Sales Director - Automotive Components (Tier1)

Dikton S.r.l; Piemonte; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Dikton S.r.l. in Piemonte seeks a Sales Director to own the international commercial organization’s strategy and execution.

You will lead the Key Account Management, Sales Engineering, and Customer Service teams to win new vehicle platforms and strengthen long-term OEM alliances across Europe and globally. The role focuses on scaling profitable business, driving multi-year revenue targets, and aligning with Program Management, Cost Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations to meet growth

Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute multi-year commercial strategies, revenue targets, and margin objectives aligned with corporate growth milestones.
• Lead executive-level commercial relationships across OEM Purchasing Directors and Platform Chief Engineers.
• Oversee end-to-end RFQ and program acquisition for complex, high-value bids, including cost breakdowns and CapEx considerations.
• Direct high-stakes negotiations, including LTAs, material indexing mechanisms, VAVE initiatives, and productivity targets.
• Coach and scale international Key Account Management, Sales Engineering, and Customer Service teams.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations to align demand forecasting and capacity.
• Analyze market dynamics, competitive positioning, and sustainability mandates to identify diversification paths.

Job description

The Sales Director will hold full strategic and operational accountability for the international commercial organization. Leading the Key Account Management and Technical Sales teams—and collaborating closely with Program Management, Cost Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations—the role focuses on scaling profitable business, winning new vehicle platforms, and fortifying long-term strategic alliances with European and global OEMs.

Main tasks:

• Commercial Strategy & Execution: Formulate and execute multi-year commercial strategies, revenue targets, and margin objectives aligned with corporate growth milestones;
• OEM Customer Relationship Management: Lead executive-level commercial relationships across OEM Purchasing Directors, Commodity Buyers, and Platform Chief Engineers;
• Complex RFQ & Program Acquisition: Steer the end-to-end quotation process for complex, high-value serial bids, orchestrating cycle-time estimation, process routings, tooling capital expenditures (CapEx), and cost-breakdown submissions;
• Commercial Governance & Negotiations: Direct high-stakes contract negotiations, encompassing Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), raw material indexing formulas (e.g., steel/aluminum surcharge mechanisms), VAVE initiatives, and contractual annual productivity targets (year-down clauses);
• Team Leadership & Development: Coach, manage, and scale the international Key Account Management, Sales Engineering, and Customer Service teams;
• Demand Forecasting & Capacity Alignment: Monitor program SOP/EOP milestones, OEM take-rates, forecast accuracy, and capacity allocation in tight collaboration with Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations;
• Market Intelligence & Transition Tracking: Analyze automotive market dynamics, competitive positioning, and CO₂ footprint/sustainability mandates, identifying diversification paths into next-generation propulsion and chassis systems.