A Global Vertical Leader for Discrete Manufacturing is a senior strategic executive role focused on driving market leadership and revenue growth within the industrial sector of discrete manufacturing. This profession sits at the intersection of deep industry expertise, commercial strategy, and cross-functional leadership. Professionals in these jobs are responsible for owning the entire commercial narrative and go-to-market engine for their vertical on a worldwide scale. They translate deep market understanding into actionable plans that capture market share and propel their organization's solutions to the forefront of the industry. The core responsibility of a Global Vertical Leader is to develop and execute a comprehensive global go-to-market strategy tailored to the discrete manufacturing vertical, which includes industries like automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, and electronics. This involves defining the ideal customer profile, identifying high-potential market segments and regions, and prioritizing strategic accounts and partnerships. They act as the primary subject matter expert (SME), shaping the industry-specific value proposition and solution roadmap to address key challenges such as operational efficiency, supply chain integration, and digital transformation. A significant part of the role is commercial enablement: creating compelling customer-facing content, training sales teams on vertical-specific trends and discovery techniques, and providing hands-on support for major account pursuits and executive-level customer engagements. Typical daily activities span strategic planning and hands-on execution. Leaders in these jobs often collaborate closely with product management to influence solution development, partner with marketing to drive demand generation campaigns, and work with regional sales leadership to ensure global strategy alignment. They are frequently involved in budgeting, forecasting, and P&L oversight for their vertical. A critical aspect is influencing without direct authority in a matrixed organization, requiring them to lead cross-functional pods comprising sales, marketing, product, and support teams to achieve accelerated growth objectives. The skills and requirements for these high-impact jobs are substantial. Candidates typically possess 10+ years of experience in strategic sales, business development, or marketing within industrial automation or related technology sectors, with a strong preference for global experience. A proven track record of building and executing complex sales plans at the executive level is essential. They must demonstrate expertise in solution selling and articulating outcome-based value. Leadership skills are paramount, including the ability to influence, coach, and align large, diverse teams. A bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a STEM field is common, with many professionals holding an advanced degree like an MBA. Ultimately, this role is for visionary commercial leaders who can bridge the gap between technology solutions and real-world industrial challenges, making it one of the most pivotal and sought-after positions in the industrial technology landscape.
