Our unique location in the Quartier de l’Innovation on the campus of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) helps foster open innovation. Our connection to EPFL helps us stay informed of the latest scientific discoveries. And working alongside other leading technology companies has led to many opportunities for collaboration.

At the origin of a creation, there is often a question. Innovation Cells started when the management of Alcan Engineered Products (now Constellium) asked themselves: How long has it been since we launched a new product?
 

The answer was “too long”.

When companies are faced with a lack of new product ideas or a failed product launch, it is easy to blame external factors like a downturn in the markets or a failure on the part of customers to appreciate the benefits of the product. But the fact is that many companies fail in new product development because of internal reasons: fear of changing a successful formula, failure to understand customers’ needs, or hesitance to make necessary investments.

Innovation Cells was created at what was then called Alcan EP in 2007 to address these internal barriers to new product development. 

The group has always been independent from the other business units,  so we can implement changes free from constraints. Commercial and technical resources work side by side to develop imaginative ideas. And the time spent understanding the customer requirements and market is equal to the time spent on technical developments.

We decided that we would never forget the origin of our creation, which is now our business equation.
Independence + Imagination + Application = Innovation Cells
 

We are currently looking for a Business Developer 

Job Title: Business Development Manager
Employer: Constellium Switzerland AG, Innovation Cells
Site: Lausanne, Switzerland

Education: Degree in business administration, marketing or economics, possibly with MBA; additional technical degree an advantage
Experience: Min. 3-5 years professional experience, in management consulting, business development, marketing or product management
Languages: Fluent in English and good knowledge in French or German (ideally both)

About the position 

The business development manager is responsible to drive the commercial development of new products from the identification of the opportunity until the launch of the product in the market.   

Responsibilities 

Opportunity scouting – Research and analyze new markets to identify opportunities for new products.
Market research – Plan and conduct customer interviews in order to identify customer needs.
Relationship management – Establish customer base in new markets and, when required, manage alliances with partner companies.
Financial analysis - Develop business case to support investment in new opportunities.
Creating Marketing Plan – Define customer value proposition, marketing mix and strategy and tactics for market launch of new products.
Change Management – Convince key internal and external stakeholders of the benefits of the new product. Establish the team that will be responsible for the new product once it is launched.
 

•  
• The Ideal Candidate 
•  
• This position requires the intellectual capacity and curiosity to perform in a number of different functions. One day you may find yourself planning and performing market research interviews with customers and the next day preparing a financial model to predict the future impact of a new product line. The day after, you may be meeting with customers to convince them of the benefits of a new product or attending a conference to learn about opportunities in new markets. There is no typical day at Innovation Cells and in order to succeed, you must be flexible. You must also have the ability to define the strategy and activities needed for each project. 
•  
• Innovation Cells is an entrepreneurial environment, and the business development manager must be able to function with little supervision and act on his or her own initiative. You must be able to plan and manage project resources in order to arrive at a good result on time and on budget. And you must have the perseverance and persuasiveness to introduce new ideas in a broader organization that is sometimes resistant to change. 
•  
• Innovation Cells is focused on the development of highly technical products. While the business development manager does not need to have an engineering or scientific background, the ideal candidate will have a willingness to learn the technical basics of the products we develop. This is especially important because without a good understanding of the technical details, it is difficult to define the value proposition for the customer.   
•  
• A key goal of Innovation Cells in the coming years is to spend less time working on projects for Constellium and more time serving external clients. In addition to his or her other responsibilities, the business development manager will also assist in expanding Innovation Cells external client base. Therefore, the ideal candidate will have a strong professional network in Switzerland and the neighbouring countries. 
•  
• Innovation Cells is a fun place to work. The process of developing and launching new products is exciting, but can also be demanding and discouraging. Therefore, we must function as a team at all times, keep a good sense of humour and support each other to succeed. All team members must listen to the ideas of others and strive to find consensus within the team. We have zero tolerance for arrogance, selfishness and disrespectful behaviour.
   

To Apply 

Email CV and motivation letter to: 

Nanja Strecker, General Manager Innovation Cells, Constellium.
nanja.strecker@innovationcells.ch
Phone: +41 (0)79 800 48 54