Strategic Applications Development Manager
Job Title: Strategic Applications Development Manager
Department: R&D
Location:Hybrid between Waterbeach, Cambridge and Huntingdon
Inkjet Innovator. Trusted Partner. Sustainable Future. 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 Manageris responsible foridentifying, 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 a1–3 yearstrategic planning horizon, the role focuses on discovering high-value market opportunities,validatingthem with strategic customers, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver commerciallyviablesolutions. Oncevalidated, these solutions will beproductised 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
Identifyand evaluatenew market and application opportunitiesaligned with the company’s strategic technology roadmap.
Leadmarket and application qualification, assessing commercial viability, technical feasibility, and strategic fit.
Identifyemerging customer needs and unmet market requirementsthat can be addressed through new applications or product developments.
Develop atargeted, strategic approach to market developmentaligned 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 projectmanagestrategic 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
Leadcommercial negotiations and contract discussionsfor new strategic opportunities and development projects.
Develop and manage Statements of Work (SOWs)for customer-funded development or collaborative projects.
Structure agreements that balancetechnical development, commercial risk, and long-term business opportunity.
Productisation & Business Handover
Drive theproductisationof validated solutions, ensuring they are scalable, documented, and ready for broader market adoption.
Transition mature application opportunities tocore business development and sales teamsfor 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,experienceand qualifications:
Demonstrated success inidentifying, and commercialising new market opportunities.
Experience managingcross-functional technical projectsfrom concept through delivery.
Experience withcustomer-funded development projectsand managing development partnerships.
Strong background innew product introduction (NPI)processes.
Experience negotiatingcommercial agreements, contracts, and statements of work.
Skills & behaviours:
Strongstrategic thinking and market analysis capabilities.
Ability totranslate market needs into technical and product requirements.
Excellentstakeholder management and executive communication skills.
Strongcommercial acumen and negotiation ability.
Comfortable working inambiguous early-stage opportunity environments.
Ability tooperateeffectively acrosstechnical, commercial, and executive domains.
Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong drive tocreate new growth opportunities.
Highly collaborative, with the ability tolead across functions without direct authority.
Comfortable presenting tosenior leadership and board-level stakeholders.
Adaptable and capable of operating inglobal, customer-facing environments.
Additional Requirements
Willingness to undertakeregular global travelto support strategic customer engagement and application development.
Ability to workacross both Huntingdon andWaterbeachlocations, with a hybrid working model.
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