Director of Engineering, Vinyl & Metals

Director, Product Engineering for Vinyl & Metals

Since 2022, Associated Materials / Alside has been undergoing a transformation to maximize our potential through investments in people, operations, and brands.

If you want to be part of a company where your ideas and input are more than just encouraged--they are valued--this is the place for you. At Associated Materials / Alside, your contributions will provide an immediate and lasting impact, helping us achieve what is possible.

Position Summary

The Director, Product Engineering for Vinyl & Metals is responsible for leading the engineering team and driving operational excellence within the Vinyl & Metals engineering team. This position will ensure successful program execution and delivery of products and according to project timelines. This position partners and supports the commercial, manufacturing, and other functional team in driving profitable growth; and the ability support our vision of providing best in industry products to our partners and the end user customers.

Key Accountabilities

General Mgt

• Drive the technical direction of building customer-experience focused products for designated product lines focused on both short- and long-term profitable growth.
• Develop and implement the engineering department's strategic vision, goals, and objectives in alignment with the company's overall strategy.
• Supervise the planning, execution, and delivery of engineering projects, ensuring they are completed within budget and on schedule.
• Allocate resources and manage project risks to ensure successful outcomes.
• Monitor project progress, identify bottlenecks, and implement corrective measures as needed.

• Leadership
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, encouraging collaboration, and facilitating professional development.
• Collaborate with executive management and other partners to understand business requirements and translate them into engineering initiatives.
• Set performance expectations, conduct periodic performance evaluations, and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Build a strong engineering team at all levels of the organization that understands the functional vision and how to achieve positive results in a performance and accountability culture.
• Provide our employees with a safe and healthy place to work
• Ensure the team values diversity and supports a fair and respectful environment for both employees and customers; including high performance, recognition, candid feedback and rewards for performance exists on their team.
• Promote a "performance and accountability" culture by setting clear expectations, holding employees accountable, facilitating a productive work environment, and setting goals that focus the objectives of the company.
• Provide training and development for internal team members, promote strong employee engagement, and drive effective new talent acquisition.
• Product / Process Development
• Drive the release of the remaining composite siding products and their continual improvement in terms of product performance and aesthetics.
• Evaluate current vinyl and metal products with comparison to current industry standards, competitive offerings, and trending technology.
• Develop product roadmaps in cooperation with the Product Management team.
• Collaborate with the factories and the quality team to develop countermeasures and continuous improvement plans for current products.
• Collaborate with the procurement team on VA/VE opportunities for vinyl and metal products.
• Capability and Systems
• Implement proper phase-gate rigor with appropriate procedures, documentation, and management reviews.
• Work with the quality function to drive improved product testing methods including HALT/HASS protocols and others that provide insight to product performance and closely simulate the stresses the products see in the field.
  

Grow internal expertise in polymer formulation, plastic extrusion, and metal coating and forming.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, process engineering or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in product development with strong understanding of all aspects of the stage gate and product development lifecycle.
• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in leading teams in a managerial capacity
• 3+ years of experience in extrusion, metal fabrication or similar engineering processes
  
  

Travel required 20% of time for alignment across multiple manufacturing locations.

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills

• Strategic/Tactical/Pragmatic.Strategic thinker with vision combined with the willingness and ability to 'roll up his/her sleeves' -- proven experience in fast-moving entrepreneurial environment. ‒ Demonstrated ability to quickly assess an organization to determine how to best leverage strengths and addresses weaknesses ‒ Able to adapt quickly...put our partners/customers first. Open minded, nimble, ready to make adjustments
• Results Oriented.Demonstrates a bias for action. Consistently meets expectations, and deliver on goals...reliable and dependable execution on commitments with the appropriate speed. ‒ Articulates a "can do" attitude to support growth...no excuses just solutions ‒ Develops processes, standard work and management operating systems (MOS) that ensure commitments are well communicated, completely timely, and done in a safe manner at all times. ‒ Demonstrates agility -- the ability to adapt to changing business conditions efficiently and effectively.
• Change Management. Proven track record of having delivered sustainable transformational change programs
• Proven capability to deal with complexity and drive profitable growth in a functionalized environment ‒ Experience with development and support of complex products ‒ Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional structure with key stakeholders (Product Development/Sales/Distribution)
  
  

Leadership. Support team with the guidance and resources to accomplish their individual and team goals; and makes decisions in a timely manner.

‒ Strategic perspective -- big picture thinking, interested and aware of external forces/world events

‒ Builds strong relationships and trust quickly with senior peers. Operates as a team player, someone who will make decisions in the interest of the common good.

‒ Excellent communicator with strong change management skills

Associated Materials is a leader in exterior building products for residential and commercial remodeling and new construction markets. We produce vinyl windows, vinyl and composite siding and accessories, and metal building products--and distribute other essential building products to ensure customers find everything they need for their exterior.

Headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, more than 4,000 associates across North America support Associated Materials. We operate 11 manufacturing facilities and more than 100 Alside and over 20 Gentek supply centers across the United States and Canada. Through our unique combination of award-winning products, manufacturing and distribution operations, installation solutions, and support services, the opportunities at Associated Materials are endless!  

Associated Materials ... Building Products Better

Associated Materials, LLC. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance. We also make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees and applicants, as required by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled