Business Development Manager

Who We Want:We are looking for an energetic, self-motivated, results-driven professional to help cultivate new business and create sales opportunities with current and prospective customers. Their goal will be to identify new opportunities in the market as well as expand growth with our current customer base. This person will be responsible to gather necessary information so our teams can respond with a proposal for sourcing consideration and work with the customer to close new business sales. They will need to develop and maintain relationships at multiple levels of accounts in order to be effective, understand the needs of the customer, and work internally to position Challenge properly to be successful today and in the future.   

What You'll Do:

• Facilitate new business opportunities and close sales with key accounts. Works closely with estimating and finance teams to process competitive, accurate quotes for customer review. 
• Work closely with customers to review quotes opportunities and provide value during the sale in order to differentiate Challenge beyond the numbers on paper. This includes technical support, VA/VE discussions, and more. 
• Work to stay ahead of industry trends, shifts, and opportunities so the company can remain current or ahead of industry needs.
• Monitor long term forecasting and build/execute strategies to support company sales goals.
• Provide insight and feedback to company leadership keeping everyone appraised with significant changes in the market and/or at customers. Also communicate any company feedback that would hinder new sales efforts such as quality or performance related items so they can be addressed. 
• Expand Challenge diversification efforts and identify new sales accounts that align with Challenge capabilities and locations providing additional opportunity for targeted growth in the future. 
• Work closely with Account Managers in order to keep open commercial items with customers limited.
• Provides technical training and presentations to customers and communicates feedback internally for future product development ideas.
• Keep pulse of accounts internal activity by following the status of new program launches and plant performance.
• Manage quoting, sampling, and new business discussions for customers.
• Champion and drive completion of requests to meet customers on-time expectations.
• Be a solutions provider for our customers to allow the overall business to operate as smoothly as possible to maintain/grow customer loyalty. 

When and Where:This position is located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI. Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests.

What You Need to Have:

• Minimum of five years’ OEM Sales, Business Development and/or Program Management experience required
• Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred
• Outgoing with positive attitude
• Technical or automotive background is a strong plus
• Strong communication skills and ability to connect with many types of customers 
• Ability to plan and manage at both strategic and operation levels
• Expert knowledge in Microsoft Office Applications
• Outstanding consultative selling skills
• Excellent communication, follow-thru, interpersonal, presentation, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Team player and self-directed
• Sales growth and strategic planning to support the Company Sales Strategy
• Forecasting and budgeting experience
• Proven ability to learn the manufacturing processes of multiple suppliers
• Has high standards of performance for self
• Takes responsibility for actions, results, and mistakes
• Self-motivated and driven performer
• Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work
• Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress
• Maintains positive relationships by constructively resolving conflicts
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and work relationships
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers
• Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities.
• Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively
• Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity
• Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge
• Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely
• Works the necessary hours to successfully complete tasks and requirements of the role
• Some overnight travel required