Summary
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.
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
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field
- Master’s degree in Engineering or Business preferred
- 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
- Certifications (Preferred): [e.g., PMP or Agile/SAFe; Functional Safety (TÜV)
Essential Job Functions
- Ability to lead in a dynamic, cross-functional environment
- Strong communication and decision-making 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
- This is a hybrid position unless otherwise specified requiring 3 days in the office
Perks & Benefits
Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 10 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, assistance, and more!
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Phoenix Contact is committed to the diversity of our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.
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Phoenix Contact has an internal Staffing Department. Recruiters are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Phoenix Contact employees directly in an attempt to present candidates. Phoenix Contact will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Phoenix Contact, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Phoenix Contact mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Phoenix Contact employees, or to Phoenix Contact’s resume database will be considered Phoenix Contact property. Phoenix Contact will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Phoenix Contact will consider any candidate for whom a Recruiter has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Recruiter free of any charges or fees. Phoenix Contact will not pay a fee to any Recruiter that does not have a signed Phoenix Contact contract in place specific to the position for which the resume was submitted. Recruiting vendor agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Phoenix Contact's Head of People & Organization or his or her designee. No other Phoenix Contact employee is authorized to bind Phoenix Contact to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Recruiters. By submitting a candidate to Phoenix Contact, recruiters agree to be bound and comply with this policy.