Aptive
Sales Director - Tiers
Troy, MI - USA · Director
Sponsorship not specified$30k-$50kDetected 4 days ago
SalesNegotiationForecastingLeadershipCommunicationCollaboration
About the role
- This role focuses on securing wins, managing complex multi-year programs, and expanding adoption of advanced connector and interconnect solutions.
- The ideal candidate brings deep automotive expertise, strong technical sales capabilities, and a proven ability to influence both engineering and executive stakeholders.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, global automotive environment with long development cycles.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute multi-year account strategies aligned to vehicle platform roadmaps and program launches.
- Build strong relationships across engineering, purchasing, and executive leadership within customer organizations.
- Manage long design cycles tied to vehicle platforms, ensuring early engagement in RFQ/RFI processes.
- Deliver against aggressive revenue and margin targets tied to automotive platforms and programs.
- Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline aligned to future vehicle platforms (3-7 year horizon).
- Lead forecasting aligned to customer production volumes and platform lifecycles.
- Partner with engineering and product management to align product roadmaps with automotive requirements (e.g., high voltage, high-speed data).
- Lead pricing strategy, contract negotiations, LTAs (Long-Term Agreements), and sourcing discussions.
- Lead and develop key account managers and the Tier1 sales teams.
- Number and value of design wins tied to vehicle platforms
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in automotive sales, preferably in connectors, interconnects, or automotive electronics.
- Proven success managing Tier 1 suppliers and/or OEM accounts.
- Strong experience with automotive design cycles, RFQs, and platform-based selling.
- Deep knowledge of automotive systems: EV powertrain, ADAS, infotainment, body electronics.
- Strong understanding of automotive quality and program requirements (PPAP, APQP, IATF 16949).
- Education & Experience
- MBA preferred.
- Skills & Competencies
- Demonstrated success in design-in selling and influencing engineering decisions.
- Excellent executive communication and negotiation skills.
- Strategic mindset with ability to manage long, complex sales cycles.
- Key Performance Indicators
- Revenue growth across automotive Tier 1 accounts
Nice to have
- Strategic Account Leadership (Automotive Tier 1 & OEMs)
- Identify growth opportunities in emerging automotive trends such as electrification (EV/HEV), autonomous driving, connectivity, and lightweighting.
- Expand share of wallet within existing Tier 1 accounts and penetrate new OEM platforms.
- Ensure compliance with automotive commercial and quality requirements.
- Monitor automotive megatrends, competitive landscape, and regulatory impacts (e.g., EV adoption, safety standards).
- Provide insights to guide innovation in connector technologies (high-speed, sealed, miniaturized, high-power).
- Foster collaboration across teams supporting major OEM platforms.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
Compensation
- Navigate cost engineering, value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE), and annual cost-down expectations.
Benefits
- Private health care effective day 1 of employment
- Paid Time Off (Holidays, Vacation, Designated time off, Parental leave)
- Learning and development opportunities
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fertility Coverage
Company info
- Own and lead commercial relationships with key automotive Tier 1 suppliers and OEM customers.
- Collaborate with customers to identify unmet needs and position innovative connector solutions.
This listing is sourced directly from Aptive's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.