What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Sales & Market Development – Industrial Markets (Composites and Specialty Materials) position at GACC Midwest - German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc.?
Location: United States. Willingness to travel across North America (approximately 40–60%).
Please note: Further details regarding the organization and strategic context will be shared with qualified candidates.
About The Role
This is a highly entrepreneurial role focused on market development and commercial expansion across North America.
You will build on an existing business foundation while actively developing new markets, customers, and applications - particularly within industrial and mobility-related sectors.
This role is ideal for someone who is eager to take ownership, build structures, and actively shape a growing commercial organization, rather than stepping into a fully established setup.
In parallel, you will lead and further develop a small but growing U.S. sales team, while remaining personally involved in business development and key customer relationships. This role can also be a strong next step for candidates who have successfully led regional sales or business development initiatives and are ready to take on broader leadership responsibility.
About The Company
The company is a globally operating, privately held manufacturer of advanced engineered materials, including electrical insulation systems, laminates, prepregs, and reinforced plastics.
With an established commercial presence in North America (North East Coast) - including a U.S. distribution hub and a production facility in Mexico - the company is entering a decisive growth phase.
While the Energy segment represents a stable and well-developed business, the next phase focuses on building and scaling new commercial opportunities across Mobility and Industrial applications.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first 12–24 months, you will have:
Compensation & Benefits
Please note: Further details regarding the organization and strategic context will be shared with qualified candidates.
About The Role
This is a highly entrepreneurial role focused on market development and commercial expansion across North America.
You will build on an existing business foundation while actively developing new markets, customers, and applications - particularly within industrial and mobility-related sectors.
This role is ideal for someone who is eager to take ownership, build structures, and actively shape a growing commercial organization, rather than stepping into a fully established setup.
In parallel, you will lead and further develop a small but growing U.S. sales team, while remaining personally involved in business development and key customer relationships. This role can also be a strong next step for candidates who have successfully led regional sales or business development initiatives and are ready to take on broader leadership responsibility.
About The Company
The company is a globally operating, privately held manufacturer of advanced engineered materials, including electrical insulation systems, laminates, prepregs, and reinforced plastics.
With an established commercial presence in North America (North East Coast) - including a U.S. distribution hub and a production facility in Mexico - the company is entering a decisive growth phase.
While the Energy segment represents a stable and well-developed business, the next phase focuses on building and scaling new commercial opportunities across Mobility and Industrial applications.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first 12–24 months, you will have:
- Established measurable traction in new industrial and/or mobility markets
- Developed and secured new strategic customer relationships
- Strengthened and expanded the existing U.S. sales structure
- Built a scalable commercial foundation for long-term growth, including the hiring and development of additional sales resources
- Drive market development and expansion across new industrial and/or mobility applications
- Identify, open, and develop new customers, partners, and market segments
- Lead and grow a small North American sales team while remaining hands-on in business development
- Build strong relationships with OEMs, fabricators, distributors, and industrial customers
- Collaborate closely with global teams (engineering, product, leadership) to translate customer needs into commercial success
- Develop and execute pragmatic sales initiatives based on market feedback and opportunity
- Represent the company externally at customer meetings, industry events, and trade shows
- Experience in industrial B2B sales, business development, or market expansion
- Proven ability to build new business, enter new markets, or grow new product areas
- A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive topics forward independently
- Leadership experience (formal or informal), with the ability to guide teams while staying close to the market
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills across technical and commercial stakeholders
- Ability to operate in evolving environments with a high degree of ownership
Compensation & Benefits
- 100% employer-paid medical coverage
- Company-supported dental and vision coverage
- Employer-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
- Retirement savings participation with company match
- 12–14 company-observed holidays annually
- A progressive paid time-off structure that increases with tenure
- Structured international onboarding across global production sites