Strategic Industry Expert

Fastmarkets • Houston, TX

22h

About The Position

The Strategic Industry Expert (SIE) is a senior role for a recognised forest products market expert who works with Fastmarkets’ largest customers. The role is responsible for driving a market-informed growth strategy and strengthening Fastmarkets’ positioning with key customers, while linking customers with commercial, editorial and analytics teams. The SIE is part of a central team that works across the customer base and serves as a market expert and thought partner to senior stakeholders and C-suite leaders, helping customers use Fastmarkets’ offerings in important business decisions.

This Americas-focused role covers pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, recovered paper and wood products across North and Latin America. It also supports global customers and works with SIE and commercial colleagues in EMEA and APAC. The position requires deep knowledge of these markets, a strong regional network and the credibility to engage with CEOs and other senior customer stakeholders. Customers span producers, converters, packaging buyers, home improvement retailers, lumber dealers, traders, banks and investors.

The SIE develops an understanding of customer groups’ strategic objectives and challenges and shows how Fastmarkets’ portfolio can support their purchasing, sales, planning and risk decisions. Engagement may include C-suite meetings, strategy workshops, presentations, regional roadshows and industry conferences. The role contributes to revenue growth by supporting commercial wins and renewals, expanding customer use of Fastmarkets products and analytical offerings, and developing a strategic view of market conditions and competitive dynamics.

Requirements

• Extensive experience and a strong track record in North American and/or Latin American forest products markets, including pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, recovered paper or wood products.
• Relevant experience may come from a price-reporting agency as a market expert or price reporter, from work as an economist or market analyst, from a major forest products producer in a commercial, market analysis or strategy role, from packaging procurement at a large consumer goods, food or retail company, or from forest products equity research, banking or investing.
• Working understanding of how price data is used in the industry, including index-linked contracts, cost models, budgeting and forecasting, risk management and valuation.
• Credibility with senior stakeholders and confidence presenting to both small groups and large audiences.
• Sound commercial judgment and comfort participating in renewal and pricing conversations and working closely with account managers.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to build analyses and presentations and use AI tools to work faster.
• Ability to work effectively across commercial, editorial, analytics and product teams.
• Fluency in English.
• Motivation, drive, passion for working in a fast-paced team, and willingness to work flexibly.

Nice To Haves

• An established network of contacts in the Americas forest products industry.
• Spanish or Portuguese language skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Fastmarkets’ growth in key forest products customer segments across North and Latin America, including producers, downstream customers, traders, banks and financial institutions.
• Support global customers with operations in the Americas and other regions.
• Own and present in-depth strategic insights to senior customer stakeholders as authoritative Fastmarkets points of view, and explain how Fastmarkets’ solutions address customer objectives.
• Engage customers through C-suite meetings, presentations, roadshows and industry events.
• Identify opportunities to drive revenue growth by supporting commercial wins with existing customers, adding value through targeted engagement and embedding Fastmarkets products and services more deeply in customer workflows.
• Expand Fastmarkets’ value proposition with customers to create opportunities across its analytical offerings in pulp, paper, packaging and wood products.
• Collaborate with Account Managers and Commercial teams to drive revenue growth, act as value owner for high-value renewals and help run the Forest pricing desk.
• Build a strong network of senior stakeholders across the Americas customer base and develop valuable industry connections.
• Develop and own a strategic view of market conditions and competitive intelligence affecting Forest customers and Fastmarkets’ growth positioning in the Americas.
• Work with cross-functional teams to refine strategies, improve product offerings and enhance customer support in the region.
• Keep the Forest sales team informed about market developments through regular market meetings and help onboard new colleagues.
• Conduct and document high-impact pre- and post-sales activities and contribute to internal quarterly and annual sales and financial planning cycles.
• Travel as required for client meetings, conferences and regional roadshows.

Benefits

• Access to Fastmarkets Rewards, including core benefits and a flexible allowance that can be tailored to lifestyle, wellbeing and financial priorities.
• Benefits may vary by country and role.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed