US Sales Director, Automotive

SKF Vertevo; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Annual bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

SKF Vertevo in Plymouth, MI is seeking a US Sales Director for OE Passenger Vehicles. You will lead the sales strategy, drive profitability, and oversee a team of Account Managers across US OEMs and Tier 1s. The role requires strong negotiation, market insight, and cross-functional leadership.

Based in a hybrid Plymouth location, you will collaborate with regional and global teams to align platform nominations, RFQs, and pricing to maximize growth and customer value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field.
• Progressive automotive OE sales experience serving US passenger vehicle OEMs or Tier 1s.
• Experience leading automotive OE Account Managers, coaching negotiations, and delivering profitable account growth.
• Proven success winning platform nominations, retaining production business, and building OEM purchasing, engineering, and program relationships.
• Hands‑on RFQ, sourcing, and negotiation experience covering supply agreements, annual price reductions, tooling recovery, material adjustments, and engineering changes.
• Strong financial skills in cost breakdowns, tooling and capital investment, volume assumptions, and program‑lifetime profitability.
• Working knowledge of component specifications, validation, APQP, PPAP, and IATF 16949 customer requirements; ability to partner with engineering and quality teams.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, including technical‑commercial proposals and customer escalations.
• Experience managing OE programs from pre‑sourcing through production end, including forecasting and cross‑functional commercial risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead US OE passenger vehicle sales strategy, aligning account plans with customer sourcing cycles, vehicle platforms, and growth opportunities.
• Lead and develop Account Managers, setting clear targets for account growth, RFQs, negotiations, forecasts, and customer issue resolution.
• Own US sales, pricing, program profitability, and new business awards; report results, risks, and corrective actions to leadership.
• Build OEM and Tier 1 purchasing, engineering, quality, and program relationships to retain business and win new platform nominations.
• Position solutions before RFQ release across combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicle programs, informed by market and competitor trends.
• Negotiate sourcing agreements, pricing, productivity commitments, tooling and engineering charges, material adjustments, and cost recovery within approval and compliance requirements.
• Lead RFQs through sourcing award, validating technical requirements, volumes, capacity, investment, launch timing, and lifetime profitability with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and finance on launch readiness, APQP, PPAP, and commercial impacts of program changes or customer claims.
• Manage program forecasts, budgets, and opportunity records using production volumes, customer releases, pricing, and start- and end-of-production timing.
• Align shared-platform pricing and customer commitments with regional and global teams while retaining accountability for US sales.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Strategic selling

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or related field

Tools

APQP/PPAP process

IATF 16949

Job description

By creating bearings and solutions for everything from industrial applications to vehicles, SKF plays an essential role in our everyday lives. In Q4 2026, SKF intends to spin off its Automotive business and list it as a separate company under the name of SKF Vertevo. A company created to support the future of the automotive market, and to co‑drive the future of mobility faster. This role will be a part of that new company. Would you like to join us, and move people further?

US Sales Director – OE Passenger Vehicles

Location: Plymouth, MI (hybrid)

The US Sales Director – OE Passenger Vehicles leads the sales strategy and commercial performance for the US original equipment (OE) passenger vehicle business. This role is responsible for driving profitable growth, strengthening customer relationships, securing new business, and leading a team of Account Managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead US OE passenger vehicle sales strategy, aligning account plans with customer sourcing cycles, vehicle platforms, and growth opportunities.
• Lead and develop Account Managers, setting clear targets for account growth, RFQs, negotiations, forecasts, and customer issue resolution.
• Own US sales, pricing, program profitability, and new business awards; report results, risks, and corrective actions to leadership.
• Build OEM and Tier 1 purchasing, engineering, quality, and program relationships to retain business and win new platform nominations.
• Position solutions before RFQ release across combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicle programs, informed by market and competitor trends.
• Negotiate sourcing agreements, pricing, productivity commitments, tooling and engineering charges, material adjustments, and cost recovery within approval and compliance requirements.
• Lead RFQs through sourcing award, validating technical requirements, volumes, capacity, investment, launch timing, and lifetime profitability with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and finance on launch readiness, APQP, PPAP, and commercial impacts of program changes or customer claims.
• Manage program forecasts, budgets, and opportunity records using production volumes, customer releases, pricing, and start- and end-of-production timing.
• Align shared-platform pricing and customer commitments with regional and global teams while retaining accountability for US sales.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Progressive automotive component OE sales experience serving US passenger vehicle OEMs or Tier 1s, with direct production-program responsibility.
• Experience leading automotive OE Account Managers, coaching negotiations, and delivering profitable account growth.
• Proven success winning platform nominations, retaining production business, and building OEM purchasing, engineering, and program relationships.
• Hands‑on RFQ, sourcing, and negotiation experience covering supply agreements, annual price reductions, tooling recovery, material adjustments, and engineering changes.
• Strong financial skills in cost breakdowns, tooling and capital investment, volume assumptions, and program‑lifetime profitability.
• Working knowledge of component specifications, validation, APQP, PPAP, and IATF 16949 customer requirements; ability to partner with engineering and quality teams.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, including technical‑commercial proposals and customer escalations.
• Experience managing OE programs from pre‑sourcing through production end, including forecasting and cross‑functional commercial risk management.

You will enjoy working here if you (are/have) passionate about building customer relationships, developing your team, and driving growth through collaboration.

If you want to go further

This position will be located in Plymouth, MI at the North American Headquarters and Tech Center. You will report to the Head of OE Sales, NAM and Country Manager USA who sits in Plymouth, MI.

Transparency and fairness matter to us

At SKF Vertevo, we see diversity in our workforce as an asset that supports better business results. We are committed to having a fair and inclusive recruitment process where all hiring decisions are based on objective, job‑related criteria, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates.

To support a fair and transparent recruitment process, selected candidates may be asked to complete assessments. Prior to employment, we may also conduct background checks and verify information provided during the application process, in accordance with applicable laws.

The salary range for this position we are targeting is $150-170K USD annually. We also offer a competitive benefits package that includes a retirement savings plan, annual company bonus, and additional benefits. During the initial interview, we will discuss your salary expectations and provide more details about our total rewards package.

Our final offer is based on an objective evaluation of your experience, skills, and potential, aligned with the scope of the role and our internal compensation guidelines. Recruitment processes may vary by location and will always comply with applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations.

Come as you are – just be yourself. #weareSKFVertevo