Business Development Manager-Defense Vehicles

Job Description

Business Development driveline and chassis solutions for USA for land-based defense platforms. Provide overall direction on sales and business development for Industrial Drive products within North America while working in close cooperation with cross functional teams. These responsibilities encompass but are not limited to the identification of new business, expansion of product applications and customer opportunities, in addition to the management of the current customer and representative portfolio within the Region. The position is flexible to allow the candidate to sit at our Vernon Hills, IL, Northville, MI, North Mankato, MN or Gainesville, GA. 

Position Responsibilities: 

• Ensure compliance, application and dissemination of group directives and business initiatives with regional and functional business operating requirements. 
• Promote ZF’s capabilities, footprint, and product portfolio with all relevant OEM.
• Develop necessary network within all relevant OEM and government institutions (TACOM, TARDEC, MoD).
• Develop customer and application specific technical and commercial solutions under consideration of the current ZF framework.  
• Develop quotes for complex and intra-divisional customer specific solutions and systems.
• Develop, maintain, and implement functional Local Operating Procedures (LOP’s).
• Develop product line business plan strategies to establish a competitive advantage in the North American Industrial Drive market.
• Analyze and structure accessible U.S. defense market for current and future ZF product and services portfolio.
• Support and review market analyses to determine customer needs, price schedules, and discount rates.
• Channel development activity and coordinates sales distribution.
• Direct sales forecasting activities and set performance goals accordingly.
• Present ZF at all relevant defense industry events, trade shows and symposiums  
• Develop and administer the product line budgets. Analyze and control expenditures and sales planning.
• Act as primary government projects liaison, working closely with all internal departments to ensure customer satisfaction for product applications and installations.
• Meet with key clients, assisting Key Account Managers with maintaining relationships and negotiating and closing deals

Essential Skills and Experience:

• BS degree in Engineering with six years’ experience and training; or ten years equivalent technical and business training and experience. 
• Extensive Industrial Drive product and industry knowledge. 
• Proven leadership, budgeting, organizational, and marketing experience required. 
• Technical/mechanical aptitude required. 
• Negotiation skills, presentation, and communication skills, interviewing and public relations skills required. 
• Must be a highly self-motivated and innovative self-starter who can work well under pressure and under low instructions 
•  Must have the ability to teamwork and cooperation among the work group and intra-departmentally.
• Must be versatile with Windows based software with intermediate level experience in PowerPoint and Excel with strong analytical skills.
• Domestic (North America) travel required, with possible international travel 
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.