When Alfred Fain founded a small Rhode Island tire store in 1924, at the time no one could have predicted how Teknor Apex would become an international custom compounder sought out by companies around the world. After a nearly hundred-year journey that’s carried us through acquisitions and expansion, we now have nine U.S. locations, as well as operations in Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and China.

The Global Market Manager – Consumer Market will be a key driver of Teknor Apex’s strategic growth in consumer goods applications, focusing on brand-driven, design-led product categories. This role will lead market development strategies that anticipate consumer trends, address OEM and brand owner requirements, and deliver differentiated material solutions for performance, style, and sustainability.
As part of a dynamic marketing team, you will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to capture market share in high-growth consumer segments, strengthen brand partnerships, and launch innovations that resonate with end-users while meeting brand and manufacturing demands.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Market Leadership

• Develop and execute market strategies to drive growth and profitability in consumer product segments.
• Define "where to play" and "how to win" in targeted sub-segments based on consumer trends, OEM priorities, and material innovation opportunities.
• Build and manage Go-To-Market plans, from concept to commercialization, for both core offerings and adjacent opportunities.
• Continuously monitor market trends, competitive moves, and evolving consumer expectations to inform proactive strategy.

2. Innovation Management

• Collaborate with R&D and product management to develop materials and compounds that address aesthetics, comfort, performance, durability, and sustainability requirements for consumer brands.
• Champion the introduction of new solutions such as lightweight materials for athletic footwear, eco-friendly compounds for toys, and impact-resistant materials for electronics housings.
• Support brand collaborations and co-development projects from ideation through launch.

3. Customer-Centric Focus

• Conduct Voice of Customer (VoC) research with brand owners, OEMs, and contract manufacturers to understand pain points, unmet needs, and desired innovations.
• Build and nurture strategic relationships with global consumer brands, design houses, and retail influencers to position Teknor Apex as a trusted innovation partner.
• Partner with sales teams to create brand-specific playbooks and enablement tools that enhance customer engagement and speed-to-market.

4. Sustainability and Digitalization

• Integrate sustainability into market strategies, emphasizing bio-based materials, recycled content, and closed-loop solutions that appeal to environmentally conscious brands and consumers.
• Lead initiatives to align with brand ESG goals, such as reducing carbon footprint, improving product circularity, and enabling take-back/recycling programs.
• Leverage digital tools—e.g., digital material libraries, virtual prototyping platforms—to enhance collaboration with brand design teams and accelerate development.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Business Development, Sales, R&D, Product Management, and Operations to align market objectives with corporate strategy.
• Lead marketing initiatives for consumer trade shows, design forums, and brand collaboration events.
• Develop content and campaigns showcasing Teknor Apex’s consumer market expertise, ensuring thought leadership in design, performance, and sustainability.
• Measure and report on market initiative ROI, refining strategies to maximize impact.

Profile

• Strategic Consumer Market Expert: Experience developing market strategies for consumer-facing products where brand, design, and speed-to-market are critical.
• Trend Translator: Ability to interpret consumer and lifestyle trends into actionable material innovation opportunities.
• Collaborative Communicator: Skilled at building trust with internal teams, brand executives, and manufacturing partners.
• Customer Focused: Deep understanding of brand owner needs and the ability to deliver solutions that align with consumer expectations.
• Digitally Savvy: Proficient in using digital platforms for market research, virtual sampling, and brand engagement.
• Sustainability Advocate: Knowledge of sustainable materials and consumer brand ESG requirements.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 8–10 years of experience in B2B marketing or market strategy, preferably with exposure to consumer goods, footwear, toys, electronics, or sporting goods industries.
• Proven success in working with global consumer brands and developing strategies that bridge technical material capabilities with consumer market demands.
• Experience in the plastics, elastomers, or advanced materials domain is advantageous.

This description is a summary of principal responsibilities and is not intended to include all duties that may be assigned.

Teknor Apex is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status under state or federal laws. Must be 18 years of age or older to work at Teknor Apex.