Director of Sales

PennEngineering
Waterford, MI
Position Summary

Director of Sales - PROFIL North America

Company Overview

PROFIL (a PennEngineering company) is the world's premier global manufacturer of Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF), serving as an alternative to traditional weld fasteners for the automotive industry. With over 50 years of experience, PROFIL partners with leading automotive OEMs to develop high-integrity, cost-effective joining solutions for demanding vehicle applications including BIW structures, EV battery trays, and chassis components.

Position Summary

The Director of Sales will execute PROFIL North America's commercial strategy to achieve growth targets and drive the organization toward industry-leading financial performance. This role requires a commercia leader who can expand OEM penetration through conversion strategies, develop new market opportunities, and develop a high-performing sales organization capable of executing complex, technical sales in the automotive fastener industry.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

  • Develop and execute comprehensive sales strategy to achieve annual growth and support overall revenue expansion objectives
  • Lead market penetration initiatives with existing OEMs and expand business with underserved automotive manufacturers
  • Drive conversion strategies across current platforms and identify new application opportunities in upper body, under body, closures, chassis, seating, and EV battery tray segments
  • Champion system selling approach to increase business penetration

Team Development & Management

  • Lead, develop, and expand the sales organization including Business Development Managers, Account Managers, and Customer Service team members
  • Implement comprehensive talent development programs focused on technical sales competencies and customer relationship management
  • Establish performance management systems tied to revenue targets, customer satisfaction metrics, and strategic account development
  • Foster culture of customer obsession and operational excellence

Customer Relationship Excellence

  • Maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with Tier 1 suppliers and OEM decision makers across North America
  • Lead customer stratification efforts and develop detailed account plans for strategic, development, and maintenance accounts
  • Ensure exceptional customer engagement through regular plant visits, technical support, and proactive problem resolution
  • Drive customer satisfaction improvements and resolution of quality concerns to maintain industry-leading performance

Market & Competitive Intelligence

  • Analyze automotive industry trends, platform launches, and technology shifts (ICE to EV transition, lightweighting initiatives)
  • Monitor competitive landscape including international competition and develop counter strategies
  • Identify emerging applications in press-hardened steel, die cast components, thermal management, and suspension systems
  • Lead voice of customer initiatives to inform product development and innovation strategies

Commercial Operations

  • Manage pricing strategies to protect margins while remaining competitive in cost-sensitive automotive market
  • Collaborate with Applications Engineering to develop technical solutions and support customer RFQ processes
  • Oversee customer service operations to ensure industry-leading on-time delivery and performance metrics
  • Lead contract negotiations and manage key account commercial terms

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner with Operations to ensure capacity planning supports sales growth and expansion planning
  • Work with Quality team to maintain world-class quality performance and customer satisfaction
  • Collaborate with Global Technology Group on new product introductions and innovation pipeline
  • Support business planning, budget development, and strategic initiatives

Location

Waterford, Michigan

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Experience & Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA preferred
  • 10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience in automotive or related manufacturing industry
  • 5+ years managing B2B sales organizations with significant revenue responsibility
  • Proven track record of achieving aggressive growth targets in manufacturing/industrial markets
  • Experience with automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and automotive fastener/component industries

Core Competencies

  • Deep understanding of automotive manufacturing processes, particularly stamping, welding, and assembly operations
  • Knowledge of fastener technologies, mechanically attached systems, and alternatives to traditional joining methods
  • Experience with technical sales processes including RFQ management, application engineering support, and customer technical reviews
  • Strong financial acumen with ability to manage P&L decisions modeling and drive profitable growth

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

  • Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing sales teams across multiple locations
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills for C-level customer interactions
  • Strong negotiation skills and experience managing complex, multi-year commercial agreements
  • Ability to travel to customer locations throughout North America and Mexico

Technical Requirements

  • Understanding of automotive quality systems (TS16949, APQP, PPAP processes)
  • Familiarity with CAD systems and technical drawing interpretation
  • Knowledge of automotive platform development cycles and launch processes
  • Experience with CRM systems and sales analytics tools
Posted 2025-07-26

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