Key Account Manager

NGK Detroit•Novi, MI

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

NGK Automotive Ceramics USA, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Key Account Manager for our Novi, MI sales office. The qualified candidate should have an Engineering Bachelor's degree and application engineering and/or engineering account management experience. This role involves researching and reporting on company and competitor technologies, developing and applying products to meet customer needs, and acting as a technical liaison. The position requires managing customer relationships, driving commercial success, and ensuring effective communication between NGK and its customers on both technical and commercial aspects.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent.
Three (3) to five (5) years of direct experience as 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, Coater and Canner experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Research and report information on the performance of company technologies as well as competing technologies within the Customer base.
Aid in the development and application of products to fulfill customer needs.
Confer with existing and prospective customers and assess customer needs.
Promote and implement technical products and services into customer development and production programs.
Provide product functionality and capability reports.
Act as technical liaison both internally and externally.
Serve as the communication between NGK and customers, acting as the liaison for the commercial and technical aspects of the business.
Take the lead function on all interactions with the Customer and have responsibilities and ownership for the business account.
Take full accountability for all aspects of the business and solicit support from within the company in the interests of the company.
Act as the communication leader for the business account.
Strive to establish NGK as global number one supplier at the customer.
Be responsible for the commercial success of the account, by hitting sales and profit targets that comply with growing market demand and maintain/increase price levels for the future.
Maintain and seek deeper communication networks at the customers (OEM & supply chain partners).
Ensure regular and consistent meetings with Customers capturing detailed reports, outcomes and necessary actions whilst documenting the details and capturing on the NAU database.
Provide technical expertise, recommend improvements and negotiate with Customers on product specifications, performance requirements, developments strategies and configurations.
Lead interaction with Product Management (PM) at NAU and ACPE to find best solutions for the Customer and NGK.
Confer with key Customer personnel in engineering, purchasing and quality etc. to assess their needs and to determine their technical and business requirements (Quality/cost/performance), whilst always understanding the direct impact on NGK.
Collaborate with Business Strategy (BS) and PM groups to communicate/interchange customer requirements and establish best case solutions from a Commercial and Technical perspective.
Coordinate the negotiation of contracts, contractual changes, preparations of proposals and financial conditions of contracts.
Coordinate and monitor pricing, quotations, business proposals and ‘win-or-lose’ feedback, all with the support of BS group and HQ.
Initiate the kick-off of PPAP & Production products via the ‘Advanced Information’ (AI) & ‘Confirmed Information’ (CI) process in conjunction with guidance from BS group.
Have lead responsibility for the creation of customer budgets files as required by HQ twice per annum.
Provide physical budget files to BS group and agree final figures before it is submitted to HQ via the BS group.
Monitor the actual sales and delivery figures related to the annual budget figures and initiate investigations with Customers on questionable discrepancies.
Provide clarity and direction to relevant departments (Planning, Logistics, BS group and HQ).
Research changing and global emission regulations and resulting after-treatment technology development/requirements.
Anticipate future business needs.
Monitor market trends and recommend necessary business strategies.
Monitor competitor performance and recommend product/technology & commercial development strategies as required.
Anticipate possible future actions of the competition.
Work as key communication interface between Customers and PM & BS groups and actively participate in internal meetings (Technical & Commercial) to convey business needs to all parties.
Act as key participant in internal technical exchanges and promote the customers needs in forums such as GEM and NAU technical meetings.
Aid in the development of existing NGK processes and systems to fulfill the needs of customers.
Lead to resolve Quality Assurance (QA) issues and diagnostics of technical problems, related to the products and relevant specifications.
Be responsible for the preparation and physical presentations provided to customers that are related to all aspects of the business account (Technical and Commercial).
Coordinate and support visits to customer or NGK facilities for issues such as customer audits, senior management business meetings, workshops, quality issues etc.
Focus on all opportunities for product differentiation.
Deliver input and support for any internal or external new business opportunities as well as new applications within existing customers.
Ensure adherence to master vehicle/engine program plans and develop solutions to problems, as well as direct those assigned to the program from various departments within NGK and customer if necessary.
Provide program status reports and ensure sufficient communication to all relevant parties both internal and external.
Ensure compliance and support of company policies, procedures, and objectives.
Perform duties as deemed necessary by direct supervisor and senior management.