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

Your role

Strategic Account Management & Business Development

Relationship: Establish, navigate, and maintain high-level relationships within leading French OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across the French region, Central Europe, and beyond.

Identify key stakeholders and decision-makers (R&D, Procurement, Quality) to communicate the technical and commercial advantages of Hongfa’s product portfolio.

Strategy Implementation: Develop and execute comprehensive account strategies in collaboration with the Sales Management to exceed annual sales targets and long-term KPIs.

Deal Leadership: Lead the entire sales cycle—from initial hunting and business development to the final closing of major contracts and platform wins.

Market Intelligence & Planning

Market Analysis: Continuously monitor market trends, competitor activities, and technological shifts to identify new project opportunities and "blue ocean" potentials.

Sales Operations: Ensure data integrity by permanently maintaining CRM and SAP systems, including monthly forecast updates, budget planning, and project tracking.

Reporting: Deliver regular, insightful reports on sales performance, pipeline health, and strategic milestones to the executive management.

Project & Acquisition Leadership

Strategic Acquisition ("Hunting"): Proactively identify and win new business opportunities, focusing on high-volume platforms and strategic programs.

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.

Commercial Negotiation: Define final negotiation strategies and secure commercial commitments. Negotiate at the management level with both the customer and Hongfa’s internal BUs.

Life-Cycle Involvement: Own the strategic relationship during the early acquisition phase and ensure a seamless handover/collaboration with Program Managers.

Representation & Escalation Management

Management Interaction: Represent the account in strategic meetings, including Year-End Reviews, PBD-Analysis, and "Gate" reviews.

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.

Global Mobility: Travel regularly to customers, international trade fairs, and production facilities to strengthen the partnership and HFE’s brand presence.

Your strengths

Strong technical skills achieved through a bachelor degree in engineering or similar technical background

More than 5 years professional experience

Fluent French and English, other language skills would be an advantag

International work experience

Intercultural skills, Presentation and Management skills

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

Natural leader by personality - not by Organisation chart

Good negotiation skills

Team player and strong communicator

Excellent interpersonal skills

Enthusiastic

High level of energy and dynamic, self-driven personality

Self-motivation, confident

Ability to set and achieve goals

Good sense of humour

Here's what you can look forward to

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:

Company bonus (voluntary)

40 hours per week

30 days’ annual leave

1 day’s special leave for every 5 years’ service

Opportunities for further training

Celebration of work anniversaries, birthdays, etc. (including vouchers)

In addition to our general conditions

A corporate culture where it’s enjoyable to contribute ideas, energy and initiative

A rapidly growing company offering scope for creativity

Exciting roles and performance-related pay

An international working environment with exciting projects

A pleasant working atmosphere and supportive teams

Company events

Structured, role-specific and tailor-made onboarding plans

Well-equipped workstations with modern technical equipment

Let’s talk - Your contact person

Jason Rogowski - HR Business Partner

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