JOB SUMMARYThis position is responsible for managing assigned customer accounts and programs for Samsung SDI's lithium-ion battery business in North America. The primary focus will be automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers; however, the position may also support other strategic accounts and applications, including small batteries for non-automotive uses, emerging mobility, industrial, and other growth opportunities.
The Account Manager serves as a primary commercial interface between the customer and Samsung SDI, with responsibility for existing business, new business development, commercial negotiations, program execution, account profitability, forecasting, and customer relationship management. The position provides guidance and support to the Sales department and works cross-functionally with engineering, quality, manufacturing, program management, finance, cost, logistics, and global headquarters to ensure customer requirements are understood and business objectives are achieved.
ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES1. Account Management and Commercial Execution: Manage assigned customer accounts and programs throughout the business lifecycle. Serve as a primary commercial point of contact for customer purchasing and other key functions. Address commercial and open issues, coordinate quotations and requested changes, ensure target achievement, and support timely resolution of customer requirements. Review customer purchase orders, pricing, contractual requirements, and supporting documentation against approved quotations and agreements. Track pricing, volumes, revenue, receivables, and other key account metrics. Accounts could include customers such as Stellantis, GM, VW, or Ford.
2. Customer Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with customer purchasing, engineering, quality, program management, production control, and other relevant functions. Maintain regular customer communication and visits to understand business priorities, satisfaction levels, future requirements, and areas requiring management attention. Build effective working relationships that support both the customer's objectives and Samsung SDI's long-term business interests.
3. Program and Cross-Functional Management: Coordinate commercial activities associated with assigned programs, including new program launches, engineering changes, prototype requirements, tooling, material adjustments, expedite costs, packaging, quality issues, and other program-related requirements. Work closely with internal engineering, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, program management, finance, accounting, and other functions to ensure commitments are understood and executed. Escalate significant risks and issues to management as appropriate.
4. Quotation, Pricing and Profitability Management: Support and lead customer quotation activities, including collection of internal cost information, preparation of commercial proposals, and coordination of customer submissions. Analyze program economics, pricing, cost changes, and profitability. Support negotiations related to pricing, claims, engineering changes, commercial terms, cost recovery, concessions, and other customer requests. Identify opportunities to protect or improve account profitability.
5. Sales Planning, Forecasting and Account Strategy: Develop and maintain account plans, sales forecasts, revenue projections, and business activity reports for assigned customers. Analyze customer forecasts, production plans, market conditions, and other available data to identify risks and opportunities. Coordinate with Samsung SDI headquarters and other global teams to align customer strategy, pricing, capacity, and business objectives.
6. New Business Development: Identify and pursue new business opportunities within assigned automotive and strategic accounts. Support RFIs, RFQs, technical reviews, customer presentations, product introductions, and commercial negotiations. Develop an understanding of customer product roadmaps and future requirements and match those requirements with Samsung SDI's product portfolio and technology roadmap. Support expansion into additional applications or markets when assigned.
7. Market and Competitive Intelligence: Monitor automotive, battery, and related market trends, including customer strategies, competitor activity, technology developments, and commercial benchmarks. Communicate relevant market intelligence internally and contribute to pricing, product, and account strategies. Develop a strong working knowledge of Samsung SDI products, manufacturing capabilities, and competitive positioning.
8. Management Reporting and Customer Meetings: Prepare account status reports, business reviews, forecasts, customer meeting materials, and management presentations. Clearly communicate major commercial developments, risks, opportunities, and required decisions to management. Represent Samsung SDI professionally at customer meetings, plant visits, product expos, industry events, trade shows, and other business activities.
9. Global and Internal Coordination: Work effectively across Samsung SDI's North American organization, global headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and other regional operations. Facilitate timely communication and decision-making across different functions, organizations, and cultures. Ensure customer requirements and regional market conditions are clearly communicated to global stakeholders.
10. Process Improvement and Team Support: Identify opportunities to improve account-management, forecasting, reporting, and commercial processes. Support the development and implementation of standard work and best practices within the Sales organization. Provide guidance and support to junior team members as appropriate, without direct supervisory responsibility unless separately assigned. Perform other duties and support additional customer accounts or battery applications as assigned.
REQUIREMENTSQualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing, or a related field required.
- 4-6 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in automotive sales, account management, business development, program management, or a related commercial function.
- Experience working directly with automotive OEMs - Stellantis, GM VW and/or Ford, Tier 1 suppliers, or similarly complex B2B customers strongly preferred.
- Battery, electrification, electronics, powertrain, or other technically oriented automotive experience preferred.
- Experience working with international headquarters, manufacturing organizations, or global cross-functional teams preferred.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
Required Skills:- Strong account-management and customer-relationship skills with the ability to independently manage multiple programs and commercial priorities.
- Working knowledge of automotive OEM purchasing processes, RFQs, quotations, purchase orders, engineering changes, and program launches.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including the ability to analyze pricing, cost, revenue, profitability, and forecasts.
- Effective negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve complex commercial issues while maintaining productive customer relationships.
- Strong project-management and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple internal functions and customer stakeholders.
- Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision making, with the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with customers, senior management, global headquarters, and technical teams.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, SharePoint, and related business systems.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, global, and multicultural environment.
- Self-motivated and accountable, with the ability to operate with limited direction while escalating significant business risks appropriately.
Preferred Skills:- Experience in lithium-ion batteries, electrification, energy storage, electronics, or related technologies.
- Experience supporting both existing automotive programs and new-business acquisition.
- Experience working with Korean or other international organizations.
- Korean or other additional language skills are beneficial but not required.
