Sales Account Manager - Exhaust & Performance

KOOKS CUSTOM HEADERS INC•Statesville, NC

2d•$50,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

Kooks Headers and Exhaust is hiring a results-driven Sales Account Manager who is motivated to grow sales and take market share. The role will focus on increasing business with existing customers while actively finding new dealers, new projects, and opportunities tied to upcoming vehicle platforms and builds. The Sales Account Manager will maintain a consistent outbound sales rhythm, manage an active pipeline, and move opportunities from first contact through close. This person must understand the performance automotive industry, recognize where the market is heading, and have a genuine passion for muscle cars across all makes and platforms. Performance will be measured by revenue growth, new dealer acquisition, new project development, pipeline activity, and consistent follow-through.

Requirements

3-5+ years of sales, account management, or business development experience, preferably in the performance automotive, aftermarket, motorsports, or related manufacturing industries.
Proven track record of growing revenue, managing a book of business, and moving opportunities from prospect to close.
Strong sales mentality with confidence in cold calling, prospecting, asking for the business, and closing opportunities.
Excellent follow-up habits with the discipline to stay on top of open items and keep customers moving toward a decision.
Self-motivated and proactive; able to recognize what needs to be done, take initiative, and execute without waiting for step-by-step direction.
Strong communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail, accountability, and follow-through.
Experience with Microsoft 365, Teams, CRM systems, and ERP platforms.
Ability to interpret product details, fitment considerations, and technical specifications; automotive knowledge strongly preferred.
Willingness to travel to meet customers, visit shops, and attend events as needed.
Strong knowledge of the performance automotive industry and a genuine passion for muscle cars across all makes and platforms.

Nice To Haves

Experience with headers, exhaust components, or performance parts is beneficial but not required.

Responsibilities

Proactively grow sales by identifying new revenue opportunities with both existing and prospective customers.
Develop sales plans that increase purchasing frequency, expand product mix, and turn customer potential into measurable revenue.
Grow account revenue by identifying and pursuing upsell, cross-sell, stocking, promotional, and product-expansion opportunities.
Review account performance regularly, identify declining or underperforming business, and take timely action to recover and expand sales.
Develop strong relationships with key decision-makers and become a trusted sales partner who understands the customer's business and helps move it forward.
Maintain consistent and timely follow-up on quotes, open opportunities, customer requests, samples, pricing discussions, and pending decisions.
Create and manage a healthy sales pipeline with clear next steps, expected close dates, and documented customer activity.
Follow through on commitments and customer needs until they are fully resolved or closed out.
Re-engage inactive, declining, or lost accounts with a proactive plan to win back business.
Use CRM and internal systems to keep account notes, opportunities, tasks, and follow-up activity current and organized.
Prospect and cold call potential new dealers, distributors, performance shops, and private label customers to expand the company's dealer network.
Generate leads through research, industry events, networking, referrals, and direct market outreach.
Identify new dealers, market gaps, upcoming vehicle platforms, and new build opportunities without waiting for direction.
Develop and deliver tailored sales presentations that clearly communicate the company's product advantages and value propositions.
Convert qualified prospects into active purchasing accounts and continue developing them after the initial sale.
Serve as the primary contact for pricing, product questions, fitment guidance, order requirements, and general account needs.
Conduct regular check-ins, business reviews, and planning conversations designed to increase sales volume and customer retention.
Prepare quotes, proposals, pricing packages, and account-specific recommendations in alignment with company strategy, responding with urgency while continuing to advance the sale.
Work closely with Engineering, Technical Support, Customer Service, Production, and Marketing to move customer opportunities forward and ensure commitments are fulfilled.
Support private-label and industrial customers by coordinating product requirements, timelines, and special projects.
Assist with forecasting, demand planning, product feedback, and promotional planning based on customer and market needs.
Stay current on performance automotive trends, competitor activity, customer needs, and emerging market opportunities.
Represent the company professionally at trade shows, races, open houses, customer visits, and industry events as needed.
Bring forward ideas for new accounts, sales approaches, products, promotions, or market opportunities that can help grow revenue.