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

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.

• 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