Vice President of Commercial Sales

The Vice President of Commercial is responsible for leading all commercial activities at Creative Liquid Coatings, Inc., including Account Management, Product Management, and commercial program execution. This role develops and executes sales, marketing, and product strategies aligned with the company’s five‑year strategic plan. The Vice President of Commercial owns customer relationships, commercial negotiations, program profitability, and launch readiness from quotation through post‑SOP stabilization, ensuring sustainable revenue growth and margin performance.

Roles and Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership & Strategy

• Establish and execute the company’s commercial strategy in alignment with the corporate five‑year plan.
• Develop Sales, Marketing, and Key Account Plans to support growth, market penetration, and profitability.
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities, customers, and applications aligned with strategic objectives.
• Maintain oversight of competitor analysis, market intelligence, and customer trends.
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to business planning and growth initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop Account Managers, ensuring strong customer relationships and effective account execution.
• Establish performance expectations, KPIs, and accountability for Account Management teams.
• Act as executive liaison between customer leadership and CLC senior management.
• Support resolution of escalated commercial, delivery, pricing, or margin issues.
• Lead or support long‑term customer contract negotiations and commercial agreements.

Product Management & New Business Support

• Lead and develop Product Management teams and APQP commercial participation.
• Work closely with Engineering, New Business Development, and Manufacturing to define Product Plans and solutions that align with customer and market needs.
• Partner with the Vice President of New Business & Technology to identify products, processes, technologies, and partnerships that support product strategy.
• Ensure alignment between product strategy, manufacturing capability, and customer expectations.

Program Launch & Commercial Execution

• Own commercial governance for program launches from award through 90‑days post‑Start of Production (SOP).
• Oversee all commercial aspects of the 5‑phase Gateway process including timing, budgets, PPAP readiness, and contingency planning.
• Ensure program margins are protected through launch, engineering changes, and production ramp‑up.
• Lead Business Process Reviews and margin recovery roadmaps when performance deviates from plan.
• Monitor and report on commercial KPIs related to revenue, margin, and customer performance.
• Develop annual and long‑term sales forecasts, including five‑year revenue projections.
• Manage departmental budgets and commercial financial performance.
• Maintain accountability for gross margin stability across programs and customers.
• Ensure strong collaboration with Finance on pricing, costing assumptions, and P&L impacts.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Train, coach, and mentor Account Managers, Product Managers, and APQP‑commercial resources.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and development planning.
• Promote teamwork across Commercial, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.

Cross‑Functional & External Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure effective customer support.
• Participate as commercial representative within the CE Family of Companies and Transportation Group initiatives.
• Stay current on market conditions, customer requirements, competitive positioning, and industry technology trends.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support company objectives.

Skill and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• 10–15 years of experience in product sales or commercial leadership.
• Minimum of 5 years of sales management or commercial leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of injection molding and decorative exterior transportation components/systems.
• Experience supporting commercial truck, bus, or automotive markets highly preferred.
• Proven track record of managing sales teams to achieve revenue and margin objectives.
• Strong financial acumen, including understanding of P&L statements, budgets, and margin analysis.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership, team‑building, and cross‑functional collaboration abilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in a manufacturing‑based technology environment.
• Office and manufacturing environments with frequent customer and executive interaction.
• Regular collaboration with internal cross‑functional teams.
• National and international travel required to support customers, business development, and strategic initiatives.
• Flexible schedule based on customer and business demands.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Authority

• Authority to establish and execute commercial, sales, and product strategies.
• Authority to lead customer negotiations and approve commercial terms within corporate guidelines.
• Authority to approve account plans, forecasts, and commercial budgets.
• Authority to oversee program commercial governance and escalate risks.
• Authority to represent Creative Liquid Coatings with customers, industry partners, and corporate affiliates.
• Authority to recommend market investments, product direction, and growth initiatives.

#J-18808-Ljbffr