What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fehrer Senior Manager, Sales and Business Development position at FEHRER AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA LLC?
Summary
The Senior Manager, Sales and Business Development owns North American sales, business development, and strategic account management across Fehrer Automotive and Isringhausen. Drives revenue growth, margin performance, and long-term customer relationships. Serves as the senior commercial lead for OEM and Tier 1 customers while building future business pipelines.
Qualifications:Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Develop and execute the North American sales and business development strategy aligned with company objectives.
• Lead and grow strategic OEM and Tier 1 customer relationships across assigned accounts.
• Own the full commercial lifecycle from opportunity identification through contract negotiation and launch.
• Identify new business opportunities, platform wins, and growth programs.
• Execute account strategies that balance revenue growth, margin protection, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead pricing, quotations, and commercial negotiations within approved guidelines.
• Forecast revenue, demand, and program risks with accuracy and discipline.
• Represent the voice of the customer internally to engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain.
• Support new product development, engineering changes, and launch execution.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer strategies.
• Ensure compliance with customer and audit requirements, including IATF, ISO, and TISAX where applicable.
• Report sales performance, pipeline health, and forecasts to senior leadership.
Leadership and Collaboration
• Provide commercial leadership across cross functional teams without direct authority.
• Mentor and guide sales or account management team members when applicable.
• Promote disciplined sales processes, CRM usage, and data driven decision making.
• Align closely with marketing, engineering, and operations to deliver customer value.
Performance Expectations
• Achievement of annual revenue and new business targets.
• Protection and improvement of gross margin.
• High customer retention and satisfaction levels.
• Successful program launches and change management.
• Accurate forecasting and disciplined pipeline management.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills are required.
Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field.
• Eight or more years of progressive sales, business development, or account management experience.
• Proven success managing complex OEM or Tier 1 customer relationships.
• Strong negotiation, financial, and cost analysis skills.
• Experience managing long cycle, high value programs across multiple sites.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and sales analytics tools.
Preferred Qualifications
• Automotive industry experience, particularly interiors, seating, foam, or trim systems.
• Experience working with German headquartered organizations.
• Exposure to both automotive and industrial customer models.
• MBA or advanced business training.
Key Competencies
• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Customer focused execution.
• Commercial judgment and financial acumen.
• Clear and direct communication.
• Accountability and integrity.
• Results driven leadership.
Travel
• Up to 40 percent domestic travel. Occasional international travel.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Normal office, plant, and customer site environments. Ability to travel to customer and manufacturing locations. Physical demands consistent with standard office and manufacturing settings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.