Account Manager (Automotive)

About the role

Sanhua Automotive is looking for an Account Manager to join our team in our Auburn Hills office. The ideal candidate has 2-3 years of experience in account management and sales for an automotive component supplier. They have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of the automotive industry; sales process experience is a critical factor in this role.

Responsibilities

• Relationship and Account Management: Manage the overall relationship with customers, cultivating key stakeholder relationships across sales and application engineering functions to ensure successful account management and support for all projects from RFQ to EOP.
• Contract and Pricing Negotiation: Negotiate long-term contracts, new production pricing, warranty terms, and prototype prices to secure new business and achieve yearly sales targets. Provide input for Automotive Forecast Preparation and obsolescence claims negotiations.
• Project and Quotation Management: Oversee project management for assigned customers, drive internal cost analysis for new project quotations, anticipate customer RFQ and RFI activities, and quote Engineering Change Requests (ECR).
• Customer Support and Site Visits: Attend regular site visits to customers, coordinate with engineering on assigned tasks, and ensure customer demand fulfillment in collaboration with the logistics team.
• Leadership and Strategy Implementation: Implement business sales strategies established by the Key Account Manager. For accounts without a Key Account Manager, take the lead in driving sales efforts, facilitating commercial discussions and negotiations, and leading sales efforts to gain internal acceptance of customer strategies.
• Market Trend Monitoring and Reporting: Follow market trends, keep management informed on important issues concerning assigned accounts, and coordinate with the Program Manager to ensure program milestones and production capacity are on track.
• Sales and Accounts Receivable Control: Review weekly sales and AR amounts, follow up with customers to maintain company sales and AR targets, and provide input for the preparation of obsolescence claims.
• Major KPIs: Sales Plan setup and execution, On top of Account Receivable and Inventory control, New business pursuing.

Requirements

• Skills: Negotiation and Persuasion: Essential for closing deals and maintaining profitable relationships. Communication: Key for client interactions, presentations, and internal coordination. Analytical and Strategic Planning: Important for market analysis, forecasting, and developing sales strategies. Leadership and Team Management: Useful if the role involves leading a sales team or coordinating with other departments.
• A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, engineering or a related field is required, along with significant experience in sales, particularly in the automotive industry.
• Networking: Strong networking skills to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the automotive industry. Ability to communicate effectively and engage with people at different levels within customer and corporate organizations.
• Willingness to Travel a minimum of 20%