Sales Account Manager

LAEPPLE AUTOMOTIVE US; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

LAEPPLE Automotive is seeking a Sales Account Manager in Detroit to own an OEM and Tier 1 account portfolio, drive pricing strategy, negotiate contracts, and manage revenue and margin across the full program lifecycle.

You will coordinate with Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and Finance, lead RFQ responses, deliver business reviews, and travel domestically as needed to support customers and LAEPPLE’s growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in sales, account management, or program management within the automotive industry.
• Direct OEM or Tier 1 automotive customer negotiations experience.
• Experience with cost analysis, estimation, and margin management.

Responsibilities

• Own sales portfolio for OEM and Tier 1 accounts, including pricing strategy, quoting, and contract negotiation.
• Lead RFQ response strategy, coordinating cross-functional input from Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and Finance presenting the final resolution on pricing and terms within delegated authority.
• Drive annual pricing negotiations and customer cost-reduction initiatives, with responsibility for margin and revenue targets.
• Own sales performance for the account portfolio against forecast and budget, with accountability for results.
• Serve as the primary contact and executive-level relationship for assigned customers, including escalations.
• Lead presentations, business reviews, and commercial negotiations with customers.

Skills

Negotiation

Account management

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

CRM systems

SAP ERP

Microsoft Office

Job description

About us

LAEPPLE Automotive is a leading supplier in the automotive industry, specializing in high-quality components and systems for body components manufacturing. Our innovative technologies and efficient production processes set benchmarks in the industry. To grow our team in Detroit, we are seeking a dedicated and experienced Sales Account Manager to own a portfolio of OEM and Tier 1 customer relationships and drive commercial results across the full program lifecycle – from RFQ through launch and ongoing account management. This role is responsible for commercial outcomes for the assigned accounts: pricing strategy, contract negotiation, revenue and margin performance, and customer relationships at every level. The ideal candidate is a self-directed commercial operator who can negotiate confidently, manage competing priorities under pressure, and represent LAEPPLE Automotive as the primary business representative for their accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the full commercial relationship for an assigned portfolio of OEM and Tier 1 accounts, including pricing strategy, quoting, and contract negotiation.
• Lead RFQ response strategy, coordinating cross-functional input from Engineering, Purchasing, Operations, and Finance presenting the final resolution on pricing and terms within delegated authority.
• Drive annual pricing negotiations and customer cost-reduction initiatives, having responsibility for the outcomes against margin and revenue targets.
• Own sales performance for the account portfolio (volumes, revenue, and margin) against forecast and budget, with direct accountability for results.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and executive-level relationship for assigned customers, including escalations.
• Lead preparation and delivery of customer presentations, business reviews, and commercial negotiations.
• Responsible for customer issue resolution, coordinating internal teams, and taking accountability for outcomes.
• Partner with Program Management to drive new product launches and engineering changes, possessing the commercial timeline.
• Ensure all commercial deliverables are completed on time, and customer milestones are achieved.
• Manage change requests, customer purchase order updates, and contract documentation, with authority to negotiate terms.
• Maintain accurate customer information, opportunity tracking, and meeting records within the CRM system, utilizing this data to inform account strategy.
• Prepare and present reports to leadership on customer activity, sales forecasts, and market trends.
• Lead customer visits, plant tours, and business review meetings.
• Represent LAEPPLE at trade shows and industry events.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Production, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure customer expectations are met and exceeded.
• Resolve customer concerns related to quality, delivery, service, and pricing.
• Drive implementation of corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor junior sales and account coordination staff as the team grows.
• Ensure compliance with customer, company, and regulatory policies, procedures, and contractual requirements.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Supply Chain Management or other related field required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in sales, account management, or program management within the automotive industry, including direct OEM or Tier 1 automotive customer negotiations experience.
• Proven experience with cost analysis, estimation, and margin management.
• Demonstrated history of commercial outcome responsibility in the OEM or Tier I automotive environment including pricing negotiations, contract terms, revenue targets.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
• Experience with CRM systems and ERP platforms (SAP a plus).
• Strong ability to analyze sales data, pricing information, and business metrics to inform negotiation strategy.
• Familiarity with automotive product development and launch processes.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills at all levels of the business.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Customer-focused with a proactive, ownership-driven problem-solving approach.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Analytical and business-oriented mindset with commercial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts, projects, and timelines simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel as business needs dictate, including short domestic trips to customer sites and periodic internal travel to LAEPPLE’s corporate headquarters in Germany.