Account Manager

About the role

The Account Manager at UGN is responsible for building and deepening relationships with a designated customer (Japanese automotive customer). Key responsibilities include supporting the Director of Business Development or Director of Sales in increasing market share, developing business relationships, introducing new technologies, and disseminating information to the various departments within UGN.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Business Development to maintain the current level of business at each customer and to be fully conversant with future strategies, activities, or requirements of the customer.
• Coordinate all business activities of a given customer.
• Ensure that cash that is owed to UGN from the customer is collected on time.
• Communicate to applicable plants and departments a customer's visit expectations.
• Maintain awareness of competitors' activities at the customer.
• Explore new business opportunities to increase market share, technology innovations, and new products.
• Develop strategies by platform for new business opportunities at each customer, including the platform, targeted parts, internal strengths and weaknesses, and competitors' strengths and weaknesses.
• Build customer relationships to promote, enhance, and expand UGN's position within the OEM and our reputation as a full-range acoustical/interior trim producer.
• Quote current and potential business opportunities.
• Make a continuous effort to increase profit margins on all associate parts.
• Manage day-to-day activities on all current programs.
• Support value-added/value engineering activities by the plants, engineering, and purchasing.
• Aid Product Engineering with programs and projects at the customer technical center.
• Develop an internal proposal for customers' annual price reductions in a timely manner for approval.
• Participate in commercial and technical-related discussions with Nittoku, Autoneum, and our customers.
• Along with the Director of Business Development, establish the yearly volume and price forecast; perform regular maintenance of the UGN database and yearly entry of forecasted data.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field from an accredited university or college.
• 5+ years of related experience in the automotive industry.
• Strong negotiating, strategic thinking, execution, teamwork, situational leadership, and planning skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated sales ability and “presence” to deal effectively with senior-level contacts.
• Significant network of contacts and ability to network in the defined market.
• Previous experience working within the Japanese business culture and/or working with the Japanese automotive industry preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and also project management software.

Qualifications

• Must possess strong negotiating, strategic thinking, execution, teamwork, situational leadership, and planning skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills are required.
• Demonstrated sales ability and “presence” to deal effectively with senior-level contacts.
• Significant network of contacts and ability to network in the defined market.
• Previous experience working within the Japanese business culture and/or working with the Japanese automotive industry preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and also project management software.

Skills

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinking and planning.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience in the automotive industry, particularly with Japanese automotive customers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.

Benefits

At UGN, Inc., we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Paid time off, including 10 paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short and long-term disability insurance.
• 401K with company match.

We also provide:

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Life/AD&D insurance.
• Annual incentive plan.

Additionally, we strive to ensure each team member feels valued, respected, and included, and are presented with equal opportunities to be successful here at UGN. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.