Technical Trainer - Automotive (Brake Pads)

Join our vertically integrated team at MAT Holdings, Inc., a leading global manufacturer with a 40-year history. We're proud to provide employment opportunities for more than 14,000 employees across 12 countries. Headquartered in Long Grove, Illinois, we have over 40 factories on three continents, including 2.1 million square feet of U.S. distribution and manufacturing space.

You will find our products in home improvement centers, big box retailers, hardware stores and automotive chains. They're in the cars you drive, the trailers you tow, and the heavy-duty machinery you operate.

MAT can maintain consistent expertise and solutions across the entire supply chain. We’re experts in engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, logistics and distribution, marketing, design, and customer service — we don't just make it happen, we ensure it happens with excellence.

We’re more than manufacturing, we’re MAT.

Benefits

• MAT Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries offer a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance after 60 days of employment
• Paid Time Off (PTO), including paid vacation, sick days, and paid holidays
• 401k Retirement Plan + Company Match
• Career Advancement Program, training and development
• Wellness Programs, including fitness reimbursements and mental health support
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Voluntary Life / AD&D , Employer Provided Life/AD&D
• and More

Job Summary

This position is with GRI Engineering and Development, LLC (a division of MAT Holdings, Inc.). GRIE holds a significant market share in the aftermarket braking segment, offering a complete line of brake rotors, drums, and friction components. This position is responsible for in-the-field training for automotive brake customers.

Principle Responsibilities

• Assist customer’s commercial sales team with in-the-field support and understanding, including but not limited to braking systems and components.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the customer’s commercial sales team to help retain and grow the existing business as well as pursue lost and potential accounts
• Support customer’s commercial sales team by scheduling travel into individual
• markets to:

1. Perform installer customer visits with account and sales managers to
2. promote and educate on key features and benefits.
3. Present technical and non-technical information on brake systems,components, and installations to different audiences (one person to small groups). The Best Practices checklist provides content examples.
4. Conduct technical and non-technical training sessions in various atmospheres (regional shows or new store openings, national sales meetings or strategic account events, trade shows, etc.).
5. Problem-solve any customer issues related to the brake system,manufacturer, and industry, and respond to any impromptu or urgent topics discussed during customer visits.
6. Review industry updates and escalate concerns to internal contacts for responding to field research, inquiries, and complaints.
7. Visit customer store locations and build relationships with teams to discover additional field feedback, market changes that affect business, and trends that require follow-up travel or extended presence within the region.

Extensive travel (up to 75%) to various locations across the US

• .All major markets within each region must be traveled to at least twice a year, prioritizing installer customer visits during these visits with direction from the customer’s commercial sales team.
• Plan all region-specific travel with the customer’s commercial sales team, emphasizing commercial sales teams’ availability to prioritize field presence.
• Coordinate customer visits, training sessions, and content initiatives based on field feedback and commercial sales teams’ availability to optimize efficiency during travel.
• Understand customer commercial sales promotions and programs for all regional markets.
• Maintained customer visit call reports on a timely basis, as well as participated in weekly and monthly team conference calls.
• Attend yearly internal company training with corporate, R&D, and manufacturing sites.
• Available for urgent and impromptu projects that may require out-of-region travel.

Competencies

• Knowledge of OE and aftermarket brake systems and components.
• Familiar with vehicle maintenance and diagnostics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present different types of material.
• Proven communicator and effective while engaging audiences in various settings to increase the understanding of participants on products and product lines.
• Excellent conflict resolution skills both on an individual basis and group level.
• Proven negotiator and sound decision-making in a timely and confident manner.
• Great team player willing to assist in non-routine tasks or those outside the home region.
• Delivers on commitments, proactive follow-up skills, and shows consistency between words and actions
• Persuasive and able to influence outcomes to the mutual benefit of all involved.
• Highly organized, results-driven, and capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to interface with clients and maintain a professional image.
• Strong commitment to customer satisfaction and quality of work performed.
• Instructional Training Experience (classroom or on-the-job preferred).

Education/Experience

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years on-the-job experience (service departments, dealerships,vehicle maintenance, etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience.• Automotive Technical experience in Brake Systems / Repair - State or ASE/Master Certifications a plus.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.