Automotive OEM Growth & Strategy Leader

Freudenberg; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg is seeking an OEM Business Development leader to drive growth in automotive markets across OEMs and Tier suppliers. You will map decision structures, build cross-functional relationships, and lead lubricant specification programs to win approvals and inclusion on OEM lists.

Travel nationally and internationally will be required as you coordinate with global teams and develop strategic opportunities in new platforms, EV programs, and battery supply chains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Technical Sales, Business, Chemistry, Tribology, or related field.
• MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of automotive business development, technical sales, or account management experience.
• Experience selling into automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers.
• Proven success navigating complex manufacturing organizations.
• Experience with industrial lubricants, specialty chemicals, metalworking fluids, process chemicals, assembly materials, automation solutions, or related technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute growth strategies for targeted automotive OEMs.
• Identify and map decision-making structures within OEM organizations.
• Establish relationships with engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, maintenance, sustainability, and operations leadership.
• Drive lubricant specification and approval programs across vehicle assembly operations.
• Lead efforts to secure inclusion on OEM-approved lubricant lists.
• Identify new platform, vehicle program, battery, powertrain, and assembly opportunities.
• Develop strategic relationships with Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 suppliers.
• Identify suppliers strongly influenced by OEM lubricant requirements.
• Convert approved OEM specifications into supplier production opportunities.
• Leverage OEM approvals to multiply business throughout the automotive supply chain.
• Work closely with customer engineering teams to validate and implement lubrication solutions.
• Create organizational maps identifying key stakeholders and influence strategies.
• Develop and lead strategic account management and global opportunity coordination.

Skills

Automotive sales experience

Strategic account management

Executive stakeholder communication

Relationship building across functions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/related field

MBA preferred

Job description

Freudenberg is seeking an OEM Business Development leader to drive growth in automotive markets across OEMs and Tier suppliers. You will map decision structures, build cross-functional relationships, and lead lubricant specification programs to win approvals and inclusion on OEM lists.

Travel nationally and internationally will be required as you coordinate with global teams and develop strategic opportunities in new platforms, EV programs, and battery supply chains.