Business Development Engineer – Latin America

Purpose

The Business Development Engineer drives business growth by identifying profitable business opportunities and providing the technical and commercial coordination to ensure plant, product and customer capability.  This role develops and applies both commercial and technical solutions using Ravago’s engineered plastic materials to meet customer needs, identifies new product requirements, and leads technological development initiatives that drive expansion of compound offerings. 

Areas of Responsibility / Tasks

1. Responsible for managing the commercial development activities and the commercial plan associated with polyolefin and nylon compounded materials in his/her region.
2. Pursues new business opportunities through diligent customer and market development efforts:
   1. Identifies strategic markets and customers.
   2. Determines material requirements and specifications for targeted applications.
   3. Collaboration with Ravago manufacturing, product development, and commercial group to offer material solutions in line with plant capabilities that maximizes profitable growth while also reducing product risk. 
   4. Interprets sample results and provides relevant information to customers to drive closure of business opportunities. 
   5. Participation in customer molding trial to expedite the process of business closure.
   6. Presents a formalized data package of developed material(s) for customer approval(s).
3. Interacts with customers and OEMs to recommend Ravago Manufacturing products and capabilities, while driving material approvals across targeted market segments.
4. Responsible for tracking, coordinating and follow up of all business opportunities in his/her region to maximize closure of projects.
5. Manage projects internally and externally, including communication, trials, and ensuring timely delivery of customer solutions
6. Provides timely response to customer inquiries and complaints to ensure customer satisfaction.
7. Coordinates with channels to compile regional RMA sales plan for nylon and polypropylene compounded products and drives execution of that plan.
8. Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers, providing technical advice and ensuring Ravago’s products meet customer expectations and market trends.
9. Conduct market research to understand customer requirements and market needs for new product development.
10. Develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels to guarantee sustained sales growth.
11. Performs all duties safely and in compliance with documentation outlined in the Safety, Health & Environmental and defined quality management systems
12. Performs other duties and assignments as directed by manager.

Competencies; Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA)

To perform this role successfully, an individual must have experience achieving desired result(s) in their areas of responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of observable behaviors and essential knowledge, skill, and abilities required of a successful incumbent within our culture.         

1. Strong plastics technology skills and excellent skills in customer relationships, business development, project management, teamwork, organization, and communication Thorough understanding & ability to conduct root cause analysis & develop action plans.
2. Sophisticated verbal and written skills.
3. Flexible. Able to cope with multiple/changing/competing priorities and deadlines with a high degree of optimism, professionalism, and collaboration.
4. Ability to work with considerable independence, developing processes to accomplish objectives in alignment with broader business objectives.
5. Ability to build and maintain strong, long-term customer relationships.
6. Excellent communication skills, self-starter, sense of urgency, personable, and well organized.
7. Self-sufficient in terms of time management and support.
8. Demonstrated ability to leverage technical strength to develop new business

Minimum Qualifications / Education / Certifications

1. Education:
   1. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering- required
   2.  MBQ- preferred
   3.  5+ years of experience with plastic materials- required
2. Licenses / Certifications:
   1. Valid driver’s license – required
3. Language:
   1. Proficiency in English – required
   2. Proficiency in Spanish- required 
4. Industry / Cultural Experience:
   1. Experience working within Mexico, the United States, and/or the broader LATAM region, with demonstrated familiarity navigating regional manufacturing and supply‑chain environments. -required
   2. Similar size organization – preferred
   3. Industries: Polymers, Oil & gas, Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Recycling, Material Compound- required
   4. Fast paced / entrepreneurial / high change / growing company – preferred
5. Systems Experience:
   1. Familiar with various Web Based Conferencing / Communications applications – required (Teams, Zoom preferred)
   2. Microsoft suite: Outlook, Excel - required

Work Environment / Conditions

The work environment/conditions described herein are representative of those that an incumbent may experience, and therefore

1. Must be adaptable to work in a warehouse / manufacturing plant location, with constant noise, with/or without the use of a private office

2. Willingness to travel as required to support sales and customer engagement activities.

3. Schedules may vary from week to week based on business demands in excess of 40 hours with or without notice.

4.This is a remote work from home role.

Physical Requirements / Demands: 

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions & physical demands of this role.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to communicate verbally, read, comprehend & convey information, type on a consistent and daily basis.
2. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to travel by foot, car, bus, airplane, or other means of transportation which require sitting, waiting, and standing for long and short periods of time.
3. Ability to setup desk equipment including setting up equipment on top of desks and connecting cables and power cords under desk (requiring lifting, bending, pushing, pulling).