SENIOR MANAGER, AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING NEW MODEL & SALES

Located in London, OH

Salary: $120K - $140K

Senior Manager, Automotive Manufacturing – New Model Development & Sales

Location: London, Ohio
Salary: $120,000 – $140,000 per year

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager of Automotive Manufacturing – New Model Development & Sales to lead new product development, strategic sales initiatives, customer relationships, and quality assurance efforts within a high-volume automotive manufacturing environment. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing new model launches, developing business growth strategies, managing key customer accounts, and driving operational excellence from concept through mass production.

The ideal candidate is an innovative, results-driven leader with extensive experience in automotive manufacturing, product development, engineering collaboration, customer negotiations, and cross-functional team leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and oversee the New Model Development, Sales, Design Engineering, and Quality Assurance teams.
• Establish department objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and strategic business plans.
• Coach, mentor, and develop managers and team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor departmental performance and implement process improvements that support organizational goals.

New Model Development

• Direct all phases of new product development from concept through production launch.
• Develop strategic plans to achieve customer launch schedules, production readiness, and profitability targets.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and production teams to ensure successful program execution.
• Lead technical discussions related to new product introductions, engineering changes, and manufacturing feasibility.

Sales & Customer Relations

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with automotive customers and strategic business partners.
• Lead contract negotiations, pricing discussions, and commercial agreements for new programs.
• Identify opportunities for business growth through new customer development and expansion of existing accounts.
• Develop pricing strategies that support profitability while remaining competitive within the automotive industry.

Quality & Product Performance

• Oversee quality planning, product validation, and reliability testing for new product launches.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and internal quality standards.
• Monitor warranty performance, customer feedback, and quality metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.

Financial & Operational Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Monitor program profitability, manufacturing costs, and financial performance.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.
• Support annual business planning, forecasting, and long-term strategic growth initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to support product launches and production readiness.
• Promote Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure projects remain on schedule while meeting customer expectations and business objectives.

Leadership & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, quality systems, safety standards, and customer requirements.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development initiatives.
• Promote teamwork, innovation, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Perform additional leadership responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Engineering, or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of automotive manufacturing experience, including product development, design engineering, production, customer relations, negotiations, and quality assurance.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience managing engineering, manufacturing, sales, or quality organizations.
• Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing processes and new product introduction (NPI).
• Demonstrated experience managing customer relationships, contracts, pricing strategies, and negotiations.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Strong financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis experience.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and presentation skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting automotive OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, and IATF 16949 quality systems.
• Experience with product validation, laboratory testing, and reliability engineering.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Project Management certification is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, and laboratory environments.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and inspect manufacturing operations as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Willingness to travel domestically and occasionally overnight for customer meetings, supplier visits, training, and project support.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing facility located in London, Ohio.
• Combination of office, manufacturing, and laboratory responsibilities.
• Fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment supporting new product launches and customer programs.
• Exposure to manufacturing equipment, testing equipment, moderate noise levels, and chemicals requiring appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Occasional overtime may be required to support customer deadlines and production schedules.

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