Head of Commercial Growth [AQ-23635]

Aquent; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent seeks an accomplished executive to lead a pioneering automotive logistics initiative. You will shape the commercial strategy, drive network development, and oversee multi-year contracts with global automakers, aligning operations with growth objectives.

You will build executive relationships, forecast revenue, and influence strategic investments across infrastructure and partnerships to move vehicles efficiently worldwide.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within automotive logistics, finished vehicle logistics, transportation, or supply chain management.
• Proven success developing and executing commercial growth strategies within complex logistics environments.
• Significant experience managing and expanding large automotive manufacturer (OEM) accounts.
• Demonstrated expertise negotiating complex, high-value, multi-year service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in pricing strategy, cost modeling, profitability analysis, and P&L management.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing commercial teams.
• Deep understanding of finished vehicle logistics operations and automotive supply chain networks.
• Knowledge of vehicle transportation modes including trucking, rail, port operations, vehicle processing centers, and terminal operations.
• Experience working directly with automotive manufacturer logistics, transportation, procurement, and supply chain organizations.
• Strong understanding of transportation capacity planning, network optimization, and infrastructure development.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and customer executives.
• Strategic thinker capable of translating market opportunities into executable growth plans.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to align commercial, operational, and financial objectives.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Data-driven decision maker with strong business and financial judgment.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy aligned with organizational growth objectives, network capacity, and market demand.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities with automotive manufacturers and strategic accounts.
• Expand existing customer relationships through increased service offerings, network solutions, and long-term partnership development.
• Build and maintain a robust multi-year pipeline that supports revenue growth and network expansion goals.
• Drive commercial excellence through disciplined forecasting, opportunity management, and sales governance processes.
• Establish and maintain executive-level relationships with automotive manufacturer supply chain, logistics, transportation, and procurement leaders.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customers by understanding evolving supply chain challenges and developing tailored logistics solutions.
• Lead customer engagement strategies that enhance retention, growth, and long-term account profitability.
• Represent the organization during executive reviews, business planning discussions, and strategic customer meetings.
• Lead complex negotiations involving multi-year logistics agreements, transportation contracts, and strategic service partnerships.
• Develop pricing strategies that balance customer requirements, operational complexity, market conditions, and profitability objectives.
• Evaluate commercial opportunities through financial modeling, risk assessment, and margin analysis.
• Ensure commercial agreements align with company growth objectives and operational capabilities.
• Partner closely with Operations, Network Planning, Finance, and Infrastructure teams to ensure commercial commitments can be effectively executed.
• Support network expansion initiatives, including terminal development, market assessments, and strategic investment opportunities.
• Align customer growth plans with transportation capacity, processing capabilities, and infrastructure requirements.
• Drive collaboration across functional teams to improve service delivery, forecasting accuracy, and overall business performance.
• Monitor automotive industry trends, including vehicle production shifts, EV adoption, supply chain transformation, and transportation network changes.
• Identify emerging opportunities, competitive threats, and market developments that influence commercial strategy.
• Provide executive leadership with insights and recommendations that support long-term business planning and growth initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Executive presence

OEM experience

Logistics network

Data-driven

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA (Nice-to-have)

Job description

Partnering with Aquent, we are seeking a visionary leader for a pioneering organization at the forefront of automotive logistics. This enterprise is dedicated to shaping the future of transportation, driving transformational change, and making a significant impact on the industry landscape. We are committed to innovation, strategic growth, and redefining the future of how vehicles move across the globe. This is an unparalleled opportunity to ignite enterprise growth and redefine the future of automotive logistics, directly influencing infrastructure investments, forging long-term customer partnerships, and propelling sustainable revenue expansion across a complex transportation and logistics network. This pivotal executive role stands at the dynamic intersection of commercial strategy, network development, and operational execution, offering an extraordinary platform to shape business outcomes at scale and cultivate enduring relationships with the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. If you are an accomplished commercial leader seeking to amplify your influence, gain greater visibility, and make an enterprise-level impact, this role offers the ultimate stage to drive significant change and leave a lasting mark.

About The Role

As a key executive, you will be at the helm of critical initiatives, directly influencing infrastructure investments, forging long-term customer partnerships, and propelling sustainable revenue expansion. You will play a pivotal role in shaping business outcomes at scale, cultivating enduring relationships with the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, and driving significant change within the industry. This role offers the opportunity to lead the commercial strategy, network development, and operational execution that will redefine how vehicles move globally.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy aligned with organizational growth objectives, network capacity, and market demand.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities with automotive manufacturers and strategic accounts.
• Expand existing customer relationships through increased service offerings, network solutions, and long-term partnership development.
• Build and maintain a robust multi-year pipeline that supports revenue growth and network expansion goals.
• Drive commercial excellence through disciplined forecasting, opportunity management, and sales governance processes.
• Establish and maintain executive-level relationships with automotive manufacturer supply chain, logistics, transportation, and procurement leaders.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customers by understanding evolving supply chain challenges and developing tailored logistics solutions.
• Lead customer engagement strategies that enhance retention, growth, and long-term account profitability.
• Represent the organization during executive reviews, business planning discussions, and strategic customer meetings.
• Lead complex negotiations involving multi-year logistics agreements, transportation contracts, and strategic service partnerships.
• Develop pricing strategies that balance customer requirements, operational complexity, market conditions, and profitability objectives.
• Evaluate commercial opportunities through financial modeling, risk assessment, and margin analysis.
• Ensure commercial agreements align with company growth objectives and operational capabilities.
• Partner closely with Operations, Network Planning, Finance, and Infrastructure teams to ensure commercial commitments can be effectively executed.
• Support network expansion initiatives, including terminal development, market assessments, and strategic investment opportunities.
• Align customer growth plans with transportation capacity, processing capabilities, and infrastructure requirements.
• Drive collaboration across functional teams to improve service delivery, forecasting accuracy, and overall business performance.
• Monitor automotive industry trends, including vehicle production shifts, EV adoption, supply chain transformation, and transportation network changes.
• Identify emerging opportunities, competitive threats, and market developments that influence commercial strategy.
• Provide executive leadership with insights and recommendations that support long-term business planning and growth initiatives.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within automotive logistics, finished vehicle logistics, transportation, or supply chain management.
• Proven success developing and executing commercial growth strategies within complex logistics environments.
• Significant experience managing and expanding large automotive manufacturer (OEM) accounts.
• Demonstrated expertise negotiating complex, high-value, multi-year service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in pricing strategy, cost modeling, profitability analysis, and P&L management.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing commercial teams.
• Deep understanding of finished vehicle logistics operations and automotive supply chain networks.
• Knowledge of vehicle transportation modes including trucking, rail, port operations, vehicle processing centers, and terminal operations.
• Experience working directly with automotive manufacturer logistics, transportation, procurement, and supply chain organizations.
• Strong understanding of transportation capacity planning, network optimization, and infrastructure development.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and customer executives.
• Strategic thinker capable of translating market opportunities into executable growth plans.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to align commercial, operational, and financial objectives.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Data-driven decision maker with strong business and financial judgment.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• MBA or other advanced business degree.