Key Account Manager Automotive France (m/f/d)

Strategic Account Management & Business Development

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• Relationship: Establish, navigate, and maintain high-level relationships within leading French OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across the French region, Central Europe, and beyond.
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• Identify key stakeholders and decision-makers (R&D, Procurement, Quality) to communicate the technical and commercial advantages of Hongfa's product portfolio.
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• Strategy Implementation: Develop and execute comprehensive account strategies in collaboration with the Sales Management to exceed annual sales targets and long-term KPIs.
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• Deal Leadership: Lead the entire sales cycle - from initial hunting and business development to the final closing of major contracts and platform wins.
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Market Intelligence & Planning

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• Market Analysis: Continuously monitor market trends, competitor activities, and technological shifts to identify new project opportunities and "blue ocean" potentials.
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• Sales Operations: Ensure data integrity by permanently maintaining CRM and SAP systems, including monthly forecast updates, budget planning, and project tracking.
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• Reporting: Deliver regular, insightful reports on sales performance, pipeline health, and strategic milestones to the executive management.
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Project & Acquisition Leadership

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• Strategic Acquisition ("Hunting"): Proactively identify and win new business opportunities, focusing on high-volume platforms and strategic programs.
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• RFQ Management: Orchestrate strategic RFQs for new platforms. This includes defining the quotation strategy, coordinating commercial/legal documentation, and aligning with Department Leaders and the Program Management team.
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• Commercial Negotiation: Define final negotiation strategies and secure commercial commitments. Negotiate at the management level with both the customer and Hongfa's internal BUs.
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• Life-Cycle Involvement: Own the strategic relationship during the early acquisition phase and ensure a seamless handover/collaboration with Program Managers.
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• Representation & Escalation Management
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• Management Interaction: Represent the account in strategic meetings, including Year-End Reviews, PBD-Analysis, and "Gate" reviews.
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• Escalation Lead: Act as the primary point of contact for high-level escalations (e.g., Quality/H-ELP issues) to ensure swift resolution and maintain customer trust.
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• Global Mobility: Travel regularly to customers, international trade fairs, and production facilities to strengthen the partnership and HFE's brand presence.
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• Strong technical skills achieved through a bachelor degree in engineering or similar technical background
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• More than 5 years professional experience
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• Fluent French and English, other language skills would be an advantag
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• International work experience
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• Intercultural skills, Presentation and Management skills
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• Ability to manage the complex selling process, consisting of engagement at all levels, from engineering & technical teams to senior management - including an understanding of when and why
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• Natural leader by personality - not by Organisation chart
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• Good negotiation skills
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• Team player and strong communicator
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• Excellent interpersonal skills
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• Enthusiastic
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• High level of energy and dynamic, self-driven personality
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• Self-motivation, confident
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• Ability to set and achieve goals
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• Good sense of humour
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Become part of an internationally active organization and make an active contribution to the development of the company with your ideas and experience. We offer a corporate culture in which it is a pleasure to contribute ideas, energy and initiative. You can expect exciting tasks, performance-related pay, regulated working hours/flexitime and a pleasant working atmosphere. In addition, well-equipped workplaces with the appropriate technical equipment are a matter of course for us.

What we offer:

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• Company bonus (voluntary)
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• 40 hours per week
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• 30 days' annual leave
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• 1 day's special leave for every 5 years' service
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• Opportunities for further training
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• Celebration of work anniversaries, birthdays, etc. (including vouchers)
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In addition to our general conditions

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• A corporate culture where it's enjoyable to contribute ideas, energy and initiative
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• A rapidly growing company offering scope for creativity
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• Exciting roles and performance-related pay
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• An international working environment with exciting projects
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• A pleasant working atmosphere and supportive teams
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• Company events
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• Structured, role-specific and tailor-made onboarding plans
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• Well-equipped workstations with modern technical equipment
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Jason Rogowski - HR Business Partner