Director - Protection Equipment

Director•Protection Equipment Hillside, IL Job Details Full-time $64,444•$96,666 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Revenue growth Managerial strategic planning Pricing Sales revenue Forecasting Strategic management Product roadmapping Operational management Competitive analysis Product positioning White papers Cross-selling Profit & loss Entrepreneurship Mentoring Product strategy Financial management OEM Senior level AI Cross-functional collaboration Post-merger integration Escalation handling Cross-functional team management Corporate development Pre-sales Senior leadership Full Job Description US Based Client is looking for a Director•

Special Protection Group Location:

Primarily US Experience:

15-25 yrs

Role Overview:

End-to-end ownership of the global protection equipment portfolio, including strategy, specification leadership, and responsibility for major deals worldwide.

Preference:

Candidates from competitor organizations, especially in North America or global markets. Job Description The Director owns the Protection business end-to-end across all industries and geographies, including: Revenue and order intake performance Pricing, margin, and product mix Product roadmap and innovation direction Specification strategy and market leadership Key account and EPC engagement Channel and OEM strategy Lifecycle and installed base expansion Digital monitoring and service integration This role carries full P&L responsibility and direct oversight of the Protection segment's performance and growth. Core Responsibilities 1. Business Unit Leadership & Financial Accountability Operate as the business owner for the Protection portfolio. Own revenue growth, margin expansion, and order intake Set pricing strategy, discount structure, and commercial guardrails Drive forecast accuracy and pipeline visibility Balance growth, margin, complexity, and capital decisions Lead annual and multi-year segment strategy This role carries true business ownership with P&L•like accountability. 2. Product Strategy, I nnovation & Architecture Authority Serve as the primary subject-matter expert and product authority for Protection. Define product roadmap and new product priorities Lead business cases and commercialization strategy Ensure reliability, compliance, and performance leadership Integrate monitoring, sensing, and digital capabilities 3. Specification Leadership & Market Positioning Own the "why we win" in Protection. Ensure products are specified into projects pre-bid Build relationships with EPCs, engineers, and consultants Lead technical presentations, standards engagement, and white papers Define value propositions and differentiation Represent Cognesense as industry authority Establish Cognesense as the preferred specification across key markets and firms. 4. Key Account & Strategic Deal Ownership Personally lead the largest and most strategic Protection opportunities. Engage directly with major customers and EPC programs Lead pursuit strategy for complex or high-value projects Support the sales force in program capture and positioning Serve as executive escalation point for major deals Build long-term executive relationships

Director, Protection Equipment Expectation:

visible market leadership and direct deal ownership. 5. Market Strategy & Growth Expansion Define and execute the growth strategy for the Protection business.

Primary markets include:

Municipal and industrial wastewater Biogas and renewable gas Industrial process safety Tank and gas protection systems Adjacent combustion and safety applications

Drive:

Industry penetration and adjacency expansion Cross-sell and solution bundling Geographic growth and channel expansion Competitive positioning and differentiation 6. Lifecycle Revenue & Installed Base Expansion Own lifecycle value across the installed base. Expand service, retrofit, and upgrade revenue Drive monitoring and digital integration opportunities Convert legacy sites into recovery and service growth Use lifecycle support as a specification differentiator

Goal:

maximize lifetime value of every installed system. Director, Protection Equipment 7. AI-First Operating Model (Scale Without Headcount) Operate with an AI-enabled model that scales expertise without adding layers.

Use AI to:

Translate RFQs and VOC into product requirements Support quoting, configuration, and technical guidance Enable sales and channel partners Monitor competitive positioning and win/loss patterns Reduce repetitive pre-sales and support workload

Objective:

scale revenue and market impact without scaling overhead. 8. Cross-Functional & Portfolio Leadership Act as the business leader across Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Service. Align roadmap with market demand Lead new product introduction from the business side Participate in M&A evaluation and integration Mentor internal teams supporting Protection Ensure execution discipline and clarity of ownership Operate as an owner-operator, not a coordinator. What Success Looks Like Revenue and margin growth across the Protection portfolio Strong specification pull-through in target markets Increased share in wastewater, biogas, and safety applications Successful launch and adoption of new products Director, Protection Equipment Lifecycle and service revenue expansion Reduced sales friction through better tools and positioning Strategic deals won and market leadership established Profile of the Right Leader This role is ideal for: Senior product or business leaders ready to own a segment Technically credible commercial leaders Product owners who want full business responsibility Industry experts with entrepreneurial mindset Success in this role leads to: Multi-segment ownership Senior Director or GM-level responsibility

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$64,444.00•$96,666.00 per year

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Hillside, IL 60162