Technical Business Leader, Advanced Composites

Overview

Firestone Fibers & Textiles, a business subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., is a leader in the development and manufacture of tire cord, industrial textile products, and composite products. Many of the proprietary processes and unique manufacturing procedures developed by Firestone Fibers & Textiles contribute to the high quality fibers and fabrics used by leading companies throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America.

 

FSFT manufactures both standard industry items and unique proprietary materials for specialized applications.  FSFT specializes in mechanical rubber good and applications where treatments for various types of rubber applications are required and weft insertion fabrics for coating and laminating.  In addition to its Tire Tough fabrics, FSFT offers commission weaving and treating services.

 

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered plants are located in Kings Mountain and Gastonia, North Carolina, USA, and Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.

 

As the company embarks on an aggressive growth journey over the next 5 years, the vision of the organization is focused on transforming FSFT from an intercompany raw material supplier into a market leader in the advanced composites materials and products businesses with a goal of reaching $500 million in revenue by 2021.

 

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC. OVERVIEW

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the worlds largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone produces tires for use in a wide variety of applications, and manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Bridgestones products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.  The company has over 180 manufacturing plants located in 25 countries around the world.

 

Bridgestone Americas, Inc., with headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, represents 48 percent of Bridgestone Corporation revenues.  At the core of its business, the company develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone, and associated brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. 

 

In addition to its core tire product business, Bridgestone Americas also operates consumer and commercial vehicle and tire service platforms and non-tire related businesses in an effort to drive incremental value to its diverse customer base.  In a rapidly changing regional and global market, the company has identified the strategic need to continue to evolve and transform into a holistic business solutions provider to drive increased differentiation across key competitors within its markets and fuel profitable business growth.

The Bridgestone Americas family of enterprises includes more than 55,000 employees across the region, to include manufacturing and business subsidiaries located in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico, with additional sales representation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. 

 

Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

Position Summary

As a member of the Bridgestones Technical Center will provide technical leadership for critical accelerated growth initiative. Bridgestone is considering leveraging core capabilities to expand into a new related market which requires expertise in advanced composite materials applied in the automotive industry. Member of core team responsible for validating business model. Responsible for leading technical activities of project teams in partnership with the business unit President. Identifies appropriate resources required, process design and engages with customers.

Responsibilities

• • Serve as technical leader for critical accelerated growth initiative into new markets
  • Responsible for leading all technical activities, of project teams in partnership with the business and unit president
  • Responsible for establishing short and long term growth strategy and leading the team to deliver on this strategy
  • Develop and execute overall technical strategy to address advanced composites initiatives
  • Identify attractive external sources for composite design, material and processes. Conduct initial diligence on these sources
  • With appropriate Bridgestone Composite team members, assist in the creation of development agreements and/or strategic relationships
  • Develop a close working relationship with OEM R&D and platform managers leading to OEM-Bridgestone composite part co-creation
  • Translate OEM parts needs into development plans that achieve profitable manufacturing platform opportunities for Bridgestone 
  • Provide the needed OEM part details to the Bridgestone design and prototyping teams 
  • Deliver prototypes that meet the needs of OEMs and position Bridgestone for significant revenue growth
  • Manage component development for projects from concept stage through production
  • Design component parts to meet all engineering requirements, create and maintain development schedule, and support evaluation and manufacturing processes
  • Design and track target setting processes and own risk management and countermeasure development

   

Qualifications

• • Significant track record in industrial composites new product development encompassing at least two of: design, materials, process  
  •  Demonstrated success at forming and utilizing external technology networks
  • Success in developing productive relationships with high level R&D and program staff that resulted in substantial new product revenue
  •  Launching light weight material products in automotive or industrial markets with cumulative revenues above $100 million 
  • Previous experience in a senior role launching a new technology business
  • Bachelors degree in EngineeringMechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Industrial, or equivalent
  • 10+ years experience with the product design and release process in the automotive or aerospace industry
  • Skills and experience in flexible body part manufacturing, engineering, and construction processes with carbon fiber and advanced composites

*indeed 

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