The Role
Owns commercial relationships with OEM and Tier 1 automotive accounts from RFQ through launch and ongoing management. Responsibilities include pricing, quoting, contract negotiation, revenue and margin performance, customer issue resolution, forecasts, business reviews, CRM tracking, and cross-functional coordination. The role leads customer negotiations, supports product launches and engineering changes, manages commercial documentation, represents the company at customer visits and trade events, and mentors junior staff.
Summary Generated by Built In
About usLAEPPLE Automotive is a leading supplier in the automotive industry, specializing in high-quality components and systems for body components manufacturing. Our innovative technologies and efficient production processes set benchmarks in the industry. To grow our team in Detroit, we are seeking a dedicated and experienced Sales Account Manager to own a portfolio of OEM and Tier 1 customer relationships and drive commercial results across the full program lifecycle – from RFQ through launch and ongoing account management. This role is responsible for commercial outcomes for the assigned accounts: pricing strategy, contract negotiation, revenue and margin performance, and customer relationships at every level. The ideal candidate is a self-directed commercial operator who can negotiate confidently, manage competing priorities under pressure, and represent LAEPPLE Automotive as the primary business representative for their accounts.
Key Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for the full commercial relationship for an assigned portfolio of OEM and Tier 1 accounts, including pricing strategy, quoting, and contract negotiation.
- Lead RFQ response strategy, coordinating cross-functional input from Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and Finance presenting the final resolution on pricing and terms within delegated authority.
- Drive annual pricing negotiations and customer cost-reduction initiatives, having responsibility for the outcomes against margin and revenue targets.
- Own sales performance for the account portfolio (volumes, revenue, and margin) against forecast and budget, with direct accountability for results.
- Serve as the primary point of contact and executive-level relationship for assigned customers, including escalations.
- Lead preparation and delivery of customer presentations, business reviews, and commercial negotiations.
- Responsible for customer issue resolution, coordinating internal teams, and taking accountability for outcomes.
- Partner with Program Management to drive new product launches and engineering changes, possessing the commercial timeline.
- Ensure all commercial deliverables are completed on time, and customer milestones are achieved.
- Manage change requests, customer purchase order updates, and contract documentation, with authority to negotiate terms.
- Maintain accurate customer information, opportunity tracking, and meeting records within the CRM system, utilizing this data to inform account strategy.
- Prepare and present reports to leadership on customer activity, sales forecasts, and market trends.
- Lead customer visits, plant tours, and business review meetings.
- Represent LAEPPLE at trade shows and industry events.
- Partner with Engineering, Quality, Production, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure customer expectations are met and exceeded.
- Resolve customer concerns related to quality, delivery, service, and pricing.
- Drive implementation of corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Mentor junior sales and account coordination staff as the team grows.
- Ensure compliance with customer, company, and regulatory policies, procedures, and contractual requirements.
- Other duties and tasks as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain Management or other related field required.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in sales, account management, or program management within the automotive industry, including direct OEM or Tier 1 automotive customer negotiations experience.
- Proven experience with cost analysis, estimation, and margin management.
- Demonstrated history of commercial outcome responsibility in the OEM or Tier I automotive environment including pricing negotiations, contract terms, revenue targets.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
- Experience with CRM systems and ERP platforms (SAP a plus).
- Strong ability to analyze sales data, pricing information, and business metrics to inform negotiation strategy.
- Familiarity with automotive product development and launch processes.
- Exceptional communication and negotiation skills at all levels of the business.
- Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
- Customer-focused with a proactive, ownership-driven problem-solving approach.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Analytical and business-oriented mindset with commercial acumen.
- Ability to manage multiple accounts, projects, and timelines simultaneously.
- Willingness to travel as business needs dictate, including short domestic trips to customer sites and periodic internal travel to LAEPPLE’s corporate headquarters in Germany.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field
- At least five years of progressive sales, account management, or program management experience within the automotive industry
- Direct OEM or Tier 1 automotive customer negotiation experience
- Experience with cost analysis, estimation, and margin management
- History of responsibility for commercial outcomes, pricing negotiations, contract terms, and revenue targets in an OEM or Tier 1 automotive environment
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience with CRM systems and ERP platforms
- Familiarity with automotive product development and launch processes
- Strong communication, negotiation, organizational, analytical, and time-management skills
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority and manage multiple accounts, projects, and timelines
- Willingness to travel to customer sites and LAEPPLE's corporate headquarters in Germany as business needs dictate
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The Company
What We Do
LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE US, Inc. is a leading provider of sophisticated forming solutions for premium vehicle car body assembly, specializing in sheet metal part forming and assembly manufacturing.
