Business Development (Technical Key Account Manager) - Automotive

CCT Tapes; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CCT Tapes, part of the Henkel family, is seeking a commercially driven Technical Key Account Manager to grow automotive OEM and Tier 1 relationships across North America. The role blends strategic account management, business development, and technical consultation to identify adhesive tape solutions that enhance performance and manufacturing outcomes.

You will engage engineers, buyers, quality teams and program managers, manage long sales cycles, and travel frequently to customer sites, events,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of technical sales experience in adhesives, tapes, films, engineered materials, or related industries.
• Automotive industry experience required.
• Experience working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
• Strong technical aptitude translating customer requirements into adhesive solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of automotive OEM and Tier 1 customer accounts.
• Develop and execute strategic account growth plans tied to customer programs and product launches.
• Build and maintain relationships across engineering, purchasing, quality, operations, and program management.
• Identify new opportunities for adhesive tape and bonding solutions within existing and prospective accounts.
• Manage opportunities from concept through testing, validation, specification, and commercial launch.
• Provide technical recommendations based on customer application requirements.
• Coordinate customer trials, sample requests, testing activities, and project timelines.
• Collaborate with internal engineering, product development, operations, and commercial teams.
• Support strategic partnerships and joint customer-development efforts.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, forecasts, and pipeline reporting.
• Represent the ATP Adhesive Group at customer locations, trade shows, and industry events.

Skills

Technical sales

Automotive industry experience

OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers

CRM proficiency

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical field

Job description

Business Development (Technical Key Account Manager) - Automotive

Fully Remote Fully Remote

Full-time

Description

The ATP Adhesive Group is seeking a commercially driven and technically knowledgeable Technical Key Account Manager to support growth within the automotive market. This role combines strategic account management, business development, and technical consultation to help customers identify and implement adhesive tape solutions that improve performance, efficiency, and manufacturing outcomes.

The ideal candidate can confidently engage with engineers, purchasing teams, quality professionals, and program managers while managing complex sales cycles and long-term customer relationships. This position plays a critical role in driving business growth with automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and strategic industry partners.

This role requires significant travel to support customer relationships, business development efforts, project launches, and industry events throughout North America.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of automotive OEM and Tier 1 customer accounts.
• Develop and execute strategic account growth plans tied to customer programs and product launches.
• Build and maintain relationships across engineering, purchasing, quality, operations, and program management functions.
• Identify new opportunities for adhesive tape and bonding solutions within existing and prospective accounts.
• Manage opportunities from concept through testing, validation, specification, and commercial launch.
• Provide technical recommendations based on customer application requirements.
• Coordinate customer trials, sample requests, testing activities, and project timelines.
• Collaborate with internal engineering, product development, operations, and commercial teams.
• Support strategic partnerships and joint customer-development efforts.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, forecasts, and pipeline reporting.
• Represent the ATP Adhesive Group at customer locations, trade shows, and industry events.

Requirements

Top Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of technical sales experience in adhesives, tapes, films, engineered materials, or related industries.
• Automotive industry experience required.
• Experience working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to translate customer requirements into effective adhesive solutions.
• Proven ability to manage complex, long-cycle sales opportunities involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to travel extensively throughout North America.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Preferred

• Experience with pressure-sensitive adhesives, industrial tapes, or bonding technologies.
• Knowledge of automotive launch processes and specification-driven sales.
• Experience collaborating with engineering and product development teams.
• Understanding of customer testing, validation, and qualification processes.
• Experience supporting strategic partnerships and joint selling initiatives.
• Ability to support occasional international travel.

Ideal Candidate

• Relationship-driven and customer-focused.
• Comfortable engaging with engineers and technical teams.
• Strong business-development and account-management skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and results-oriented.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Effective at managing multiple projects, priorities, and customer initiatives simultaneously.

Travel: Frequent travel throughout North America with occasional international travel as business needs require.

About CCT & Henkel

CCT is a leading manufacturer of specialty adhesive tape solutions serving a variety of industries throughout North America.

The CCT is part of Henkel, a global company with around 50,000 employees worldwide and a strong portfolio of leading technologies and brands. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is a global market leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Together, CCT combine deep expertise in specialty tapes and liquid adhesives to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions and greater value for customers and consumers.

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories. The "Know Your Rights" Poster is available here: "Know Your Rights" Poster .