Application Eng. Filtration Specialist

Location (Region) Great Lakes, US area East Coast

Function of regional application Manager is to give customer support and be the application specialist.

Application knowledge & support towards market managers and market intelligence managers:

Act as technical application expert for the segment, supporting the market managers and GSM, by giving technological support, showing profound application knowhow and perform joint customer visits. Understand market landscape and dynamics, supporting the market intelligence managers and GSM, by gathering information on market trends and sizing, pain points, power adopters and their KPI.

Projects for customers: Take the lead in application projects in close collaboration with internal (R&D, Quality, GSM, MM, MI) and external stakeholders/partners (subcontractors, universities, third parties).

Customer support / troubleshooting: when there is an improvement opportunity or a problem, contact/go to the customer, propose solution, troubleshoot and fix the problem, coordinate with the BFT organization.

In depth understanding of the segment (product portfolio, product performance, customer applications, competitors’ portfolio

In depth knowledge of the applications, market and technology trends, technical challenges, unmet needs, development needs, product specs & properties, production processes, and way of working at the customer.

Provide technical assistance to MM and GSM for all applications and product related topics and in technical and market trends aspects.

Support of customers through visits and be the preferred contact point for applications, technical and product-related topics.

Performance indicators:

Being recognized as expert & providing expertise towards the organization and the customers

Proactively contribute to product roadmap. Be the known receiver for ideas and translate ideas into workable proposals. Works in close collaboration with R&D manager who is the owner of the development.

Establish contacts for new developments and co-operations

Inform customers of technical developments, organize evaluation of product innovations, follow-up on test results etc.

Build compelling value propositions: understand the value of products in function of the application requirements at the customer

Quantify the value: determine the context for pricing of products, (competitive prices, value of technical performance benefits)

Performance indicators:

Qualitative and regular inputs on market information (evolution, trends, VOC) + actively support marketing tools content

For application projects, formalize the agreed application projects in project charter, with involvement of customer & internal organization (R&D, MM, GSM)

Execute timely the agreed projects and request for additional support where needed in collaboration with the GSM

Give periodically updates on defined projects

Performance indicators:

Executing customer projects in a result driven, time wise and efficient manner

Understand the value chain and customers positioning, customers/end-users pain points, identify key decision makers and their KPI, market size potential and outlook.

Map competitors and their products/solutions in a specific application and industry, input the information in the competitor database, support MM in the use of the database. Quantify competitors market shares.

Analyzing these competitive products, mapping and benchmarking – making value curve, SWOT analysis.

Performance indicators:

Ability to present market intelligence and competitive knowledge and ensure all insights are provided in the competition database.

Represents Bekaert at fairs, events, conferences, seminars

Networking with stakeholders in the market subcontractors, customers down the value chain, experts buying and non-buying stakeholders

Transfer application knowhow to internal customers (operators, process engineers, quality, MM and GDM)

Describe customer applications and help mapping value chain and value proposition.

Performance indicators:

Structured internal, external and to customer presentations and training

Provide support to the quality manager and the market manager in solving complaints technically & commercially

Involves quality, process, R&D when/if needed, organizes joint visits.

Make own judgements on how to deal with customer issues. Makes on the spot effective decisions. Gives reliable advice to internal services on how to solve customer issues.

Performance indicators: Solved complaints, problems, and issues.

DESCRIPTION & DIMENSIONS

• Job holder is the NAFTA regional application expert in Filtration growing towards global expert in a certain filtration domain (for example liquid filtration).
• Job holder is remotely working within the Global Segment division of Filtration, frequently exchanging with the application, sales, R&D, marketing, production, process, and quality department. A close collaboration with all internal and external stakeholders is key for success and sales.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Engineer or equal by experience with experience in filtration application. Knowledge in liquid filtration is a plus.
• Is regarded as the expert in his functional/technical area.
• Able to absorb and structure technical information to translate it into opportunity.
• Innovative & creative of nature (idea generation, continuous improvement.
• Result driven with strong customer focus
• Project Management
• Team player
• Building relationships in open and correct communication
• Act with integrity
• Coaching of direct and indirect reports and colleagues
• Use of internal and external networks for knowledge collection and built up
• Develop oneself, learning from experience, self-development, feedback
• Active listening/speaking/reading capabilities in English
• Travel: 20-30% of time for projects/support/training

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance

Experience level:

• 5 years
• 7 years

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Remote