Commercial Applications Manager — Customer Engagement & Solutions

Vulcan Elements; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements, based in the United States, seeks a Manager, Commercial Applications to lead customer engagement and qualification from first contact to long-term partnerships. You will coordinate technical and commercial requirements across internal teams and ensure a seamless customer experience from quote to contract.

This cross-functional role demands commercial and technical fluency, translating market needs into actionable inputs for operations, product development, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• 7+ years of experience in engineering, technical sales, business development, or customer program management.
• Proven ability to manage complex programs with technical deliverables (samples, testing, qualification).
• Strong communication and relationship management across technical and executive audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally with operations, R&D, and quality teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the full commercial pipeline including quotes, sampling, qualification, and transition to production.
• Serve as the primary point-of-contact for customers—building relationships, coordinating site visits, and ensuring timely communication throughout engagement.
• Translate customer requirements and feedback into clear technical and operational inputs for internal teams.
• Work closely with operations, R&D, and quality to ensure all testing and qualification milestones are met.
• Lead the quotation process, ensuring pricing and terms align with company strategy and cost structure.
• Partner with operations to align production schedules, sample delivery, and customer timelines.
• Maintain accurate records of customer status, technical progress, and commercial forecasts in CRM and internal reporting systems.
• Support the Commercial team in gathering competitive intelligence and identifying market opportunities.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical fluency

CRM experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, business, or related field

Tools

CRM software

Project management tools

Job description

Vulcan Elements, based in the United States, seeks a Manager, Commercial Applications to lead customer engagement and qualification from first contact to long-term partnerships. You will coordinate technical and commercial requirements across internal teams and ensure a seamless customer experience from quote to contract.

This cross-functional role demands commercial and technical fluency, translating market needs into actionable inputs for operations, product development, and leadership.