Engineering Key Account Manager

NGK Detroit•Novi, MI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

NGK Automotive Ceramics USA, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Key Account Manager for its Novi, MI sales office. This role supports and supplies major automobile and heavy-duty diesel manufacturers with high-performance components for emission control systems. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and experience in application engineering and/or engineering account management. The role is hybrid, requiring 2-3 days in the office.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent.
Three (3) to five (5) years of direct experience as an application engineer or similar position(s).
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology.
Strong customer interface and negotiation skills.
Ability to apply logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Excellent inter-personal skills.
Computer literate.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree is preferred.
Emissions ceramics products experience.
Coater and Canner experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Research and report on the performance of company technologies and competing technologies within the customer base.
Aid in the development and application of products to fulfill customer needs.
Confer with existing and prospective customers to assess their needs.
Promote and implement technical products and services into customer development and production programs.
Provide product functionality and capability reports.
Act as a technical liaison both internally and externally.
Serve as the communication link between NGK and customers for commercial and technical aspects of the business.
Take the lead on all customer interactions and manage the business account, soliciting internal support as needed.
Act as the communication leader for the business account, aiming to establish NGK as the global number one supplier.
Be responsible for the commercial success of the account, meeting sales and profit targets.
Maintain and deepen communication networks at customers (OEM & supply chain partners).
Ensure regular meetings with customers, documenting reports, outcomes, and actions in the NAU database.
Provide technical expertise, recommend improvements, and negotiate product specifications, performance requirements, development strategies, and configurations with customers.
Lead interactions with Product Management (PM) at NAU and ACPE to find optimal solutions for customers and NGK.
Confer with key customer personnel in engineering, purchasing, and quality to assess needs and determine technical and business requirements (Quality/cost/performance).
Collaborate with Business Strategy (BS) and PM groups to communicate customer requirements and establish commercial and technical solutions.
Coordinate the negotiation of contracts, contractual changes, proposals, and financial conditions.
Coordinate and monitor pricing, quotations, business proposals, and 'win-or-lose' feedback.
Initiate the kick-off of PPAP & Production products via the ‘Advanced Information’ (AI) & ‘Confirmed Information’ (CI) process.
Lead the creation of customer budget files for HQ twice annually.
Monitor actual sales and delivery figures against annual budgets and investigate discrepancies.
Provide clarity and direction to relevant departments regarding sales and delivery figures.
Research changing global emission regulations and resulting after-treatment technology development/requirements.
Anticipate future business needs based on regulations and technology trends.
Monitor market trends and recommend necessary business strategies.
Monitor competitor performance and recommend product/technology & commercial development strategies.
Anticipate possible future actions of competitors.
Act as a key communication interface between customers and PM & BS groups.
Actively participate in internal meetings (Technical & Commercial) to convey business needs.
Act as a key participant in internal technical exchanges and promote customer needs in forums like GEM and NAU technical meetings.
Aid in the development of existing NGK processes and systems to fulfill customer needs.
Lead the resolution of Quality Assurance (QA) issues and diagnostics of technical problems.
Prepare and deliver physical presentations to customers covering all aspects of the business account.
Coordinate and support visits to customer or NGK facilities for audits, meetings, workshops, and quality issues.
Focus on opportunities for product differentiation.
Deliver input and support for new business opportunities and new applications within existing customers.
Ensure adherence to master vehicle/engine program plans and develop solutions to problems.
Direct assigned personnel from various departments within NGK and the customer if necessary.
Provide program status reports and ensure sufficient communication to all relevant parties.
Ensure compliance and support of company policies, procedures, and objectives.
Perform duties as deemed necessary by direct supervisor and senior management.