Business Development & Technical Sales Manager - Battery Solutions

OBJECTIVE

The position of Business Development & Technical Sales Manager – Battery Solutions is a customer-facing sales role requiring extensive technical background in various technologies (powder, E-coat, liquid, etc.) and markets (automotive, industrial, aerospace, renewable energy, etc.).  The successful Manager ensures that relationships are developed and maintained with key customers within the Battery Solutions segment while aggressively growing the topline sales and maximizing Axalta’s product offering for profitability.  This role requires a strong track record for business development, project management, and tactical execution in a complex technical sales environment to drive solutions leading to specification approvals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop quality relationships at various levels within key Battery Solutions value chain players – OEMs, Battery producers, & Tier 1 suppliers of structural battery components
• Function as a “go-to” contact for Battery Solutions accounts, with emphasis on being the primary customer-facing technical SME for their engineering teams
• Facilitate Voice-Of-Customer within a cross-functional team of Axalta R&D, Product Management, Commercial, and Segment Strategy to validate or develop solutions for key customer initiatives, ultimately gaining specification approval for current and future high-value, strategic projects
• Collaborate to create, maintain and/or execute a multi-year growth plan
• Provide on-site support and follow-up for Battery Solutions opportunities at key customers/prospects when necessary
• Monitor design & technology trends in battery assemblies, components, and enabling materials
• Clearly define & prioritize objectives, set milestones, and cross-functionally deliver results against aggressive customer project timelines
• Utilize Salesforce.com (SFDC) to capture detailed activity, organize customer contacts, and drive technical lab projects
• Recommend and initiate competitive benchmarking activities via lab work requests to understand value-selling opportunities within the Axalta product line
• Occasionally provide support for Global customers within other regions, possibly outside normal business hours (EMEA/APAC)

• When needed, travel for face-to-face interactions with customer base – approximately 25-50% of the time, with the discipline to self-manage travel responsibilities

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, or chemistry and/or at least 10 years of industry experience

• In-depth knowledge of the Battery Solutions segment
• Broad knowledge of Axalta’s product offerings preferred
• Cross functional and cross industry experience preferred
• Excellent written, oral communication, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-cultural, multi-region environment
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to work well and influence others
• Solid organization skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills
• Effectively uses collaborative approach to problem solving while challenging the status quo
• Well developed project management skills to be able to manage multiple projects for each of the customers they are assigned
• Proficient computer skills, proficient with Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Demonstrates and fosters teamwork with peers and other resources to meet customer needs
• Possesses self-discipline and maintains effective performance in unstructured and autonomous conditions
• Presents oneself in professional manner throughout all levels of the organization

Our Company:

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colorful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.  

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We’ve recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals.