Business Development Manager

Challenge Manufacturing • Walker, MI

93d

About The Position

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Requirements

• Minimum of five years’ OEM Sales, Business Development and/or Program Management experience required.
• Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred.
• Outgoing with positive attitude.
• Technical or automotive background is a strong plus.
• Strong communication skills and ability to connect with many types of customers.
• Ability to plan and manage at both strategic and operational levels.
• Expert knowledge in Microsoft Office Applications.
• Outstanding consultative selling skills.
• Excellent communication, follow-thru, interpersonal, presentation, problem solving, and analytical skills.
• Team player and self-directed.
• Sales growth and strategic planning to support the Company Sales Strategy.
• Forecasting and budgeting experience.
• Proven ability to learn the manufacturing processes of multiple suppliers.
• High standards of performance for self.
• Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes.
• Self-motivated and driven performer.
• Thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work.
• Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict.
• Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts.
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships.
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
• Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job.
• Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively.
• Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive.
• Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others.
• Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent.
• Works the necessary hours to successfully complete tasks and requirements of the role.
• Some overnight travel required.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate new business opportunities and close sales with key accounts.
• Work closely with estimating and finance teams to process competitive, accurate quotes for customer review.
• Work closely with customers to review quotes opportunities and provide value during the sale in order to differentiate Challenge beyond the numbers on paper.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, shifts, and opportunities to remain current or ahead of industry needs.
• Monitor long term forecasting and build/execute strategies to support company sales goals.
• Provide insight and feedback to company leadership regarding significant changes in the market and/or at customers.
• Expand Challenge diversification efforts and identify new sales accounts that align with Challenge capabilities.
• Work closely with Account Managers to keep open commercial items with customers limited.
• Provide technical training and presentations to customers and communicate feedback internally for future product development ideas.
• Keep pulse of accounts internal activity by following the status of new program launches and plant performance.
• Manage quoting, sampling, and new business discussions for customers.
• Champion and drive completion of requests to meet customers on-time expectations.
• Be a solutions provider for our customers to maintain/grow customer loyalty.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance.
• Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options.
• Employer 401k Match.
• ESOP shares.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Referral Bonus Program.
• Challenge Incentive Program.
• Paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees