Global Strategy and Government Affairs Leader

It’s not just about your career or job title… It’s about who you are and the impact you will make on the world. Because whether it’s for each other or our customers, we put People First. When our people come together, we Expand the Possible and continuously look for ways to improve what we create and how we do it. If you are constantly striving to grow, you’re in good company. We are revolutionizing the way the world moves for future generations, and we want someone who is ready to move with us.

Who will you be working with?

As part of the Global Strategy & Government Affairs team, you will be responsible for helping Wabtec and its Business Units define their strategic objectives and develop innovative strategies to deliver growth across the portfolio – “where to play and how to win”.  Working with leadership, product, commercial, and technical teams across the business, you will provide strategic insights that help to uncover trends and opportunities. You will closely monitor developments in our markets, with our customers, and with our competitors. You will work as part of our Government Affairs team to proactively engage with government stakeholders and work with both customer and business teams to identify and pursue grant funding opportunities. You will also support our M&A activities through analysis, support research and creating and maintaining target profiles and associated adjacent segments.

How will you make a difference?

You will drive strategic operating mechanisms to develop and disseminate relevant intelligence and assessments that enable a broader and deeper understanding of both core markets and adjacencies. And you will lead key strategic initiatives which will help to incubate growth initiatives, organically or inorganically, and pave our pathway for growth in the future.

What do we want to know about you?

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Transportation / Logistics, Engineering, Computer Science, or related disciplines from an accredited college or university.
• 3 or more years' experience in marketing, strategy, or product management.

Desired Characteristics

• Knowledge of the rail freight and/or passenger transportation industries
• Strategic or product marketing experience
• Customer-centric mindset, with the ability to translate customer/market needs into profitable business solutions
• Understanding of industry trends, compliance-driven mandates, and the relevant impact on business strategy, opportunities, and challenges
• The capability of providing thought leadership across the business with the ability to think outside the box to develop a growth strategy and deliver differentiated value for customers
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to effectively interface/communicate with all levels of internal and external customers
• Acumen and confidence dealing at Executive/C-Suite levels
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization and team commercial/selling environment
• Demonstrated ability to build strong business relationships that have led to trusted partner/advisor status
• Proven ability to help shape business strategy, technology investment priorities, and decision-making
• Proven ability to deliver actionable intelligence and to translate insights into strategy
• Experience working in diverse, multi-cultural environments and as part of global cross-business teams
• Experience in business development or building growth plans
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent Quality certification
• Demonstrated program management ability

What will your typical day look like?

Advance strategy development and cross-business unit initiatives, and develop market and competitive insights

• Develop a deep understanding of the global rail freight and transit industries.
• Develop a deep understanding of relevant customer segments, business models, and desired outcomes.
• Develop a deep understanding of adjacent markets and industries where Wabtec is or may develop opportunities.
• Investigate, monitor, and strategically evaluate market trends, dynamics, and forces in the transportation industry, with a focus on Wabtec’s main segments (equipment, services, digital technologies, rail infrastructure, railcar and transit components, mining, etc.), but also in selected adjacent industries.
• Provide internal/external thought leadership and point of contact for assigned segments/topics and key business units.
• Own the tracking and analysis for targeted customers, competitors, and market segments.
• Provide specific, actionable intelligence and related assessment that can be used by leadership and their teams to evaluate and develop long-term strategy.
• Implement and lead core operating mechanisms and deep dives (customer, competitor, market, etc.).
• Perform analysis to support the annual development of a 3-year STRAP strategic plan for the Commercial team and Business Units.
• Leverage tools and techniques including market sizing, competitive assessment/positioning, segmentation, value chain analysis, profit pools, etc. to help uncover and define growth opportunities. Be the internal expert for such tools and techniques, and lead/train business teams in their use.
• Identify and anticipate future trends and consequences and be flexible to adapt to changes.
• Work as part of multi-functional business teams to define market opportunities (size/profitability/etc.) and develop/validate business cases (ROI/IRR).
• Lead matrixed teams of product specialists, sales, government affairs, business development, etc. define, scope, and execute corporate-level, cross-business initiatives.
• Be the point of contact for assigned business units/regions and/or marketing functions. 
• Participate in business unit growth mechanisms and strategy development. Act as the liaison to the strategy team for key BU/Region-level strategic initiatives.
• Help guide the development of the product offering portfolio and sales enablement tool kits.  Help to develop and articulate differentiated value propositions.

Lead government and industry engagement efforts

• Play a leadership role in delivering commercial outcomes through federal and state government engagement and grant funding.
• Manage federal and state lobbyist network activities to advance Wabtec priorities.
• Collaborate with lobbyist network and Business Units to identify legislation and regulations that might impact our business and the implications for Wabtec;
• Identify and track government/external funding opportunities and strategies to pursue.
• Collaborate with customers, sales, and product managers to pursue public funding opportunities, with a focus on products and technologies that make transportation cleaner, safer, and more reliable.
• Develop and maintain key industry relationships – customers, suppliers, partners, industry trade associations, etc.
• Attend industry events and conferences. Provide updates and analysis re: relevant findings and items of interest.
• Support marketing communication and tradeshow efforts – strategic messaging, tools & collateral, etc.
• Evangelize Wabtec's vision, solutions, & capabilities and vision throughout the customer/industry communities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range of analyses using strategic frameworks and market data to shape Wabtec’s strategy, evaluate business opportunities, pursue organic and inorganic growth, and provide new insights into our markets and customers.
• Analyze macroeconomic, market, and company data to illustrate trends, draw conclusions relevant to Wabtec’s strategy, and evaluate growth opportunities.
• Create clear and concise presentations that make compelling arguments supported by data to advance Wabtec’s strategy.  
• Develop key commercial campaigns to support customers in applying for grants and educate internal teams and customers on how to leverage public funding (timelines, requirements, etc.).
• Support Wabtec’s lobbyist network in defining and executing clear objectives to utilize government relations to advocate for Wabtec commercial priorities and funding and policy opportunities.
• Support legislative events (i.e. visits to DC, congress members site tours, etc.), educating government stakeholders on Wabtec’s brand, and the value of the rail industry to the broader economy

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Relocation assistance may be provided if eligibility requirements are met.

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