Sales Director - OEM Accounts

Adler Pelzer Group - a growing global Tier 1 supplier of Acoustic and Thermal Soft Trim products to the automotive industry is seeking for a strong and motivated individual to fill the position of Sales Director - OEM Accounts for our Regional Headquarters in Troy, Michigan.

Position Summary: Sales Director - OEM Accounts

The Sales Director – OEM Accounts, North America is responsible for leading commercial strategy, customer relationship management, business development, and profitable sales growth across multiple automotive OEM customers in North America. This role will serve as a senior commercial leader for assigned customer accounts and will work closely with executive leadership, Key Account Managers, program management, engineering, R&D, costing, finance, purchasing, and plant operations to support customer satisfaction, new business awards, and long-term growth.

The ideal candidate will have strong Tier One automotive sales experience, demonstrated success managing multiple OEM customer relationships, and the ability to operate effectively in a hands-on, entrepreneurial, flat organizational structure. Experience with major North American OEMs, including Ford and General Motors, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities of the Sales Director - OEM Accounts

Customer and OEM Relationship Leadership 

• Serve as a senior commercial contact for assigned OEM customer accounts.
• Manage and develop relationships across multiple automotive customers, including purchasing, engineering, program management, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Monitor customer strategies, sourcing activity, platform direction, customer priorities, and future business opportunities.
• Understand customer expectations and translate them into internal commercial, technical, and operational action plans.
• Represent the Company professionally in customer meetings, business reviews, negotiations, and strategic discussions.

Sales Strategy & Business Growth 

• Identify and pursue new sales opportunities to support profitable growth across multiple OEM customers.
• Develop customer-specific sales strategies aligned with APG’s product portfolio, manufacturing capabilities, and long-term business objectives.
• Support marketable product and program strategies for OEM customers, including acoustic, soft trim, NVH, interior, carpet, inner dash, foam, and related product applications.
• Monitor competitor capabilities, pricing, product offerings, and market positioning to ensure APG remains competitive in price, quality, and value.
• Support customer diversification and broader North American sales growth initiatives.

Commercial Management, Quoting, & Forecasting

• Lead and support RFQ responses, quotations, pricing proposals, commercial submissions, and customer negotiations.
• Partner with costing, finance, engineering, program management, R&D, purchasing, and operations to develop competitive and profitable proposals.
• Actively participate in sales budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning using APG’s global sales planning systems.
• Review pricing assumptions, cost drivers, tooling, engineering changes, logistics, customer claims, and commercial risks.
• Ensure appropriate internal approvals are obtained for pricing decisions, customer commitments, and major commercial actions.

Program & Launch Support 

• Partner with program management, engineering, R&D, and operations to support new business awards, product commercialization, and successful program launches.
• Help coordinate internal alignment on customer requirements, timing, deliverables, technical feasibility, and profitability.
• Support resolution of commercial, launch, quality, delivery, engineering change, and customer escalation matters.
• Work with plant and functional teams to ensure customer commitments are understood and supported.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, support, and develop Key Account Managers responsible for U.S. and Mexico customer activity.
• Provide guidance on customer strategy, RFQs, pricing, negotiations, account management, reporting, and commercial issue resolution.
• Promote accountability, responsiveness, teamwork, and customer-focused execution within the sales organization.
• Work effectively in a flat, entrepreneurial organization requiring hands-on leadership, flexibility, and direct involvement in day-to-day commercial priorities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Work closely with R&D, program management, costing, finance, engineering, purchasing, quality, logistics, and plant operations.
• Ensure commercial decisions are aligned with operational capabilities, product strategy, financial targets, and customer expectations.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership regarding customer activity, business opportunities, risks, forecasts, negotiations, and sales performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive automotive sales, commercial, account management, or business development experience.
• Tier One automotive supplier sales experience required.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple OEM customer accounts required.
• Experience working with major North American OEMs required; Ford and General Motors experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of OEM customer requirements, RFQ processes, quoting, sourcing, pricing, program launches, and commercial negotiations.
• Experience leading or supporting Key Account Managers, sales teams, or cross-functional commercial teams.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including pricing, margin analysis, forecasting, budgeting, cost drivers, and profitability improvement.
• Ability to identify new business opportunities and develop customer-specific growth strategies.
• Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, organization, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work successfully in a hands-on, entrepreneurial, flat organizational structure.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel as required to customer locations, company facilities, and business meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing network or strong working relationships with Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, or other major OEM customers.
• Experience with NVH, acoustics, soft trim, automotive interiors, carpet, inner dash, PU foam, lightweight foam, or related automotive components.
• Experience with injection molding, PU foam, thermoforming, carpet, or related manufacturing processes.
• Experience working in a global automotive organization or matrixed sales structure.
• Bilingual or international business experience supporting U.S. and Mexico commercial activity is a plus.

Travel Requirements 

This position requires travel to customer locations, company manufacturing facilities, and business meetings as needed. Travel may include domestic and occasional international travel based on business needs. 

Benefits for the Sales Director - OEM Accounts 

• Competitive pay and generous benefits package along with the opportunity to be a part of a strong team and growing one’s career.
• Salary range is $180,000 - $200,000 ( 12% bonus and car allowance). Specific salary is commensurate with experience and factors such as relevant experience, education, certifications and licenses, skills, and training.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance options from day one.
• Generous and flexible paid time off.
• 401(K) match, fully vested.
• Company provided life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurances, employee assistance program.
• Variety of automobile purchase discounts (Stellantis (FCA), BMW, Ford, GM, Subaru-many others).
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development.

About Adler Pelzer Group

Adler Pelzer Group was founded by talented people and families that around the 1960s in Europe and decided to start their respective journeys in the automotive industry. The entrepreneurial spirit of the founders was and still is, one of the cornerstones of what we, at the Adler Pelzer Group, are today.

We are proud to continue this story and to build the foundations for a brighter future for generations to come. We are the Adler Pelzer Group, a worldwide leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing of acoustical and thermal components and systems for the automotive sector. We deliver acoustic performance and increase thermal efficiency, in order to achieve the best in comfort for the vehicles of our customers.

 Join Adler Pelzer’s team and become an integral part of a tradition that, through the years, has guided us to achieve the highest possible degree of product excellence in the automotive world.

To learn more about our Company and our rich history, visit our website at www.adlerpelzer.com

Adler Pelzer Group (APG) is an equal opportunity employer. APG participates in the E-Verify Program.

 NO UNAUTHORIZED REFERRALS FROM RECRUITERS & VENDORS

Salary : $180,000 - $200,000