Commercial Program Manager (Spokane)

Company Description Crystalfontz America, Inc., headquartered in Spokane Valley, WA, has been a leader in advanced display solutions since 1998. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, we go beyond hardware to provide engineering expertise, open-source code, and US-based technical support, enabling seamless integration from prototype to production. Our product range includes ePaper, IPS TFTs, and custom OLEDs, creating a bridge between firmware design and user experience. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality products and exceptional support to our customers.

Commercial Program Manager Location:

Spokane, WA (100% On-Site) Reports to:

General Manager with a functional reporting line to Engineering Manager Direct Reports:

None

Role Mission The Commercial Program Manager serves as a key organizational bridge between Crystalfontz’s engineering, commercial, and operations functions. This role was created to accelerate revenue growth, improve engineering execution, and drive continuous improvement across the business. By managing administrative and logistical “sludge” for the engineering team, this role allows engineers to focus purely on technical execution while simultaneously driving top-line revenue.

Key Responsibilities Engineering Program Management (≈50–60% of time) •

Functional Lead:

Engineering Manager. •

Project Coordination:

Own project and program coordination across engineering initiatives, ensuring on-time delivery and proactive risk management. •

Customer Liaison:

Serve as the primary point of contact for customer-facing engineering projects, managing expectations and status communications. •

Operational Support:

Coordinate cross-functional resource needs between engineering, purchasing, and production. •

Process Maintenance:

Maintain and improve project tracking systems and workflows to maximize engineering time. •

Documentation:

Manage engineering change orders and ensure proper communication to all affected stakeholders. •

Change Control Board (CCB):

Manage day-to-day CCB operations including ECOs, Phase Gates, and RFS projects. Own customer and supplier communication throughout the process, and gather the information CCB members need to make informed decisions. Engineering retains project ownership; this role handles the coordination and communication load. •

Special Orders:

Serve as the primary customer contact for special orders. Work autonomously to source suppliers and develop solutions that meet customer requirements, escalating to Engineering only when technically necessary. •

Custom Parts:

Manage custom part inquiries from initial customer contact through resolution. Understand and communicate Crystalfontz’s capabilities effectively, and know when to bring Engineering into the conversation. This area requires close collaboration with the engineering team.

Sales & Continuous Improvement (≈40–50% of time) •

Direct Reporting Line:

General Manager. •

Revenue Generation:

Identify, develop, and close new revenue opportunities in alignment with strategic growth targets. •

Account Growth:

Expand relationships with existing key accounts by identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities. •

Efficiency & Automation:

Lead continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, including process automation and productivity improvements. •

Strategic Support:

Assist in pricing strategy, quoting, and commercial positioning for strategic accounts. •

Market Insight:

Provide voice-of-customer insight to inform product roadmap prioritization. •

Business Development Support:

Develop business cases for new product or market opportunities, produce custom quotes, and monitor sales performance to identify trends and growth opportunities.

What We’re Looking For •

Proven Growth Track Record:

Demonstrated history of driving revenue growth and business development. •

Multidisciplinary Background:

Experience spanning commercial functions (sales, purchasing, customer service), IT, and technical environments. •

Complex Project Management:

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities autonomously. •

Technical Literacy:

Strong communication skills with the ability to “translate” between technical and commercial audiences. •

System Proficiency:

Experience with ERP, CRM, and project management tools (Google Workspace preferred). •

Electronic Components Experience:

Ability to read datasheets, understand the implications of component changes, and make sound technical judgment calls without requiring engineering input on every decision. •

Small Company Mindset:

Flexibility and willingness to step outside a defined role to tackle problems as they arise. Comfortable wearing multiple hats in a lean, fast-moving environment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands •

Setting:

This is an on-site position based in our Spokane, WA office. •

Physical Requirements:

The role primarily involves sitting at a computer in an office environment for 90%+ of the workday. •

Autonomy:

Requires a high degree of comfort operating with autonomy in a small-company environment.

First-Year Success Metrics •

Engineering Focus:

The engineering team has measurably more focused technical time due to reduced administrative overhead. •

Project Velocity:

Engineering projects run on schedule with clear visibility and fewer reactive escalations. •

Pipeline Impact:

New revenue opportunities are identified and actively progressed through the sales pipeline. •

Operational Wins:

At least one significant automation or CI initiative is implemented with measurable results.