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.

Skills Required