Sales Account Manager

Sales Account Manager

Under limited direction, the Sales Account Manager builds and maintains effective long-term relationships with a defined customer base. Serves as the primary interface for programs and products while creating demand for the organization's products by raising their profile with customers. Ensures a high level of customer satisfaction and trust, is responsible for sales plans, identifies, develops and closes new sales opportunities. Helps define and communicate customer requirements across the organization. Maintains broad knowledge of organization's policies, products and/or services.

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Communicates daily with both internal and external customers via email, phone, and/or video conference and serve as the primary customer contact.
• Negotiates product and related commercial issues with customers for assigned accounts.
• Attend all customer meetings and events as needed.
• Collaborates with global AFI & FAS company personnel to ascertain and satisfy customer account needs.
• Builds, maintains and establishes strong internal and external networks to address and resolve daily issues, gather information, and focus on company goals and objectives.
• Manages various functions of Customer's Portal, including quote and tooling summary submissions.
• Assists in developing and implementing customer and product-based strategies. Supports business expansion activities. Cultivates, expands and maintains relationships with customers in order to identify potential and/or future business opportunities. Makes strategic recommendations on how to improve and implement approved strategies. Keeps abreast of current products and technology.
• With the support of management, develops and executes accurate and complete sales plans. Ensures maintenance and expansion activities support sales plan. Develops and reviews sales plans with management, recommends ranking, pricing and/or volume strategy for products. Reviews variance analysis and other related information to ensure accuracy and provides detailed reports for management.
• Coordinates cost-related commercial and business activities, as required. Develops strategies and tactics for improving profitability. Tracks profitability. Analyzes and follows-up with customers and/or plants to negotiate value-added opportunities. Makes appropriate recommendations to management based on product pricing strategies, customer roadmaps, and/or internal targets.
• Analyzes current processes and systems. Identifies and implements activities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of sales and marketing activities.
• Proactively engages in activities necessary to meet personal and annual company and department goals and objectives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Experience in preparing customer quotes and contracts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Motivated & detail oriented.
• Availability for occasional travel
• Must have flexibility to work non-standard work week when required or based upon customer deliverables.
• Proficient using MS Office.
• Strict adherence to company policies, procedures and standards is required.
• Ability to function in an international working environment is a plus, but knowledge of automotive business practices and expectations is required.
• Must have valid driver's license.

Education and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing or related field
• 5+ years of related experience with automotive OEM, Tier 1, & 2 customers
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Physical demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• The position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 25 pounds.

Core competencies:

• Excellent project management skills including the ability to define program, project or process objectives, identify customers/stakeholders and their interests, plan steps, and coordinate resources to accomplish goals and objectives in an effective and timely manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Must be a skillful presenter that can interpret information based on a general knowledge of the organization, its products and procedures, and provide an independent explanation and discussion based on the technical or complex nature of the materials being discussed.
• Excellent customer service skills with an ability to approach every business relationship partnership.
• Excellent analytical skills with an ability to independently evaluate and develop innovative solutions to complex situations, applying knowledge of specialty areas and use of sound judgement.
• Excellent negotiation skills. Ability to resolve difficult or complicated situations that are often sensitive in nature. Recognizes and applies subtle cues in anticipating customers' needs and potential next steps. Takes strong stand without indicating disrespect and seeks positive outcomes.
• Demonstrated competency in working with computer software and mainframe applications to manipulate, analyze and reconcile data.