Job Description

A great label tells a story by visually communicating a product's unique history, origin, and brand values through design elements like colors, fonts, and imagery, creating an emotional connection with consumers and differentiating it from competitors. Without the right ink and coatings that story can be ruined before the product even gets to the shelf. Wikoff offers a specialized portfolio of water based and energy curable inks and coatings along with consumables and color management for the label, tag and narrow web market. Our inks and coatings can be found on labels adhered to beverages, home and personal care, food and nonfood applications.

The Business Manager, Label & Narrow Web, is responsible for leading the strategic, technical, and commercial operations of Wikoff’s label and narrow web business group. This role is responsible for the product management strategy, overseeing key customer partnerships and providing technical support across North America.

The Manager is accountable for conducting market research to identify industry trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics, using these insights to shape our growth strategy. This includes setting tactical goals as well as multi-year plan development and implementation. As a dynamic business leader, the role will manage product management, business development and technical support while working in a cross functional multi-national organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sales Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy aligned with company goals, leveraging existing strengths and identifying new opportunities.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key strategic label & narrow web accounts, acting as a trusted advisor and partner.
• Maintain and refine the opportunity pipeline by ensuring accurate forecasting stages, customer touchpoints, and projected close dates are regularly updated in the CRM.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to commercial team members, fostering talent development and succession planning.

New Business Development

• Proactively work with business development managers and cross functional sales team members to identify and acquire new label and narrow web customers through prospecting, funnel management, networking, lead generation, and industry events.
• Support the delivery of compelling, professional sales presentations to clients and prospects through in-person and online platforms.
• Design and lead strategic client campaigns and tailored proposals, offering innovative solutions using Wikoff’s products and services.
• Coordinate with sales, supply chain, R&D, and tech solutions team members to ensure opportunities are validated, supported and actionable with the appropriate resources.

Product Management & Development

• Oversee product management, including all aspects of the product lifecycle.
• Deliver strategic recommendations tied to customer performance, product mix optimization, and geographic expansion opportunities.
• Lead the cross-functional development team for new products by managing the projects according to Wikoff’s stage-gate development process.
• Work with Operations to improve manufacturing productivity and to ensure manufacturing capacity meets demand.
• Support pricing initiatives across the portfolio, providing customer insights and delivering internal expectations based on raw material inputs.
• Support forecasting of key products, to ensure production can be planned to support raw material purchasing and production scheduling.

Strategic Planning & Reporting

• Provide regular updates to leadership on market dynamics, competitive threats, and emerging customer trends affecting the label & narrow web markets.
• Present sales forecasts, revenue performance, and pipeline analytics during monthly leadership reviews.
• Support the development of long-term growth plans and capital investment strategies, aligning the graphics division with overall corporate goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for executive decision-making related to technical innovations and supplier

Technical & Customer Support

• Support field trials, installations and troubleshooting.
• Document and train internal & external stakeholders on best practices.
• Collaborate with sales and technical teams to transition customers into new technologies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Chemistry or Business with a focus on graphics, packaging, or related field.
• 5-7+ years of experience in ink/printing, or similar adjacent industry.
• Proven track record in strategic sales management with successful sales experience.
• Strong industry network and ability to leverage connections for business growth.
• Demonstrated success in implementing strategic sales processes and achieving corporate goals.
• Proven ability to cultivate and close high-value strategic business opportunities while maintaining long-term client relationships.
• Strong executive-level sales skills, including presentation, negotiation, and relationship management.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and customer service skills.
• Ability to thrive under high-pressure sales conditions and adapt to a dynamic environment.
• Ability to travel as needed and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret sales data and apply insights.

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