Sales Account Manager - Automotive

About the role

The Automotive Sales Account Manager at JTEKT North America Corporation in Plymouth, Michigan, will be responsible for managing and growing JTEKT's sales with Ford Motor Company as well as additional Tier 1 customer accounts as required. This position will need to promote profitability and sustainability of accounts while helping to grow market shares in support of JTEKT's overall short-term and long-term strategic sales goals through an Annual Plan.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for commercial/technical account management for the Ford account and other customer accounts as assigned.
• Achieve/exceed annual business plan forecast.
• Generate and follow up on customer inquiries/quotes for all products.
• Prospect for opportunities early in the customers' advanced development process through receipt of RFQ, negotiation resolution, and production.
• Assure quotations are presented to customers in a timely manner while meeting Business Unit profitability objectives.
• Act as a JTEKT ambassador to develop and maintain customer relationships.
• Effective communication through both internal and external channels on customer issues and customer requirements.
• Coordinate and remedy all contract adjustments internally and externally.
• Work to understand customer needs/requirements for process changes and work within the JTEKT organization to coordinate the assembly of required information to gain customer approval.
• Coordinate routine visits to JTEKT plants with customers as required.
• Identify opportunities for increased sales and profit improvement on maintenance business.
• Coordinate customer prototype requirements.
• Lead Tariff recovery collection efforts.
• Develop and maintain strong, positive relationships with peers in the sales organization, business unit, engineering, and manufacturing.

Requirements

• Account Management experience (minimum of 1 year). Automotive experience is preferred.
• General knowledge and understanding of mechanical, electrical, and technical components.
• Excellent communication and language skills, both through verbal and written communication.
• Experience in cross-department communication as well as external communication with customers, sales team, business management, engineering, and customer service representatives on a daily basis.
• Self-starter, self-motivated and results driven.
• Computer skills needed but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Ability to work unsupervised and prioritize workload.
• Ability to work in a team-based, participative environment working towards a group goal.
• Travel may be required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering preferred. Bachelor's degree in business and/or equivalent work experience considered.
• Experience (minimum of 1 year) in Account Management. Experience selling to Automotive OEM or Tier 1 is strongly preferred.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is mostly performed in a normal office setting with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, and with substantial time spent working on a computer. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• The performance of this position requires exposure to manufacturing areas which require the use of prescribed PPE.