At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to identify and develop new market opportunities.
- Company: Join Xaar, a pioneering tech company focused on sustainable printing solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for global travel.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong career growth potential.
- 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 60000 - 80000 £ 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 is an exceptional employer that fosters a creative and collaborative work culture, empowering employees to push the boundaries of innovation in the inkjet technology sector. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, Xaar offers unique opportunities for strategic thinkers to lead cross-functional projects and engage with senior leadership, all while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model between Waterbeach and Huntingdon. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to creating sustainable solutions and making a meaningful impact in the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Applications Development Manager in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their technology roadmap and think about how your skills align with their needs. This shows you’re not just interested in any job, but specifically in what they do at Xaar.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in managing cross-functional projects and commercial negotiations makes you the perfect fit for the Strategic Applications Development Manager role. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Xaar.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Applications Development Manager in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in identifying and commercialising new market opportunities. We want to see how your skills align with our values of creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking:In your application, demonstrate your ability to think strategically about market development. Share examples of how you've translated market needs into technical solutions or product requirements in the past. This is key for us!
Highlight Your Project Management Skills:Since this role involves managing complex projects, be sure to detail your experience with cross-functional project management. We love seeing how you've coordinated teams to deliver successful outcomes in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Xaar PLC
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Xaar's values and mission. Understand their focus on innovation and collaboration, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you demonstrate that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company culture.
✨Prepare Your Success Stories
Think of specific examples from your past where you've successfully identified market opportunities or led cross-functional projects. Be ready to discuss how you navigated challenges and what the outcomes were. This will showcase your strategic thinking and project leadership skills.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. For instance, ask about their current strategic initiatives or how they envision the future of application development. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Since the role involves commercial negotiations, be prepared to discuss your approach to managing contracts and agreements. Share examples of how you've balanced technical development with commercial risk in previous roles. This will highlight your commercial acumen and ability to drive new opportunities.
