At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to identify and develop new market opportunities.
- Company: Join Xaar, a leader in inkjet technology with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for global travel.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong growth potential and support from senior leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving new applications from concept to market.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and commercial negotiations is essential.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Xaar is here to create a world where you can print anything you can imagine. Xaar has defined 5 values which are vital to our business; each represents an area of essential importance to us. Their existence is intended to guide difficult decisions and shape behaviour:
- Creative – we push the boundaries of what’s possible
- Collaborative – everyone is a partner; we help each other freely and willingly
- Innovative – we always strive to constantly improve
- Integrity – we deliver on our promises
- Passion – we care about our technology, our products, our partners and each other
Purpose of Role
The Strategic Applications Development Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and commercialising new market and application opportunities that align with the company’s technology and product roadmap. This role sits at the intersection of product management, business development, and technical project leadership. Working across a 1–3 year strategic planning horizon, the role focuses on discovering high-value market opportunities, validating them with strategic customers, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver commercially viable solutions. Once validated, these solutions will be productised and transitioned into the core business development and sales pipeline. The role requires a commercially minded technical leader capable of managing complex customer engagements, negotiating commercial terms, and driving new application development from concept through to market adoption.
Key Accountabilities
- Market & Application Development
- Identify and evaluate new market and application opportunities aligned with the company’s strategic technology roadmap.
- Lead market and application qualification, assessing commercial viability, technical feasibility, and strategic fit.
- Identify emerging customer needs and unmet market requirements that can be addressed through new applications or product developments.
- Develop a targeted, strategic approach to market development aligned with product and technology roadmaps.
- Solution Development & Product Alignment
- Translate market requirements into technical solutions, product developments, or feature enhancements in collaboration with product and engineering teams.
- Work closely with product management and development teams to align application needs with future product capabilities.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) by ensuring emerging applications are integrated into product development plans.
- Customer Validation & Field Implementation
- Engage with strategic and halo customers to validate new applications and solutions in real-world environments.
- Lead field implementation and evaluation programs to demonstrate technical performance and commercial value.
- Capture and translate customer feedback into product and application improvements.
- Strategic Project Leadership
- Cross-functionally project manage strategic new application initiatives from concept through validation and early deployment.
- Coordinate internal teams across engineering, product management, marketing, and sales to deliver project outcomes.
- Manage timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder alignment for complex application development initiatives.
- Commercial & Contractual Management
- Lead commercial negotiations and contract discussions for new strategic opportunities and development projects.
- Develop and manage Statements of Work (SOWs) for customer-funded development or collaborative projects.
- Structure agreements that balance technical development, commercial risk, and long-term business opportunity.
- Productisation & Business Handover
- Drive the productisation of validated solutions, ensuring they are scalable, documented, and ready for broader market adoption.
- Transition mature application opportunities to core business development and sales teams for ongoing commercial growth.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- The Strategic Applications Development Manager will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Key Internal Relationships: Director of Product and Applications; Head of Product Management; Head of Strategic Marketing; Director of Sales; Director of Product Development; CTO; CEO.
Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications
- Demonstrated success in identifying and commercialising new market opportunities.
- Experience managing cross-functional technical projects from concept through delivery.
- Experience with customer-funded development projects and managing development partnerships.
- Strong background in new product introduction (NPI) processes.
- Experience negotiating commercial agreements, contracts, and statements of work.
Skills & Behaviours
- Strong strategic thinking and market analysis capabilities.
- Ability to translate market needs into technical and product requirements.
- Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation ability.
- Comfortable working in ambiguous early-stage opportunity environments.
- Ability to operate effectively across technical, commercial, and executive domains.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong drive to create new growth opportunities.
- Highly collaborative, with the ability to lead across functions without direct authority.
- Comfortable presenting to senior leadership and board-level stakeholders.
- Adaptable and capable of operating in global, customer-facing environments.
Additional Requirements
- Willingness to undertake regular global travel to support strategic customer engagement and application development.
- Ability to work across both Huntingdon and Waterbeach locations, with a hybrid working model.
Strategic Applications Development Manager in Cambridge employer: Xaar PLC
Xaar PLC is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, ideal for those passionate about technology and inkjet applications. Located in the United Kingdom, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that encourages professional growth through mentorship and hands-on experience, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in a cutting-edge field.
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We think this is how you could land Strategic Applications Development Manager in Cambridge
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We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Applications Development Manager in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Xaar PLC. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Xaar PLC
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
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As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
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We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Xaar PLC. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
