The Technical Support & Product Development Manager, reporting to the Head of Sales, is responsible for providing hands-on technical support to customers and leading localized product development activities. This role plays a key interface between Sales, Product Management, Innovation, and Operations to ensure that Ahlstrom's Tape solutions meet performance expectations, enable successful product trials, and contribute to future growth.
Main Responsibility Areas :
Technical Customer Support
- Provide on-site and remote technical support to customers for troubleshooting, claims resolution, and product optimization.
- Lead and document root cause analysis (RCA) and SCAR resolution activities.
- Understand and leverage the operational capability of Ahlstrom's assets to align technical solutions with customer needs.
- Gather, document, and share Voice of Customer (VOC) insights and product performance feedback
Product Development
Coordinate lab trials and development projects with Wisconsin-based R&D and plant teams.Support scale-up and industrialization of improved or new grades in collaboration with PD and Innovation.Identify opportunities to enhance profitability by optimizing existing products, processes, or utilizing more relevant assets.Contribute to the regional product development roadmap in alignment with PM direction.Sales & Technical Enablement
Support Sales and BD efforts by providing technical expertise during customer visits, trials, and onboarding.Participate in industry events as a technical representative of Ahlstrom Tape.Maintain strong relationships with customer technical stakeholders and decision-makers.Cross-functional Collaboration
Share customer insights (VOC, technical feedback from field…) to feed innovation & opportunity pipeline and influence product roadmapAlign with Operations, Quality, and Innovation to ensure robust problem-solving and solution delivery.Contribute to internal training and technical knowledge transfer activities.Requirements :
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basisExperience in consumer product companies or paper-making / converting operations5 or more years of business development or industry experience preferredStrong skills in relationship-building and interpersonal communicationAbility to cultivate new businessSelf-starter; passion for business developmentHigh degree of business acumenAbility to travel 25% of the timeMust possess a valid driver's license and passportAbility to work additional hours during the week, on weekends, or outside of regular office hours may be requiredThe ability to work in a normal office environment to include : sitting or standing for long periods of time, operating various standard office equipment, carrying paper documents / files, reaching and bending, speakingAhlstrom 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 to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 6,800 people.
Learn more at www.ahlstrom.com