Head of Technical Materials - Americas

Ahlstrom; Kaukauna (WI); On-site; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Ahlstrom is seeking a Head of Technical Materials – Americas to lead a key growth business within our Protective Materials Division. Reporting to the Vice President, Technical Materials, this role drives commercial performance, manufacturing operations, financial results and talent development across the Americas.

You will shape strategy, align cross‑functional teams, and build leaders while delivering sustainable value for customers, employees and shareholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations.
• Proven track record of profitable growth and business performance.
• Strong financial acumen with revenue and profitability metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Technical Materials Business Unit – Americas, delivering revenue growth and profitability.
• Develop and execute business strategies that strengthen competitive position.
• Lead commercial teams to grow existing relationships, expand market share, and win new business.
• Provide leadership to plant managers to ensure safe, efficient manufacturing operations.
• Drive initiatives that improve margins, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with innovation and product development teams to accelerate growth.
• Build and develop high‑performing teams and future leaders.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor business performance including revenue, profitability, and working capital.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR to meet objectives.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Strategic thinking

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.

Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!

We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long‑lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!

About The Opportunity

Ahlstrom is seeking a Head of Technical Materials – Americas to lead a key growth business within our Protective Materials Division. Reporting to the Vice President, Technical Materials, this role is responsible for driving business growth, operational excellence, customer success, and profitability across the Americas Technical Materials portfolio. As the business leader for Technical Materials in the Americas, you will have responsibility for commercial performance, manufacturing operations, financial results, and talent development. This position combines strategic leadership, commercial execution, and operational oversight, providing the opportunity to shape the future of a business with strong market positions and significant growth potential.

What You Will Do

• Lead the Technical Materials Business Unit – Americas, delivering revenue growth, profitability improvement, operational excellence, and increased market share.
• Develop and execute business strategies that strengthen competitive position and drive long‑term value creation.
• Lead commercial teams to grow existing customer relationships, expand market share, and win new business.
• Provide leadership and direction to plant managers to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing operations.
• Drive operational and commercial excellence initiatives that improve margins, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with innovation and product development teams to accelerate new product growth and commercialization.
• Build and develop high‑performing teams and future leaders across both commercial and operational functions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, customer focus, continuous improvement, and results.
• Maintain accountability for business performance, including revenue, profitability, working capital, and operational metrics.
• Partner closely with functional leaders across Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Human Resources to achieve business objectives.

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience leading a business unit, division, product line, or comparable operation within manufacturing, specialty materials, packaging, industrial products, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated success driving profitable growth and delivering strong business performance.
• Strong commercial leadership experience, including customer strategy, business development, pricing, and market expansion.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations directly or through plant leadership teams.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing revenue, profitability, budgets, and business performance metrics.
• Track record of building high‑performing teams and developing future leaders.
• Ability to lead through change and drive execution in a dynamic, growth‑oriented environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Develops and executes business strategies that create sustainable growth and competitive advantage.
• Commercial Acumen: Builds customer relationships and delivers profitable growth through strong market insight and commercial discipline.
• Business and Operational Leadership: Effectively leads both commercial and manufacturing operations to achieve business objectives.
• Talent and Team Leadership: Builds strong teams, develops leaders, and creates an accountable, high‑performance culture.
• Driving Results: Delivers commitments through disciplined execution, sound decision‑making, and a relentless focus on outcomes.

Why Join Ahlstrom

At Ahlstrom, we create innovative and sustainable specialty materials that improve everyday life. We are committed to driving growth, enabling innovation, and delivering results through the strength of our people, technologies, and customer partnerships. This is an opportunity to lead an important U.S. business with responsibility for commercial success, operational performance, talent development, and long‑term growth. You will play a critical role in shaping strategy, developing teams, and creating value for customers, employees, and shareholders while helping advance Ahlstrom's leadership position in specialty materials.

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non‑disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.