Account Manager, Customer Support Oper

Yazaki is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions.

Yazaki works with virtually every major auto manufacturer in the world, and we've strived to maintain strategic and stable growth throughout our 83-year history. Today, we're on the lookout for energetic people with the potential to perform, as well as the ability to strengthen - and thrive in - the positive work environment we pride ourselves on.

Location: Canton,MI, USA

What we are looking for:

Yazaki North America is looking for an Account Manager to join our sales team in Canton, MI. The candidate will support commercial activities including, but not limited to developing sales prices, quotes to customers, pricing negotiations, agreement interpretation, commercial statement of work elements, and commercial metric tracking. The candidate will communicate program or functional changes between the customer and serve as central point of contact for commercial and strategic issues with the customer (Buyer, program team, Finance, etc.)

What you will be doing:

Customer Satisfaction

• Define customer needs/wants/expectations and ensure customer requirements are driven into TPNO Structure
• Cultivate and maintain appropriate customer relationships with key customer individuals
• Collect and track metrics related to customer satisfaction according to the Metric Tracking System
• Maintain forward thinking on ensuring links to customer is made during new launches (i.e.: logistics
• regiments, quality, etc.)
• Understand and report changes to customer processes/structure/decision makers
• Be knowledgeable on product offerings and trends
• Understand competitive environment to effectively evaluate sales price and purchase price data
• Retain accountability for resolution of special projects related to customer requests (i.e., localization, logistics, returnable, etc.)
• Support and contribute to customer cost reduction activities, support management on VA/VE reporting to customer, and ensure ideas are properly tracked and communicated to the customer.

Accounts Receivable

• Support Finance in Purchasing-related collection issues
• Follow-up with customer to resolve issues to ensure we meet the YNA A/R goals
• Productivity / Profitability
• Provide notification to initiate accruals with Finance (i.e., commercial reductions, delayed price change implementation, etc.)
• Support Finance (Program Controllers) with Direct Profit and Net Income reports for responsible programs
• Achieve profit enhancement objectives consistent with BU profitability demands
• Support the execution of sales strategy (both long and short-term) to meet business unit objectives

Program Support

• Serve as central point of contact for commercial and strategic issues with customer (Buyer, program team, Finance, other)
• Schedule regular Open Issues meetings with buyer and keep pulse on results of routine customer meetings, such as program team meetings, program finance meetings, change control, etc.
• Coordinate with Customer Program Team on developing root cause for any customer impacted issues as needed.
• Support program financial tracking in coordination with Program Manager.
• Track, correlate and review quote or price estimate for price history and accuracy with Customer system for issue resolution with Engineering (or originator).
• Maintain visibility with customer assembly plants during launch and support customer visitations to
• manufacturing affiliates and subcontractors.
• Establish working relationships with all team members and support Program Manager on specific vehicle line as member of project team.
• Take direction from Program Manager / Project Leader on special assignments
• Complete special assignments assigned by management, other business units and/or customers
• Support Audits and related processes.

Customer Quotations

• Presentation of timely and accurate customer quotations (RFQ submissions) and be accountable for the receipt of correct PO for existing business by communicating with appropriate departments and manufacturing in order to obtain the necessary information for the quotations, including piece price and tooling
• Verify that PO prices and RFQ prices match and are properly recorded in TPNO-N accounting system
• Lead the negotiations of commercial issues (i.e., design changes, price target related issues, Engineering Resource Payment, etc.)
• Resolve any price discrepancies regarding RFQ verses actual PO price with customer
• Monitor PSW and or ship date information to assist with scheduling quote to Cost Estimating and request RFQ from customer
• Adjust price level for productivity, lot indexing and copper changes.
• Submit and negotiate customer responsible tooling costs, Receive P.O. for submission to finance.
• Participate in activities involving the Customer (including by not limited to new program sourcing, component reduction initiatives, productivity, cost model negotiations, etc.)
• Support the technical and commercial review of the quote packages, kick-off meetings and prepare quote response.

Unique to Advanced Business Development

• Identify new business opportunities within the scope/charter of electrical distribution systems or vehicle information products with Sr. Sales Manager / Sales Manager.
• Ensure follow up sourcing is secure to maintain market share at assigned customer
• Support the Public Relations Group on all business unit promotional opportunities and press releases
• Support regional activities on new business opportunities
• Receive, and ensure completeness of RFQ package for new proposed business (volumes, specifications, etc.) and distribute packages among departments for response (costing, logistics, engineering, quality, warranty, purchasing, manufacturing feasibility/capacity planning, etc.) based upon customer deliverables.
• Support the presentation of the business case and timing to TPNO management for strategic approval
• Report quote proposal vs. customer target prices to management and program team
• Support the coordination and development of roadmap analysis to obtain cross functional concept to risk levels
• Prepare and deliver Quote Packages in response to RFQ's upon approval of senior management on time
• Report changes to customer cycle plans and global sourcing trends to management
• Interface and coordinate with the customer for strategic deployment of all new technology product or system offerings
• Support new business growth opportunities in line with President’s Policy

What you will bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering or equivalent automotive experience
• 3-5 years’ experience in account or program management for a Tier 1 automotive supplier

What we can provide you:

• A safe collaborative learning work environment that stimulates creativity and exploration
• Diverse teams of experts
• Resources from around the globe
• Supportive leadership and team members to help you do your best work
• Opportunities for professional growth
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including incentive compensation, 401K match, tuition assistance and a generous holiday schedule

Yazaki North America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, handicap, veteran status, or other legally protected status or characteristic. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship. Yazaki North America complies with federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and strives to keep the workplace free from all forms of harassment.