Director, Core Business Center - Connectivity

Phoenix Contact•Middletown, PA

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Connectivity is responsible for leading the Connectivity business, with full accountability for strategic direction, operational execution, and financial performance across sales, product marketing, business development, and field service operations. This role drives sustainable revenue growth, margin expansion, and customer satisfaction by ensuring strong cross-functional alignment and disciplined execution of business strategies that support both near-term objectives and long-term organizational success. This role plays a critical leadership function in new product introduction (NPI), market intelligence, and demand planning, ensuring alignment across global product strategy, regional market needs, and go-to-market execution. The Director translates voice-of-customer insights, market segmentation, and ecosystem analysis into actionable strategies and product requirements that influence global development and regional growth. Operating at a Director level, this role includes ownership of the USA Connectivity business P&L performance and leadership of cross-functional teams. The Director ensures optimal product availability, commercial responsiveness, and customer experience through integration of forecasting, inventory strategy, competitive positioning, and connectivity portfolio management into overall business operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field
10+ years in product marketing management, product management, business leadership, or closely related engineering/market disciplines within industrial automation, connectivity, networking, or related technology industries, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
Experience leading a connectivity, networking, industrial communications, or automation-related
Experience leading new product introduction (NPI) processes and go-to-market execution
Strong background in demand planning, forecasting, and inventory strategy
Demonstrated ability to leverage market insights, voice-of-customer (VOC), and analytics to drive business decisions
Proven track record driving portfolio strategy, successful launches, and profitability
Strategic thinking with the ability to influence at executive level
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Must be fluent in English
Must be able to travel in vehicles (automobiles, trains, & planes) for up to 12 hours
Must have a valid driver's license and be able to travel via automobile for up to six hours
Must be able to travel internationally and nationally for up to 2 weeks or more as dictated by circumstances
Must be able to work on a computer for extended periods of time (up to 4 hours at a time)
Must be able to sit/and or stand for extended periods of time (2-4 hours at a time)
Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
Regular and on-time attendance

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering or Business preferred
Certifications (Preferred): [e.g., PMP or Agile/SAFe; Functional Safety (TÜV)]

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the Connectivity business with full accountability for strategic direction, operational execution, and overall financial performance
Own US P&L responsibility for the Connectivity business, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and performance management through KPIs and analytics
Establish and deliver annual sales targets, forecasts, and growth plans aligned with business strategy
Translate corporate strategy into actionable plans with clear priorities and measurable outcomes
Define and execute go-to-market strategies for the Connectivity portfolio aligned with customer needs and market opportunities
Lead new product introduction (NPI) planning and execution, ensuring alignment across global product strategy, regional priorities, and commercialization efforts
Drive value-based product positioning, messaging, and portfolio optimization in partnership with Product Management
Translate regional market needs into product requirements and influence global product and solution development
Drive voice-of-customer (VOC) capture to inform strategy and decision-making
Conduct market, segment, and ecosystem analysis to identify growth opportunities and competitive positioning
Analyze industry trends, competitor activity, and customer insights to refine business and product strategies
Own forecast management, demand planning, and pipeline visibility
Generate demand insights using market data, analytics, and business intelligence tools
Provide inventory decision support to optimize product availability, working capital, and service levels
Improve forecast accuracy and business planning through data-driven insights
Lead, coach, and develop sales teams to strengthen pipeline development, improve win rates, and expand account penetration
Build and maintain executive-level customer relationships
Lead high-value negotiations and strategic customer engagements
Support channel strategy and drive account growth across key segments
Provide governance and oversight for pricing tools, competitive cross-reference tools, and special pricing strategies
Ensure effective use of commercial tools to enhance market responsiveness and sales execution
Lead channel-related commercial decision-making, including approvals for returns and exceptions
Oversee custom solution opportunity development, including customer/application profiling and qualification
Manage opportunity funnel and pipeline for custom and engineered solutions
Coordinate cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Production, and Headquarters to deliver solutions
Support commercial and technical offer development aligned with customer requirements
Lead resolution of quality escalations and complex customer issues
Ensure high-quality service delivery across installation, maintenance, and support operations
Enhance customer experience through proactive service models and continuous improvement initiatives
Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards
Identify and pursue new market opportunities, strategic partnerships, and channel expansion
Lead entry into new industries, regions, and customer segments
Evaluate strategic investments, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions aligned with business objectives
Drive alignment across Sales, Engineering, Operations, Marketing, and Finance
Ensure seamless execution of strategies through strong collaboration and clear accountability
Optimize resource allocation across people, budget, and operational capabilities
Partner with executive leadership on strategic decisions, risks, and investments
Build, lead, and develop high-performing, cross-functional teams
Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Drive employee engagement and develop a strong leadership pipeline through succession planning
Lead organizational change effectively in a dynamic business environment
Provide oversight of field service operations, ensuring efficiency, responsiveness, and cost control
Drive operational improvements through metrics, process optimization, and continuous improvement
Ensure consistent execution of business processes and service standards
Serve as the primary leader accountable for Connectivity business performance, including strategic outcomes and financial results
Ensure governance, communication, and alignment of enterprise initiatives impacting the business
Drive disciplined execution and ownership across all functions and initiatives
Other duties as assigned by the manager