Product Application Manager

Quaker Houghton; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Quaker Houghton is seeking an experienced technical specialist to support sales and operations with advanced troubleshooting and product implementation. You will manage customer trials, deliver technical reports, and collaborate with R&D to qualify new formulations and processes.

You will identify customer needs, create technical presentations and training, drive cost-in-use studies, and maintain CRM data accuracy to enable data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required in Chemistry, Engineering or business.
• Minimum 5 years of customer facing and technical experience.
• Willingness to travel ~50% of the time to customer sites.
• Willingness to work from a home-based office.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced technical support to sales and operations teams, including troubleshooting and product implementation.
• Manage customer trials and application projects, delivering technical reports and recommendations.
• Lead collaboration between customers, R&D, and Operations to qualify new products and processes.
• Identify customer needs and propose products aligned with portfolio strategy.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations, case studies, and training for teams and customers.
• Drive cost-in-use and process improvement initiatives for key accounts.
• Monitor competitive technologies and inform product strategy and innovation.
• Maintain CRM accuracy for technical projects and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with policies, documentation standards, and safety practices.
• Actively manage an IDP and contribute to building internal technical capability through training.

Skills

Technical support

Troubleshooting

Process optimization

Product implementation

Customer collaboration

Technical reporting

Case studies

Presentations

Training

Cost-in-use analysis

Process improvement

CRM management

IDP planning

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Engineering or business

MS/MBA preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Provide advanced technical support to the sales and operations teams, including troubleshooting, process optimization, and new product implementation.
• Manage customer trials and application projects, ensuring timely delivery of technical reports, studies, and recommendations.
• Lead collaboration between customers, R&D, and Operations to develop and qualify new products, formulations, and process solutions that meet performance, cost, and sustainability objectives.
• Identify and define customer needs, selecting or proposing products aligned with portfolio strategy and business goals.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations, case studies, and application training for internal teams and customers.
• Drive measurable value creation by leading validated cost-in-use and process improvement initiatives for key accounts.
• Monitor and analyze competitive technologies, providing input into product strategy and innovation priorities.
• Maintain CRM accuracy for technical projects, opportunities, and feedback to support visibility and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, including documentation standards, Code of Conduct, and safety practices.
• Actively manage an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and contribute to building internal technical capability through training and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required (MS/MBA preferred) in Chemistry, Engineering or any business area.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a customer facing and technical capacity.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% of the time to customer sites.
• Willingness and ability to work from a home-based office.