Automotive Marketing Manager - ADL

Steel Dynamics, Inc; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aluminum Dynamics seeks a senior outside sales liaison to drive automotive customer relationships and align ADL capabilities with OEM needs. You will manage pricing, RFQs, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to grow ADL’s market share across NA, Europe, and Japan.

Expect frequent travel and a strategic role in product development and service quality. Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in automotive aluminum sales, a engineering or business background, strong analytical skills, and a

Qualifications

• 3+ years outside sales experience in steel or aluminum flat rolled automotive market.
• Experience with large global automotive OEMs.
• Automotive OEM aluminum sheet commercial/technical experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business administration or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams without directly reporting authority.
• High energy, team‑oriented, and relationship driven.
• Ability to travel frequently (30-60%) - consecutive over‑nights mandatory.
• International travel required with ability to acquire necessary travel documents.
• Ability to manage time, manage travel & manage oneself.
• Fiduciary responsibility for managing and reporting expenses, entertainment & travel.
• Proficient in computer skills including excel, advanced excel skills preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Reside in/Relocate to the Detroit metropolitan area.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary commercial liaison with automotive customers to align with mill capabilities.
• Drive promotion and sales of ADL products within territory and market.
• Handle day-to-day commercial activities including pricing, forecasting, and trade terms.
• Develop and support ADL growth strategy with OEMs through pricing, RFQs, and marketing.
• Build and maintain relationships with OEM teams across NA, EU, and Japan.
• Collaborate with ADL teams to optimize communication and decision-making.
• Support inside sales with pricing, logistics, and issue resolution.
• Assist field service on quality issues and customer claims negotiations.
• Review inquiries and RFQs for manufacturability and respond promptly.
• Visit customer locations to monitor commercial status and assist technically.
• Coordinate customer visits, tours, and audits at the mill.
• Assist with material qualification and pre-source requirements with cross-functional teams.
• Contribute to product development and optimization projects.
• Participate in OEM product development and quality meetings.
• Identify and develop new customers.
• Monitor competitive landscape and report to Commercial Director.

Skills

Outside sales

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Travel willing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business Administration

Tools

Excel

Advanced Excel

Salesforce

CRM systems

SAP Concur

Job description

Aluminum Dynamics

This position serves as the primary/key commercial liaison between Aluminum Dynamics, LLC (ADL) and our automotive customers including but not limited to OEMs, stampers, and service centers. The role is customer-facing to ensure ADL’s automotive business aligns with the mill’s capabilities and operational goals. The ideal candidate will help position ADL as the preferred materials supplier for customers and contribute to the company's thru-cycle profitability.

• Perform all duties safely and professionally.
• Drive promotion and sales of Aluminum Dynamics’ products within territory and market.
• Execute day-to-day commercial activities for our automotive customers requiring experience in pricing, forecasting, technical/quality support, sustainability topics, rebate management, supply chain management, and contract negotiation.
• Develop and support the overall ADL business and growth strategy with assigned OEMs through managing pricing, RFQs, and marketing.
• Build, develop, maintain and expand trusted relationships within all levels of the automotive OEM customer teams in North America, Europe and Japan including relationships at OEM-directed and/or resale supply partners.
• Build, develop, and maintain transparent and trusted relationships with ADL teams (inside sales, field service, quality, operations, finance) to further optimize communication and decision‑making that benefits both our customers and ADL.
• Support the ADL inside sales group with system pricing, outside processors and logistics issue resolution.
• Support the ADL field service group on quality and/or claim resolutions and/or corrective actions from the commercial standpoint, including negotiating customer claims side‑to‑side with the field service representatives.
• Review customer inquiries and RFQs from a commercial, helping verify manufacturability of request.
• Respond to customer inquiries effectively and promptly.
• Regularly visit customer purchasing and manufacturing locations to monitor overall commercial status and assist in technical issues as appropriate.
• Coordinate and participate in customer visits, tours, audits at the mill.
• Assist material qualification and pre‑source requirements in collaboration with application engineering, operations, quality and inside sales.
• Contribute to product development and optimization projects.
• Routinely participate in OEM product development and technical service/quality meetings.
• Identify and help develop new customers.
• Monitor competitive landscape and continually provide effective feedback to the Commercial Director.
• Strive to ensure that Aluminum Dynamics is the aluminum supplier of choice for customers.
• Contribute meaningfully to the thru‑cycle profitability of the company.
• Demonstrate pride in company products, culture and goals.

Required

• Proven mandatory 3+ years previous outside sales experience in the steel or aluminum flat rolled automotive market.
• Experience with large, global automotive OEM’s.
• Automotive OEM aluminum sheet commercial/technical experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (any), business administration or a related field of study or equivalent experience.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams without directly reporting authority.
• High energy, team‑oriented, and relationship driven.
• Ability to travel frequently (30-60%) - consecutive over‑nights mandatory.
• International travel required with ability to acquire necessary travel documents.
• Ability to manage time, manage travel & manage oneself.
• Fiduciary responsibility for managing and reporting expenses, entertainment & travel.
• Proficient in computer skills including excel, advanced excel skills preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Reside in/Relocate to the Detroit metropolitan area.

Preferred

• Technical degree (e.g. Engineering)
• 5+ years previous outside sales experience.
• Technical and material qualification experience.
• Prior experience working with ALD customers.
• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated understanding of SDI operational and commercial culture and a track record as a champion of SDI culture in practice.
• Experience with Salesforce, SAP Concur or foundation of CRM system

Steel Dynamics, Inc., and all affiliated entities are equal opportunity employers.