Senior Director Localization Jobs in Chicago, IL

About the Company

Bodor Laser is a world-leading laser technology company dedicated to providing advanced metal processing solutions for industries including sheet metal and structural steel fabrication, agricultural equipment, furniture, automotive components, and more. Our core products include intelligent laser cutting systems, laser welding systems, and automated manufacturing solutions that help customers improve productivity, reduce operating costs, and accelerate their Industry 4.0 transformation. Founded in 2008, Bodor Laser has grown into a global organization with over 3,000 employees and customers in more than 180 countries and regions. Bodorlaser Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary, supporting customers and business operations across North America through local sales, technical service, marketing, and customer support. Learn more at https://www.bodor.com.

About the Role

Bodorlaser Inc. is seeking a highly respected industry executive and product expert to serve as Vice President, Industry Relations & Product Marketing - North America. This executive-level individual contributor will act as a senior external representative of Bodorlaser, combining deep knowledge of laser cutting and manufacturing technology with established industry relationships, public-facing credibility, product marketing expertise, and channel development capability. The Vice President will represent Bodorlaser at major industry events, product launches, customer forums, distributor meetings, government and community engagements, media activities, and technical presentations. The role will translate complex technology into compelling market value, strengthen the company’s local reputation, expand strategic relationships, and provide North American market insight to U.S. leadership and global headquarters. This position has no direct reports and does not initially carry an individual sales quota. Leadership will be exercised through industry expertise, strategic influence, external relationships, channel development, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

Industry Leadership & External Representation

• Represent Bodorlaser at major North American manufacturing, metal-fabrication, laser-processing, and automation trade shows, forums, association meetings, and customer events.
• Serve as a company spokesperson, event host, keynote or panel speaker, technical presenter, and senior representative for product launches.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry associations, manufacturing organizations, technical experts, media, strategic customers, and recognized industry leaders.
• Use professional credibility and industry experience to strengthen Bodorlaser’s reputation as a trusted North American manufacturing-technology partner.

Product Strategy, Positioning & Promotion

• Develop a deep working understanding of Bodorlaser’s laser cutting, laser welding, automation, and software solutions.
• Translate technical capabilities into clear customer value, application relevance, productivity improvement, and return-on-investment messaging.
• Advise on North American product positioning, competitive differentiation, launch strategy, and brand communication.
• Lead or actively support product launches, demonstrations, technical seminars, webinars, videos, and customer success stories.
• Review product-marketing materials, presentations, demonstrations, and technical English content for market relevance and accuracy.

Government, Public & Industry Relations

• Develop relationships with local government, economic-development organizations, chambers of commerce, manufacturing alliances, educational institutions, and relevant public-sector partners.
• Represent Bodorlaser in government, community, workforce-development, and industry-cooperation activities that support the company’s North American localization.
• Support external partnerships related to local investment, workforce development, technical education, and manufacturing collaboration.
• Monitor relevant policy, regulatory, industry-standard, and market-access developments and advise internal stakeholders on potential implications.

Market Intelligence & Product Advisory

• Monitor North American trends in metal fabrication, laser equipment, automation, software, and advanced manufacturing.
• Gather structured feedback from customers, channel partners, and industry stakeholders regarding products, applications, pricing, service, and market needs.
• Provide North American product-localization and improvement recommendations to global product, R&D, marketing, and executive teams.
• Analyze major competitors’ product portfolios, market positioning, channel strategies, and brand communication.

Channel Development & Enablement

• Develop and expand Bodorlaser’s North American dealer, distributor, and strategic-partner network.
• Identify, evaluate, recruit, and support the onboarding of qualified channel partners.
• Provide partners with training on products, applications, competitive positioning, customer communication, and value selling.
• Support channel meetings, joint marketing programs, strategic customer visits, product demonstrations, and major projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in laser equipment, machine tools, metal fabrication, industrial automation, capital equipment, or a closely related manufacturing-technology sector.
• Senior-level experience in product, market development, channel development, sales, applications, general management, or another relevant commercial or technical leadership function.
• Deep understanding of laser cutting equipment, machine-tool products, automation solutions, customer applications, and capital-equipment buying considerations.
• Established professional reputation and meaningful relationships within the North American metal-fabrication or manufacturing community.
• Demonstrated ability to explain complex technology clearly to business owners, executives, engineers, channel partners, media, and public-sector stakeholders.
• Experience with public speaking, industry events, product launches, technical seminars, webinars, media interviews, or other visible external engagements.
• Strong knowledge of North American manufacturing customers, competitive brands, distribution models, and market dynamics.
• Ability to operate successfully as a senior individual contributor, influence without formal authority, and coordinate across functions, cultures, and time zones.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the United States and Canada, with occasional international travel as required.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and highly relevant industry experience.

Preferred qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in the laser cutting machine industry, with a career demonstrating sustained technical, commercial, or market influence.
• Prior experience as a Vice President, General Manager, Executive Director, Product Director, Channel Director, Sales Executive, Applications Leader, or comparable senior role.

Work Arrangement:

This position follows a hybrid work arrangement based at Bodorlaser’s Schaumburg headquarters. When not traveling for business, the employee is required to work onsite at the Schaumburg office at least two days per week. Regular travel throughout the United States and occasional travel to Canada are required, along with additional onsite presence as needed for executive meetings, product launches, training, customer engagements, and other key business activities.