Manufacturing Automotive - Sales Account Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Sales Account Manager will own tactical sales activity for an assigned territory, support strategic growth initiatives and supplier relations, and carry overall financial responsibility for the territory. This is a hybrid position based in Farmington, Michigan, working on-site four days per week with one home-office day. The ideal candidate brings a proven record of exceeding sales targets, strong communication and negotiation skills, and a customer-centric approach.

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

● 5+ years of B2B solution sales experience in account management or sales development roles.

● Demonstrated knowledge of General Motors, Ford, and Volkswagen, including their purchasing organizations, sourcing and supplier processes, and key decision-makers — required.

● Automotive industry experience in selling, brand management, and strategy development strongly preferred.

● Industrial distribution experience is a plus.

● Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets.

• Interaction between Sales, Program Management and Design/Engineering team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC SALES & TERRITORY GROWTH

● Develop and execute the sales strategy for the assigned territory in collaboration with the Commercial Director.

● Drive growth strategy by delivering measurable value for both the customer and the business.

● Manage the pipeline process in collaboration with the Commercial Director, Product Management, and strategic suppliers.

● Travel jointly with supplier partners to develop target accounts and build strong working-level and executive relationships with customers and suppliers.

● Work with the Commercial Director, Product Management, and key stakeholders to increase product exposure and depth across accounts.

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

● Manage and grow relationships with key OEM customers, including General Motors, Ford, and Volkswagen, across purchasing, engineering, and program teams.

● Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing customers.

● Serve as the primary point of contact for customer inquiries, issues, and escalations.

● Understand customers’ business needs and objectives, and proactively identify opportunities to add value and enhance the client experience.

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

● Lead the full sales cycle within the territory — prospecting, lead generation, negotiation, and closing new business.

● Prospect and close target opportunities that generate organic volume growth for the automotive portfolio, including travel to customer meetings.

● Research prospective clients to understand their business challenges and goals.

● Develop tailored solutions and proposals that position the best product and service solutions for each customer.

TECHNICAL COLLABORATION

● Partner with Technical Service to position the products and materials that best meet customer needs.

● Coordinate with Technical Service to support customer requirements such as new business, quality issues, and approvals.

SALES PERFORMANCE & PIPELINE MANAGEMENT

● Meet and exceed sales targets and performance metrics, including revenue goals, new customer acquisition, and sales activity quotas.

● Maintain an accurate, robust, and sustainable pipeline in CRM, ensuring reliable forecasting and reporting.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

● Partner with internal teams — technical development, survey technicians, customer support, operations, and marketing — to align growth strategies and ensure a seamless client experience.

● Share client feedback, market insights, and competitive intelligence to inform product development and go-to-market strategy.

● Collaborate with leadership to develop sales strategies, tactics, and processes that drive growth and organizational objectives.

● Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and competitor offerings.

● Participate in training, workshops, and professional development to strengthen sales skills and product knowledge.

● Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None. This is an individual contributor role.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

● Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Reliability Engineering, or a related technical or business field. Equivalent experience considered in lieu of degree.

EXPERIENCE

● 5+ years of B2B solution sales experience in account management or sales development roles.

● Demonstrated knowledge of General Motors, Ford, and Volkswagen, including their purchasing organizations, sourcing and supplier processes, and key decision-makers — required.

● Automotive industry experience in selling, brand management, and strategy development strongly preferred.

● Industrial distribution experience is a plus.

● Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

● Proficiency in CRM software and other sales tools; able to adopt new technologies quickly.

LICENSES & LANGUAGE

● Valid driver’s license required.

● English proficiency required; bilingual Spanish or Portuguese is a plus.

CORE COMPETENCIES

● Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

● Highly motivated and results-driven, with a proactive approach to prospecting and lead generation.

● Strategic thinker with well-developed commercial acumen.

● Customer-centric mindset with a proactive approach to building internal and external relationships.

● Able to work both collaboratively and independently.

● Knowledge of industry trends and best practices.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

● Hybrid schedule: on-site four days per week at the Farmington, Michigan office, with one home-office day per week.

● Must be adaptable to working in a shared office space with constant noise, with or without a private office.

● Regular travel by car, air, and other transportation to customer, supplier, and company sites.

● Regular verbal communication, reading, comprehension, and daily computer use.

● Ability to push, pull, and lift up to 40 lbs on a weekly basis, including setting up desk equipment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This job description is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. Incumbents are expected to deliver results at the level of knowledge, skill, and ability commensurate with their job title and level within the organization.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

\nCompany Description

OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW
VanSpeag Group LLC (VSG) is conducting a confidential search on behalf of n independent, medium-sized supplier in this market. This is a critical leadership role responsible for building and sustaining a high-performance quality culture across a fast-paced, precision-driven manufacturing environment.
Due to the confidential nature of this search, the client name will be disclosed only to qualified candidates who advance in the selection process.

Company Description

OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW\r\nVanSpeag Group LLC (VSG) is conducting a confidential search on behalf of n independent, medium-sized supplier in this market. This is a critical leadership role responsible for building and sustaining a high-performance quality culture across a fast-paced, precision-driven manufacturing environment.\r\nDue to the confidential nature of this search, the client name will be disclosed only to qualified candidates who advance in the selection process.