📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Manager, Celgard
🔹 Company: Asahi Kasei
🔹 Location: Charlotte, NC (Telecommuting)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (with up to 30% travel)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading strategic marketing projects for Celgard's polyolefin microporous membranes
- Conducting market research and analysis to identify opportunities
- Supporting business model and product development
- Managing customer accounts in North America
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and execute Voice of Customer (VOC) plans
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with a focus on driving sustainable sales revenue and margin growth.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead strategic marketing projects for Celgard's focused growth areas, including lithium-ion and next-gen battery separators, textiles, filtration, packaging, medical devices, and specialty batteries
✅ Conceptualize and scope new strategic marketing projects for target markets
✅ Identify market opportunities and initiate new projects in adjacent or new markets
✅ Collaborate with other functions to develop and execute VOC plans
✅ Develop and manage project/services roadmaps linked to target segments, customer needs, and willingness to pay
✅ Develop cohesive go-to-market plans, including communication, brand, and IP plans, and implement launch plans with regional sales teams
✅ Coordinate with sales leadership to improve sales processes and own the sample request process
✅ Serve as the day-to-day contact for an assigned group of customers in North America, managing forecasts and ensuring smooth operations
✅ Conduct primary and secondary market intelligence and analysis with actionable outcomes
✅ Support potential M&A work and maintain Celgard's external communications
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of market and technical uncertainty, requiring proficiency in hypothesis-based learning to effectively characterize portfolio opportunities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, marketing, or business, with a strong preference for an MBA
Experience: 5+ years of business experience in a strategic marketing role in a B2B environment, preferably in an industrial/manufacturing setting
Required Skills:
- Advanced analytical skills, including stochastic modeling, conjoint analysis, linear regression, and other techniques
- Excellent communication, presentation, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to translate complex marketing concepts to business partners and clearly articulate benefits and results
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with a collaborative style that builds strategic relationships
- High levels of personal integrity, clarity, and honesty
- Culturally sensitive and able to operate effectively in various cultures
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the highly technical engineering or manufacturing industry
- Successful track record of taking and launching products to market
- Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly matrixed, results-driven organization
- Solid global business experience, including deep understanding of customers
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in strategic marketing and a proven track record in a B2B environment, preferably in an industrial/manufacturing setting, will be well-suited for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager with 5-10 years of experience in the chemical manufacturing industry)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee assistance program
- Tuition reimbursement
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with up to 30% travel required
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager with the required experience level in the chemical manufacturing industry. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, qualifications, and negotiation.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Asahi Kasei operates in the chemical manufacturing industry, with a focus on materials, homes, and health care. The company contributes to life and living for people around the world by providing solutions to global challenges.
Company Size: Asahi Kasei is a large organization with over 10,000 employees globally. This size allows for diverse opportunities and a robust support structure for employees.
Founded: 1922, in Tokyo, Japan
Company Description:
- Asahi Kasei is a global leader in the chemical manufacturing industry, with a commitment to creating for tomorrow
- The company operates with a commitment to anticipating the changing needs of society and contributing to its development
- Asahi Kasei's business sectors, Material, Homes, and Health Care, contribute to the development of society by addressing global challenges
Company Specialties:
- Materials: Chemical manufacturing, including battery separators and specialty membranes
- Homes: Construction materials and housing solutions
- Health Care: Medical devices and pharmaceuticals
Company Website: www.asahi-kasei.com
ASSUMPTION: Asahi Kasei's large size and global presence offer applicants a diverse range of opportunities and a robust support structure for professional growth.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years of experience)
Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Director, Strategic Marketing, Celgard
Work Arrangement: On-site, with up to 30% travel required
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to a senior marketing role or management position within the company
- Opportunities to work on diverse projects and gain exposure to various aspects of the business
- Possibility to take on increased responsibility and leadership within the team
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the company, as well as the chance to work on diverse and challenging projects.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office environment
Office Location(s): Charlotte, NC (CEL Corporate)
Geographic Context:
- Charlotte, NC is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County
- The city is known for its urban parks, museums, and professional sports teams
- Charlotte is a major U.S. financial center and is considered the eastern gateway to the Piedmont region
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with up to 30% travel required
ASSUMPTION: The Charlotte, NC office provides a corporate work environment with access to urban amenities and a diverse professional community.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final interview with the director or another senior leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities
- Communication and presentation skills
- Collaboration and teamwork skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
- Research Asahi Kasei and Celgard to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its products
ATS Keywords: Strategic Marketing, Market Research, Customer Account Management, Business Model Development, Product Development, Analytical Skills, Communication Skills, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, Collaboration, Data-Driven Decision Making, Technical Savvy, Project Management, Sales Support, Market Intelligence, Customer Relations
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to involve multiple interviews, with a focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, analytical skills, and communication abilities.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)
- Data analysis tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant marketing automation and data analysis tools is required for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centricity
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Integrity and accountability
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Work Style:
- Results-driven and focused on delivering value
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and open to change
- Data-driven and analytical
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving strategic marketing initiatives that have resulted in measurable business impact?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment and collaborating with cross-functional teams?
- Do you have strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex marketing concepts into clear and actionable insights?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Asahi Kasei's company values and work style, and who can demonstrate a strong track record of driving strategic marketing initiatives, will be well-suited for this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Working with a high degree of market and technical uncertainty
- Travel requirements (up to 30%) may present challenges for candidates with personal or family commitments
- Competitive job market for marketing roles in the chemical manufacturing industry
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment, and should be comfortable with travel requirements and the competitive job market for marketing roles in the chemical manufacturing industry.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is focused on strategic marketing and business development, rather than day-to-day marketing execution or campaign management
- Asahi Kasei's large size and global presence offer opportunities for diverse projects and professional growth
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior marketing or management positions within the company
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should understand the strategic focus of this role and be prepared to work on diverse projects and contribute to the company's global growth.
📝 Sample Projects
- Conducting market research and analysis to identify opportunities in the lithium-ion battery separator market
- Developing and executing a go-to-market plan for a new product launch in the specialty membrane business unit
- Managing customer accounts and ensuring smooth operations for a subset of North American commercial accounts
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic marketing, business development, and customer management aspects of this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the strategic priorities for Celgard's battery separator and specialty membrane business units in the next 1-3 years?
- How does this role fit into the overall organizational structure, and what are the key stakeholders for this position?
- What is the company's approach to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the company?
- What is the expected timeline for the onboarding process, and what resources will be available to support my success in this role?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help candidates better understand the strategic priorities, organizational structure, and professional growth opportunities within the company.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
- Research Asahi Kasei and Celgard to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its products
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
