Senior Sales Manager

Autolink; München; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Autolink in Munich seeks an experienced Customer Business Development & Strategic Planning professional to lead BD and CRM for the VW Group in Germany, defining regional sales strategies and annual targets.

You will identify project opportunities in cockpit domain controllers and EEA, coordinate cross‑functional teams through RFQ processes, monitor market trends, and maintain strong executive relationships across procurement, engineering and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above; preferred vehicle engineering/electronics/automation/marketing.
• 5+ years in automotive industry with at least 2 years OEM customer development experience with the German VW Group; familiar with VW Group structure and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue opportunities in cockpit domain controllers and related areas; drive full cycle from requirements alignment to nomination.
• Monitor German and European automotive market trends; deliver regular market analysis to refine business development strategies.
• Lead RFQ responses, coordinating internal R&D, engineering, quality, and costing teams to deliver technical solutions and commercial proposals.
• Familiar with VW Group's NPI and series production management processes; ensure assigned projects meet customer milestones at each stage.
• Drive nominated projects forward per APQP/PPAP requirements; coordinate resolution of commercial and technical issues during project execution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for VW Group business in Germany; maintain regular communication with customer stakeholders in procurement, engineering, and quality.
• Organize customer visits and technical exchange activities; support senior executive visit arrangements; continuously improve customer satisfaction and partnership stickiness.
• Coordinate handling of customer complaints and commercial issues; safeguard the company's brand image within the German customer ecosystem.
• Work closely with domestic R&D, engineering, and supply chain teams to accurately convey customer requirements and drive internal execution.
• Coordinate with marketing, after-sales, and other functions to ensure consistent customer-facing experience and delivery quality for assigned projects.

Skills

BD strategy

OEM customer management

Negotiation

Project management

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or above

Job description

Customer Business Development & Strategic Planning

About the Role

Lead business development and customer relationship management primarily for the German Volkswagen Group (VW Group, including Volkswagen, Audi and related brands); define regional sales strategies and annual business targets.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue potential project opportunities in cockpit domain controllers, EEA (Electrical/Electronic Architecture) and related areas; drive the full cycle from requirements alignment to technical solution matching and project nomination.
• Continuously monitor German and European automotive market trends, competitor activities, and regulatory developments; deliver regular market analysis reports to refine business development strategies.
• Lead RFQ responses, coordinating internal R&D, engineering, quality, and costing teams to deliver technical solutions and commercial proposals.
• Familiar with VW Group's NPI and series production management processes; ensure assigned projects meet customer milestones at each stage.
• Drive nominated projects forward per APQP/PPAP requirements; coordinate resolution of commercial and technical issues during project execution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for VW Group business in Germany; maintain regular communication with customer stakeholders in procurement, engineering, and quality.
• Organize customer visits and technical exchange activities; support senior executive visit arrangements; continuously improve customer satisfaction and partnership stickiness.
• Coordinate handling of customer complaints and commercial issues; safeguard the company's brand image within the German customer ecosystem.
• Work closely with domestic R&D, engineering, and supply chain teams to accurately convey customer requirements and drive internal execution.
• Coordinate with marketing, after-sales, and other functions to ensure consistent customer-facing experience and delivery quality for assigned projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above; major open (preferred: vehicle engineering, electronics, automation, marketing).
• 5+ years of automotive industry experience, including at least 2 years of OEM customer development and management experience with the German VW Group; familiar with VW Group's organizational structure and decision-making processes.

Required Skills

• Familiar with the full lifecycle management of automotive front-mounted products, including RFI/RFQ response, nomination, development, and series production.
• Knowledge of European automotive industry regulations and data security compliance requirements; ensure business activities comply with local laws.
• Good business negotiation skills and project management experience; experience in VW Group project nomination or tracking preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Fluent in English, proficient in German; both usable as working languages for direct technical meetings, business negotiations, and email communication with German customers.
• Work location: Germany; must hold valid German residence and work permit.
• Valid German or European driving license; able to undertake regional business travel.