Business Development Manager

Faurecia; Lyon; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Forvia in Lyon, France seeks a seasoned commercial leader to drive strategic sales for its Materi’Act division. You will build relationships with engineering and purchasing teams, shape pricing, and coordinate cross‑functional efforts across engineering, operations, quality and finance.

This role requires a Engineering Master and at least 10 years of experience in automotive plastics, with strong negotiation and an international mindset.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience with successful track record in commercial assignments.
• Strong technical background in Plastics Materials, from Compounding to Injection Molding.
• Strong Experience in the Automotive Industry.
• Proven ability to lead negotiation involving technical scope, Pricing, claims, and serial life.

Responsibilities

• Develop in-depth intimacy with Customer contacts (Purchasing, Engineering, Innovation, Programs).
• Develop the relationship with direct contact from Engineering and Purchasing at the customer.
• Deploy a strong lobbying with Customer Technical Teams.
• Understand the customer’s technical requirements, product specifications, validation expectations, timing constraints and industrial assumptions, and link it with Materi’Act Engineering to adapt our Portfolio.
• Monitor what competition is doing.
• Prepare and check/validate the commercial offers to answer on due time to the Customer requests.
• Get a good understanding of the costing files (hands on).
• Coordinate engineering, purchasing, operation, quality and Finance contributions to establish coherent technical offer.
• Challenge technical content, assumptions, solution choices, when they have an impact on cost, price, timing, risk or customer value.
• Build up and get validated the targeted pricing and the negotiation path / tactics to convince the customer.
• Ensure proper documentation of all prices and written communication to customer.
• Understand and apply the guidelines proposed by the hierarchy regarding contractual management.
• Manage a team of Sales Engineers.
• Ensure the proper talent at the right place through internal or external recruitment processes.
• As and when properly staffed and organized, responsible for coaching, developing and promoting the Sales team.
• Assign objectives and follow-up.
• Serial Life:
• Follow the Variable Cost Margin of the products.
• Deep understanding and commercial management of Price Fluctuation (Cost Passthrough Mechanism).
• Understanding and rigorous implementation of the Sales Administration guidelines & processes (purchase orders, invoices, terms of payment, overdues…).
• Acquisitions :
• Understanding of the Business Plan & RFQA
• Preparation and update / improvement of the commercial offers through the negotiation loops
• Develop & lead the execution of the lobbying plan
• Beat competition ! with satisfactory financials

Skills

Fluent English

Relationship management

Negotiation

Financial acumen

Communication skills

International mindset

Education

Engineering Master Degree

Job description

Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader

We pioneer technology for mobility experience that matter to people.

At MATERI'ACT, a FORVIA division, we're driving the future of sustainable mobility. As a leading provider of sustainable materials, we play a key role in delivering FORVIA's CO₂ reduction roadmap in line with the Paris Agreement.

Joining our team means working at the forefront of innovation, where clean technologies and next-generation materials come together to shape the vehicles of tomorrow. Collaborate with the world's leading automotive brands and make a real impact on the future of mobility.

Your Mission, Roles And Responsibilities

Essential responsibilities and duties

The Main Missions Of The Role Are

• Develop in-depth intimacy with Customer contacts (Purchasing, Engineering, Innovation, Programs) :
• Develop the relationship with his direct contact from Engineering and Purchasing at the customer.
• Deploy a strong lobbying with Customer Technical Teams
• Understand the customer’s technical requirements, product specifications, validation expectations, timing constraints and industrial assumptions, and link it with Materi’Act Engineering to adapt our Portfolio
• Monitor what competition is doing
• Prepare and check/validate the commercial offers to answer on due time to the Customer requests :
• Get a good understanding of the costing files (“hands on”)
• Coordinate engineering, purchasing, operation, quality and Finance Contributions to establish coherent technical offer
• Challenge technical content, assumptions, solution choices, when they have an impact on cost, price, timing, risk or customer value.
• Build up and get validated the targeted pricing and the negotiation path / tactics to convince the customer
• Ensure proper documentation of all prices and written communication to customer
• Understand and apply the guidelines proposed by the hierarchy regarding contractual management
• Manage a team of Sales Engineers :
• Ensure the proper talent at the right place through internal or external recruitment processes
• As and when properly staffed and organized, responsible for coaching, developing and promoting the Sales team
• Assign objectives and follow-up
• Serial Life:
• Follow the Variable Cost Margin of the products
• Deep understanding and commercial management of Price Fluctuation (Cost Passthrough Mechanism)
• Understanding and rigourous implementation of the Sales Administration guidelines & processes (purchase orders, invoices, terms of payment, overdues…)
• Acquisitions :
• Understanding of the Business Plan & RFQA
• Preparation and update / improvement of the commercial offers through the negotiation loops
• Develop & lead the execution of the lobbying plan
• Beat competition ! with satisfactory financials

Your profile and competencies to succeed

The Ideal Candidate Will Have/be

Minimum Education Level: Engineering Master Degree with a willingness to develop a career path in business

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience with successful track record with different commercial assignments
• Strong technical Background in Plastics Materials, from Compounding to Injection Molding
• Strong Experience in the Automotive Industry
• Proven ability to lead negotiation involving technical scope, Pricing, claims, and serial life

Skills And Competencies

• Fluent in english and if necessary in the Customer language
• Very broad functional knowledge and depth understanding of business expertise
• Strong competencies in relationship management, and negotiation
• Comfortable with financials
• Good communication and presentation skills, and capacity of empathy
• Business international mindset
• Accountable and results oriented – Get the things done
• Team player and ability to work in a matrix organization

What We Can Do For You

• At Forvia, you will find an engaging and dynamic environment where you can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility leading technologies.
• We are the seventh-largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in more than 40 countries which makes a lot of opportunity for career development.
• We welcome energetic and agile people who can thrive in a fast-changing environment. People who share our strong values. Team players with a collaborative mindset and a passion to deliver high standards for our clients. Lifelong learners. High performers. Globally minded people who aspire to work in a transforming industry, where excellence, speed, and quality count.
• We cultivate a learning environment, dedicating tools and resources to ensure we remain at the forefront of mobility. Our people enjoy an average of more than 22 hours of online and in-person training within FORVIA University (five campuses around the world)
• We offer a multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration. We believe that diversity is a strength. To create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity create real value for the company, we have adopted gender diversity targets and inclusion action plans.
• Achieving CO₂ Net Zero as a pioneer of the automotive industry is a priority: In June 2022, Forvia became the first global automotive group to be certified with the new SBTI Net-Zero Standard (the most ambitious standard of SBTi), aligned with the ambition of the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Three principles guide our action:use less, use betteranduse longer, with a focus on recyclability and circular economy.

Why join us

FORVIA, a global automotive technology supplier, comprises the complementary technology and industrial strengths of Faurecia and HELLA.

With over 137 500 people, including more than 12,000 R&D engineers across 40+ countries, FORVIA provides a unique and comprehensive approach to the automotive challenges of today and tomorrow. Composed of 6 business groups and a strong IP portfolio of over 12,400 patents, FORVIA is focused on becoming the preferred innovation and integration partner for OEMs worldwide.

In 2025, the Group achieved a consolidated revenue of 26.2 billion euros prior to IFRS 5. FORVIA SE is listed on the Euronext Paris market under the FRVIA mnemonic code and is a component of the SBF 120 index.

FORVIA aims to be a change maker committed to foreseeing and making the mobility transformation happen. www.forvia.com

Salary Range: EUR from 80000 to 110000