Provides technical and commercial support for refractory products, including customer assistance, quotations, product selection, lining design, installation methods, complaint investigation, failure analysis, training, product marketing, market analysis, and sales support. Collaborates with engineering and research teams on customer solutions and new product development, supports product portfolio and pricing decisions, and coordinates cross-functional projects. Requires approximately 30–35% domestic travel with occasional international travel.
HWI has a fantastic opportunity to join our Marketing Team as an Application and Technical Support Specialist II.
Summary
The Application and Technical Support Specialist II promotes the use of HarbisonWalker International refractory products and uses their technical knowledge of refractory products to support commercial activities including product marketing, support for product selection and use, and sales activities. This role should also begin working with HarbisonWalker Internationals engineering team to solve problems and provide solutions to customers, internal and external.
Responsibilities
- Leveraging deep subject matter expertise for providing technical support for customer assistance, customer quotations, internal and external training, complaint investigation, failure analysis and collaboration on research and development activities, including new product development concepts and projects.
- Performing analysis of application needs and proposing, altering, or refining/defining lining designs and installation methods in support of customer balancing business needs.
- Contributing to and executing product promotions and marketing strategies as a cross-functional team member supporting segment plan initiatives; preparing for and attending industry tradeshows.
- Performing market analysis and contributing to product portfolio analysis to identify and develop new/emerging business opportunities and to align with segment plan initiatives
- Offering strategic customer sales and technical support.
- Assisting in product rationalization, product portfolio modifications and shape standardization; contributing to pricing and positioning of various products in the subject matter areas.
Requirements:
- Requires B.S. degree in Engineering such as Ceramics, Metallurgy, Chemical, Materials Science or related field.
- Requires knowledge of industry/customer applications, general refractory science, and marketing/technical skills. Additional knowledge and understanding of product lines, product characteristics, construction, installations, customer applications, estimating, quality control, manufacturing and sales skills will be helpful.
- Requires proficient knowledge of MS Office (i.e. Excel, Access and PowerPoint).
- Requires the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Requires strong analytical, strategic thinking and business problem solving skills.
- Requires project management skills and the ability to coordinate multi-department projects.
- Requires two (2) to four (4) years’ experience in technical, Research and Development or commercial refractory roles.
- Position requires domestic travel, estimated 30% of the time.
Physical and Environmental Requirements:
- Physical Activity: Requires more than 2/3 of time sitting, talking or hearing; and less than 1/3 of time standing, walking, climbing/balancing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, reaching and using hands and fingers and tasting/smelling.
- Lifting: Requires lifting up to 50 pounds less than 1/3 of time.
- Vision: Requires accurate close and distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
- Environment: Requires more than 2/3 of time in an office setting; and less than 1/3 of time working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposed to outdoor weather, wet/humid conditions, extreme heat, fumes or airborne particles, toxic/caustic chemicals, and/or vibration.
- Noise: Requires exposure to moderate noise; and less 1/3 of time working in loud environments.
- Travel: Requires approximately 35% travel (primarily domestic, occasional international opportunity)
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