Job Description

Role Title:

Assistant / Deputy Manager

Function:

Commercial

Sub-Function:

Management & Support

Leadership Framework:

Manager

Problem-Solving Level:

Defines New Concepts and Thinking

Key Internal Partners:

Central Purchase, Plant Operations, Finance, Regional & Global Account Teams

Key External Partners:

Customers including Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, MG Motors, Stellantis, and Fiat

Role Purpose & Value:

This role serves as a front-line contact responsible for sales, business development, and key account management for North customer accounts. These accounts contribute approximately 30-40% of GKN India's volumes and revenues.

Key Responsibilities:

Drive new business development through pre-RFQ engagement with customer engineering, purchasing, and development teams. Manage RFQ generation and quote preparation, including breakdowns, walkthroughs, and negotiations. Engage with customers before RFQs to gather competitive insights on products, pricing, development, and sourcing to help GKN submit competitive proposals. Maintain and improve profitability for both current and new business. Prepare budgets and conduct mid- and long-range planning (4YP), including demand planning based on customer and market inputs. Support the development and execution of customer business strategies. Develop a deep understanding of customer systems, portals, vehicle cycle plans, market positions, growth strategies, sourcing enablers, technology needs, and competitor activities to align GKN strategies. Conduct periodic visits and engagements to build long-term strategic partnerships with customers. Understand pricing mechanisms and ensure timely pricing settlements with customers. Support or lead VAVE initiatives, ECNs, and resourcing activities to maintain cost competitiveness and profitability. Adhere to GKN's Health, Safety, and Environment guidelines. Support plant functions in resolving supply chain issues, overdues, and quality concerns. Maintain and develop costing databases and support internal and external MIS requirements. Be familiar with global key account management ways of working and basic business profitability metrics.
Conduct competitive analysis and intelligence mapping to leverage business advantages.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

Bachelor of Engineering (MBA optional) with 8-10 years of experience in the auto component industry, preferably with tier-1 system suppliers.

Essential Competencies:

Strong analytical and reasoning skills, good communication abilities, excellent team collaboration, persuasive and assertive mindset, decision-making and negotiation skills, and potential leadership qualities.