Sales & Program Manager - Automotive

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Sales & Program Manager is responsible for managing key automotive customer relationships and serving as the primary point of contact throughout the customer and program lifecycle. This position combines sales, customer relationship management, program management, and new program launch responsibilities.

The position works closely with customers and internal departments including Engineering, Quality, Production, Scheduling, Purchasing, and Management to ensure customer requirements are understood, communicated, and successfully executed.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with automotive manufacturers, Tier 1 or Tier 2 suppliers, and understand the importance of customer service, timing, quality, cost, and delivery in the automotive manufacturing environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Customer Relationship & Communication

Serve as a primary customer contact for assigned automotive accounts.
Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with customers.
Communicate customer requirements, expectations, changes, and concerns to appropriate internal departments.
Respond promptly to customer inquiries regarding pricing, production, quality, delivery, and program status.
Conduct regular customer communication and business reviews.
Coordinate and respond to customer surveys and customer satisfaction initiatives.
Monitor customer feedback and develop action plans to address concerns or opportunities for improvement.
Identify opportunities to strengthen existing customer relationships and expand business.
Sales & Business Development

Develop and maintain sales relationships with existing automotive customers.
Quoting and pricing activities for new business and program changes.
Development of cost models and submission of quotes with cost breakdown
Review customer RFQs and coordinate internal responses.
Identify potential new business opportunities within existing accounts.
Lead Customer meetings and presentations.
Monitor customer business activity, forecasts, and future program opportunities.
Lead negotiations related to pricing, timing, capacity, pricing reviews, and commercial requirements.
Assist management in developing sales strategies and customer account plans.
Manage customer cash flow, tracking and follow up to stay on contractual payment terms
Program Management & New Program Launches

Manage customer programs from initial quotation through development, launch, and ongoing production.
Coordinate new program launches and ensure customer timing requirements are understood and met.
Develop and maintain program timelines, milestones, and action items.
Coordinate internal resources required to support new program launches.
Track program status and communicate risks, delays, and required corrective actions.
Participate in customer launch meetings, program reviews, and related activities.
Coordinate communication between the customer and internal Engineering, Quality, Production, Scheduling, and Purchasing teams.
Ensure required customer documentation and information is completed and submitted on time.
Support customer approval and production launch activities.
Maintain accurate program records and customer-specific requirements.
Cross-Functional Coordination

Act as the communication link between customers and internal operations.
Work closely with Engineering to ensure product and process requirements are understood.
Work with Quality to address customer quality concerns, surveys, corrective actions, and requirements.
Coordinate with Production and Scheduling regarding customer demand, capacity, and delivery requirements.
Partner with Purchasing and other departments to support program requirements.
Escalate significant customer, quality, delivery, or commercial issues to management.
Help ensure customer commitments are realistic, communicated, and achievable.
QUALFICATIONS

Required

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related field; equivalent manufacturing experience may be considered.
3–5 years of experience in manufacturing sales, account management, customer service, program management, or a related role.
Experience working with automotive customers or automotive suppliers preferred.
Strong project and program management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple customer programs and competing priorities.
Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
Ability to understand manufacturing processes, production requirements, and customer specifications.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel and Outlook.
Preferred Experience

Experience with Tier 1 or Tier 2 automotive suppliers.
Experience managing new product or program launches.
Familiarity with automotive customer requirements and quality systems.
Experience with customer scorecards and customer satisfaction surveys.
Experience with materials common to interiors market (nonwovens, thermoplastics, thermo compression molding).
Experience with quoting and cost analysis.
Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, or other automotive quality and launch processes.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

On-time and on budget program launches
Program milestone completion
Customer retention
New business awarded
Sales growth within assigned accounts
On-time response to customer requests
Successful resolution of customer concerns
Accuracy and timeliness of program documentation
CORE COMPETENCIES

Customer Relationship Management
Sales & Business Development
Program Management
Automotive Industry Knowledge
Communication
Organization & Follow-Through
Problem Solving
Negotiation
Cross-Functional Leadership
Strategic Thinking
Accountability
Attention to Detail
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: Sales, Engineering, Quality, Production, Scheduling, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Finance, Maintenance, and Senior Management.

External: Automotive OEMs, Non-Automotive OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, purchasing representatives, engineers, quality representatives, program managers, and other customer contacts.

PHYSICAL & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Primarily office-based with regular interaction with manufacturing operations.
May require walking through production areas and wearing required personal protective equipment.
Occasional travel to customer facilities, trade shows, meetings, and supplier locations may be required.
Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
DISCLAIMER:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. Management reserves the right to modify duties and responsibilities as business needs change.