineering Manager supports a team of Application Engineers in pre-sale efforts by collaborating with Sales Teams, Department Managers, Product Market Managers, Sales Administrators, and international colleagues to define and propose the technical aspects of sales projects, proposals, and orders. This position advances and propels the sales process by providing technical expertise to direct reports, ensuring the technical implementation of new and additional services. Travel up to 25% of the time is required, and schedule flexibility is necessary to accommodate sales team and customer schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the collaborative pre-sales technical effort and ensure a smooth transition of projects from Sales through the Application Engineering team.
• Ensure efficiency by managing workflow processes and resource allocation to meet departmental goals.
• Lead the team to produce technically sound customer solutions and fully document solutions for formal transfer to the Quote Writing team.
• Participate in order clarification with Order Processors and work with international business partners and/or Engineering to address follow-up technical questions and concerns.
• Manage the complete and proper hand-off of projects to downstream Engineering teams, ensuring all technical considerations and customer requirements are fully understood.
• Oversee a formal order documentation process (order card, machine drawing, etc.) and Project Management transition process.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure proper hand-off and understanding of customer requirements, resulting in a seamless and efficient process without sacrificing quality.
• Assess application, technical, and process training needs of team members to develop and implement an onboarding training program with regular continual training opportunities.
• Participate in sales calls with Sales Directors, Regional Sales Managers, and Key Account Managers to provide technical support in consulting and selling efforts.
• Visit the German parent company as required to build and maintain solid, credible relationships with internal partners, fostering an open and collaborative culture.
• Fully understand and utilize SAP, MULTIVAC quoting systems, CRM database, and MULTIVAC training systems to continuously improve the quality of deliverables to Sales, customers, and downstream departments.
• Collaborate with internal and external parties to identify technical features and capabilities relative to MULTIVAC products and services that bring additional value to customers.
• Attend and participate in trade shows, sales meetings, and other company-specified activities as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical field and five years of technical experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong technical background and expertise in creating equipment application sales proposals and discussing complex technical requirements.
• Previous management experience preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Working knowledge of ERP systems.
• Current valid driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport for travel as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises a team of Application Engineers.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, including hiring, training, planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Evaluates performance, applies recognition and discipline as appropriate, and addresses complaints and resolves problems.
• Develops associates through coaching, counseling, and mentoring.
• Ensures effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.