Business Development Manager- Mobility Solutions Interior

Nagase America; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits packages

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plans with company match

Opportunities for career growth

Job summary

A global leader in innovation is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive strategic growth and manage existing accounts from their Detroit, MI office. The role involves identifying new business opportunities, engaging clients, and executing sales strategies to meet revenue targets. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree and have around 10 years of experience in sales and business development, preferably within the automotive sector. This hybrid position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in sales and business development required.
• Experience in the automotive industry related groups is a plus.
• Knowledge of chemical or manufacturing engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify new business opportunities in target markets.
• Manage existing and new accounts to find sales leads.
• Build strong relationships with clients for retention.

Skills

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Sales execution

Market research

Technical understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field

Job description

Overview

Nagase America LLC is a global leader in innovative products and solutions through expertise in chemicals, plastics, electronics, automotive and life sciences. Founded 1832, NAGASE Group now has 114 group companies, spanning over 32 countries, with more than 7,000 team members worldwide. By bringing together good science with great people our customized solutions shape the future of our ever-changing world.

Benefits of Joining Nagase:

• Competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement savings plans with company match.
• Opportunities for career growth and professional development.

Be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and customer success. Apply today to contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional solutions across industries!

Responsibilities

Responsible for leveraging strong relationships with customers, suppliers and partners to fulfill customer needs, provide solutions and create new business opportunities within the NAGASE Group.

The Business Development Manager will work under the direction of the Senior Manager to manage existing and new accounts, find new sales leads, identify business opportunities, and investigate new market potentials.

Location

This role will be hybrid based out of our Detroit, MI office.

Essential Functions

Strategic Business Development & Market Growth

• Identify and generate new business opportunities through strategic sales activities in target markets.
• Develop and execute strategic account and market plans aligned with long-term company objectives.
• Research and identify potential clients and key decision-makers within target organizations.
• Stay current on company offerings, industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities.
• Promote corporate project development initiatives (e.g., IFC technology).
• Deliver business development results within established timelines, proactively addressing obstacles to achieve objectives.

Sales Execution & Revenue Generation

• Plan and deliver persuasive pitches and value-based proposals to convert prospects into clients.
• Cold call and leverage professional networks to maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Handle objections effectively by clarifying concerns, emphasizing alignment, and negotiating toward positive outcomes.
• Participate in sales forecasting and planning; set and achieve sales targets and strategic objectives.
• Lead quoting activities for new opportunities and engineering changes.
• Manage pricing strategies to ensure competitiveness and profitability.

Account Management & Client Retention

• Build, manage, and grow existing accounts by identifying expansion opportunities and presenting new solutions and services.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing clients to enhance retention and generate referrals.
• Engage consistently with customer decision-makers to drive long-term partnerships.
• Proactively manage accounts to minimize profit loss and resolve avoidable issues, including quality-related concerns.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Ensure contract pricing accuracy and overall deal profitability.
• Collaborate with Accounting to resolve A/R and A/P issues in a timely manner.
• Monitor financial performance of accounts and adjust strategies to maintain margins.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Communication

• Maintain strong working relationships with cross-functional teams, including Account Management, Engineering, Operations, and Production, to support smooth SOP and mass production.
• Communicate development activities, issues, and solutions to senior leadership in a timely manner.
• Provide regular updates to management on pipeline status and growth initiatives.

Technical & Industry Expertise

• Apply strong technical understanding of materials, processes, and product requirements to support customer discussions and opportunity evaluation.
• Leverage market and competitor knowledge to strengthen credibility and strategic positioning.

Relationship Building & Professional Representation

• Build and sustain trust-based relationships across customer organizations and industry networks.
• Adapt communication style to different audiences to enhance engagement and influence.

Quality & Compliance

• Comply with and support all company Quality Management System (QMS) activities and documentation in alignment with ISO 9001 requirements. This job description is intended to outline the primary responsibilities of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and responsibilities may evolve over time based on business needs.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with a focus in Business or a related discipline.
• Approximately 10 years of progressive experience in sales and business development.
• Business or Technical education (Mechanical, Chemical or Manufacturing Engineering, Chemistry). Experience with plastics, automotive adhesives, or injection molding.
• 3–5 years of strategic business planning experience.
• Active involvement in automotive industry–related groups or associations such as SAE, SPE, AIAG, and ACS.

Travel Requirements

Occasional domestic and international travel may be required for this position, depending on business needs.