Program Manager II - Metals, Glass & Industrial Manufacturing

Messer Americas; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) plan with company match

Job summary

Messer Americas is seeking a Program Manager to grow the MGIM business by leading a high-performing application engineering sales team and supporting the director in long-term strategy and annual plans. You will engage customers, develop proposals, and drive lead generation while coordinating with internal engineering and project teams.

The role requires strong leadership, deep technical sales capabilities, and the ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution across metals,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (chemical preferred; metallurgy, materials, mechanical acceptable with experience)
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in application sales related to industrial gases
• Experience in technical sales to aerospace and advanced manufacturing customers is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing application engineering sales team.
• Collaborate with development to provide training and field support.
• Coach teams on value-driven proposals and complex deals.
• Support industry director in achieving annual business goals and market growth.
• Foster collaboration with engineers and sales for project planning and execution.

Skills

Team management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Business acumen

Cross-functional work

Technical sales

Proposal writing

Communication

Customer relationships

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

MBA

Job description

Job Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for growing Messer's MGIM business through: leading a high performing application engineering sales team, meeting annual performance goals and engaging customers and Messer's sales teams. Other elements include supporting development of long-term strategy, implementation of annual plans, project planning and marketing efforts to improve lead generation and brand awareness. The Program Manager plays a vital support role to the Director while developing the expertise and leadership skills required to be a strong candidate for a future industry director position.

Why Messer?

Messer is the world's largest privately held industrial gases company and what we do matters because it is woven into every part of life, from the medical gases that patients rely on to the essential elements needed to safely and sustainably produce the goods our communities depend on.

The true strength of Messer is our people at every level and in every role.

Join us and take pride in the impact you will make by providing solutions essential to our world and lives. Reach your highest potential at our stable, inclusive company with diverse opportunities in a growing industry, supported by people who care.

Messer stands apart because we put what matters first, and you matter.

Principal Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Build a high-performing application engineering sales team with technical expertise, strong knowledge of customer processes and Messer technologies and the professional presence needed to strengthen trust and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with the development team to provide application sales engineers with technical training and field support

Commercial Leadership

• Coach application engineering team to leverage technical expertise as well as application technologies to gain competitive advantage and differentiation through solutions selling
• Support application engineers in developing value driven, professionally written proposals
• Coach application engineers and support sales directors on commercial deal structures
• Foster strong relationship with customers, sales directors and account managers

Business Performance

• Support the industry director in achieving annual business performance goals
• Support application engineers in achieving their individual annual new business goals and profitable growth in their respective regions
• Foster collaboration with applications engineers and internal engineering and project teams on project plans, equipment construction and installation and inventory replenishment

Strategy/Planning

• Support the industry director in the development of long-term strategy and annual plans
• Understand key drivers and outlook in targeted MGIM sub-industries - metals & glass melting & processing, advanced manufacturing of products used by customers in aerospace, defense, medical & industrial manufacturing
• Leverage trends, input from customers, application engineers and sales team to identify target markets that will provide the most opportunity for new business

Technology Development

• Collaborate with the industry director and the development team on managing the optimal portfolio of application technologies: focused on market drivers and customer needs and elimination of applications that are not conducive to growth

Marketing

• Collaborate with marketing team to identify, choose and participate in industry trade shows and trade associations that provide the best opportunity for lead generation and growth
• Lead trade show participation including presentations, booths, meetings with customers and prospects
• Manage lead generation initiatives including industry and/or application specific campaigns
• Collaborate with marketing team on website development

Financial

• Support development of annual budget including new business target, total revenue and P&L
• Oversee application engineers' development of lease models for application equipment lease opportunities

Required Skills

• Team management experience
• Ability to develop a high performing team to achieve profitable growth
• Strong business and commercial acumen
• Leading cross-functional teams
• Technical competence - ability to become process and technology expert
• Ability to educate direct reports, internal and external stakeholders on technical topics
• Effective internal and external communication
• Customer relationship management
• Ability to develop strategy from industry trends, customer feedback and Messer capabilities
• Problem solving/critical thinking
• Planning and organizing
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Travel Requirements: up to 50% during certain periods, depending on business needs

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering (chemical engineering preferred, metallurgy, materials, mechanical acceptable based on professional experience)
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in application sales related to industrial gases.
• Experience related to use of oxygen or enhanced combustion for steel, aluminum, copper, glass & other non-ferrous metals melting or manufacturing.
• Experience in technical sales to aerospace and advanced manufacturing customers will be considered

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA is preferred

The salary range for this position is $135,000 - $180,000. Messer provides medical, dental, vision, short term disability, life insurance and paid time off as well as other voluntary benefits, such as, long term disability in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Plans. Employees are eligible to enroll in Messer's 401(k) Plan. Employees may be eligible to participate in the company's bonus program.

About Messer

Messer's safety culture, commitment to providing dependable supply and innovative gas technology solutions help customers unlock opportunities to be safer, more sustainable, more productive and more efficient, so their business thrives. We nurture lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, our communities, and with one another.

We offer comprehensive benefits and appreciative pay, with steady schedules and opportunities for ongoing training and career progression. We prioritize and invest in our people at every level of our organization - the dedication, knowledge, customer focus and entrepreneurial spirit of our employees is what make Messer refreshingly different.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.