Key Account Manager Automotive- Metro Detroit

Who We Are

Formerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world’s leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading ecommerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways – driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com .

Formerra leads in the market with the following key capabilities:

• Unparalleled and highly specialized technical, processing, and design support
• Expansive material portfolio, including engineering thermoplastics and traditional polymers across leading material brands
• Integrated, long-standing relationships with leading, global suppliers
• Problem-solving mindset, based on ingenuity and backed by a skilled and experienced commercial team that brings differentiated insights across markets including healthcare, consumer, industrial and mobility
• Regulatory-compliant material support and expertise

About The Position

The Transportation Key Account Manager position assumes the overall responsibility for building, maintaining and leveraging relationships with strategic accounts that allows Formerra to increase customer loyalty, revenue and profitability. Overall, the ideal candidate for this role possesses a unique blend of automotive industry knowledge, business development skills, strategic thinking, analytical mindset, high-level communication, and leadership abilities. They should be able to identify new business opportunities for Formerra, with a focus on electric vehicle trends, and develop and implement effective strategies to capture sustained business and deliver growth. Candidate must be skilled at Customer Centric Selling approaches and effectively selling the value of our products and services are also keys to success. This ideal candidate will be located in Detroit or Chicago. Up to 50% travel may be required, including overnight.

Roles And Responsibilities

Transportation Key Account Manager will bring:

• Strategic/Business Development skills: Candidates must possess strong strategic thinking and analytical skills to identify new opportunities for resins in the Automotive/EV market. They should also be able to analyze market trends, identify gaps in the market, and develop strategies to capitalize on these opportunities. They should also be able to analyze data related to resin usage in the Automotive/EV market, and use this data to make informed business decisions.
• Industry Knowledge: A deep understanding of the automotive industry with a focus on electric vehicles, including the technologies, trends, and market dynamics, is essential. Candidates should be able to analyze market and identify new business opportunities within this industry
• Knowledge of resins in the Automotive/EV market: Resins play a critical role in the manufacturing of Automotive/EV, as they are used in the production of lightweighting, battery housing, and other components. A candidate with experience in the development and use of resins in the Automotive/EV market would be highly valuable, as they would be able to identify new opportunities for resin-based solutions in the industry.

In Addition, The Ideal Candidate Will Be Able To

• Approach the sales process with a high degree of professionalism and effectiveness by successful utilization of Customer Centric Selling skills and tools, such as business reviews, EVE tools, high/wide/deep selling, 5 warning signals, etc.
• Achieve annual sales goals (revenue, volume, and margin); must have a proven track record of growing business with large, complex customers.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Build robust sales funnel through effective CRM system management.
• Effectively interact and influence at the managerial peer level and above
• Develop and implement strong strategic account plans to drive both short- and long-term growth at assigned accounts.
• Develop highly productive relationships with key customers, suppliers and internal contacts.
• Leverage full suite of Formerra’s differentiated products, design/engineering services and capabilities to win based on Formerra’s value.
• Establish and lead Key Account teams to execute account plans for each assigned account.
• Demonstrate strong business acumen to manage a P&L, working capital, profitability, etc.

Experience And Education Requirements

• Broad knowledge of solutions, materials and processing
• Minimal training and oversight required
• Technical aptitude
• Plastics knowledge and large account management experience is preferred
• 3 to 5 years of Automotive market expertise is preferred
• Strong computer skills, proficiency with MS Word & Excel
• Matrix management experience
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Complex thinking skills in translating customer needs into solutions
• Self-motivated
• 7+ years sales experience in distribution, manufacturing, sales, account management
• Bachelor’s Degree required in Plastics or Polymer Engineering, Business, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Strong organizational skills required
• Project Management skills
• Team player
• Works autonomously on a day-to-day basis
• Professional presence, including excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills

Physical/Environmental Demands

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical and environmental demands required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Valid US driver’s license and good driving record required.
• Must be able to traverse and operate computer and other office equipment.
• Position may require up to 50% travel.
• Requires remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time, and frequent communication.
• Typical work is in an office environment where the noise level is low to moderate.

At Formerra, we are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment that inspires great ideas, encourages innovative solutions, and fosters a sense of belonging for our associates and teams. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

We are a drug free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.