Director Strategic Marketing

Nordson•Clinton, SC

About The Position

The Strategic Marketing Director is responsible for leading the organization’s innovation strategy, fostering a culture of creativity, and implementing projects that drive business growth through new technology, product launching, processes, and services. This role requires a visionary leader with strong analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to drive change across diverse teams. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities Innovation Strategy Development : Define and implement the organization’s innovation strategy aligned with business objectives. Support the development of the strategic planning process, including the analysis and prioritization of potential initiatives for growth, including marketing strategy, development of presentations, and presentations to leadership, executives and employees Identify opportunities for growth through innovation in products, services, and processes. Drive key business processes such as VOC and key market insights and analysis, and support deployment of the strategy; track implementation plans to ensure the right level of focus and execution Partner with ICS Leadership team and their teams to assess new business opportunities and develop implementation plans including the product road map Track market trends and emerging technologies to ensure the organization remains competitive. Statistical and financial analysis, including customer and competitor analysis, including segmentation, targeting and positioning. market research and market value chain analysis and break-even analysis and decision making. Define and track key strategic performance metrics and develop root cause counter measures for misses. Optimize pricing, including pricing strategy and tactics, strong understanding of relevant costs of pricing and product positioning and its relation to customer segmentation and valuation Leadership & Team Management : Lead, mentor, and develop the team including Product Line Management, Marketing Communications, and Market Research to achieve project objectives and cultivate a culture of innovation. Build cross-functional teams and partnerships across the organization to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. Provide clear direction, set priorities, and maintain accountability for innovation initiatives. Project Management : Oversee the planning and execution of innovation projects, including pilot programs, prototypes, and product development. Establish metrics to evaluate the impact and success of innovation initiatives. Ensure alignment of innovation projects with budget and timelines, mitigating risks where possible. Stakeholder Engagement : Collaborate with key stakeholders, including senior management, commercial team, engineering team and other functional team to drive support for innovation efforts. Communicate progress and outcomes of innovation initiatives to stakeholders, fostering an understanding of the value of innovation. Engage with customers, partners, and industry experts to gather insights that inform the innovation strategy. Continuous Improvement : Create an environment that encourages experimentation and accepts failure as a learning opportunity. Develop and implement processes to capture and act on feedback from innovation projects. Foster an agile approach to continuous improvement, ensuring adaptability to shifting market demands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Design, or a related field; a master’s degree or MBA is preferred.
Proven experience in a senior innovation or strategy role, preferably in a similar industry.
Strong project management skills, with experience overseeing complex, cross-functional projects.

Nice To Haves

Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and influence others.
Deep understanding of market trends, emerging technologies, and innovation methodologies (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean Startup).
Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in data analysis, market research, and business modeling.
Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving business needs.
Collaborative, open-minded, and able to foster a positive culture of creativity and innovation.

Responsibilities

Define and implement the organization’s innovation strategy aligned with business objectives.
Support the development of the strategic planning process, including the analysis and prioritization of potential initiatives for growth, including marketing strategy, development of presentations, and presentations to leadership, executives and employees
Identify opportunities for growth through innovation in products, services, and processes.
Drive key business processes such as VOC and key market insights and analysis, and support deployment of the strategy; track implementation plans to ensure the right level of focus and execution
Partner with ICS Leadership team and their teams to assess new business opportunities and develop implementation plans including the product road map
Track market trends and emerging technologies to ensure the organization remains competitive.
Statistical and financial analysis, including customer and competitor analysis, including segmentation, targeting and positioning.
market research and market value chain analysis and break-even analysis and decision making.
Define and track key strategic performance metrics and develop root cause counter measures for misses.
Optimize pricing, including pricing strategy and tactics, strong understanding of relevant costs of pricing and product positioning and its relation to customer segmentation and valuation
Lead, mentor, and develop the team including Product Line Management, Marketing Communications, and Market Research to achieve project objectives and cultivate a culture of innovation.
Build cross-functional teams and partnerships across the organization to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Provide clear direction, set priorities, and maintain accountability for innovation initiatives.
Oversee the planning and execution of innovation projects, including pilot programs, prototypes, and product development.
Establish metrics to evaluate the impact and success of innovation initiatives.
Ensure alignment of innovation projects with budget and timelines, mitigating risks where possible.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including senior management, commercial team, engineering team and other functional team to drive support for innovation efforts.
Communicate progress and outcomes of innovation initiatives to stakeholders, fostering an understanding of the value of innovation.
Engage with customers, partners, and industry experts to gather insights that inform the innovation strategy.
Create an environment that encourages experimentation and accepts failure as a learning opportunity.
Develop and implement processes to capture and act on feedback from innovation projects.
Foster an agile approach to continuous improvement, ensuring adaptability to shifting market demands.