Sales - Automotive
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Business Development Manager
Automotive 1st tier
West Midlands | £90,000 – £110,000 + Bonus & Benefits | Permanent
Our client is a market-leading, award-winning global manufacturer of safety-critical assemblies, operating across the OEM, automotive, motorsport, defence and specialist vehicle sectors. With manufacturing and distribution operations in both the UK and USA, they are a trusted name in their field and are now looking to strengthen their commercial team with the appointment of an experienced Business Development Manager.
The Role
This is a varied, outward-facing position in which you will proactively identify and develop new business opportunities across existing, lapsed and prospective customers. You will take ownership of a portfolio of UK and European accounts, building strong working relationships at all levels within the OEM through regular face-to-face engagement. Internally, you will work closely with colleagues across Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Logistics and Materials Control to ensure consistent customer satisfaction and effective account management.
The Person
We are looking for a graduate-calibre candidate, ideally in Engineering or Business, with at least three years of experience in key account management or new business development within automotive, aerospace or a related sector. Experience of engineered components is highly desirable, particularly within areas such as engine, powertrain, transmission, drivetrain, suspension, steering, cooling, exhaust, fuel or braking systems.
The role involves extensive UK and European travel. As the manufacturing facility is based in the West Midlands, candidates within approximately one hour's commute of Birmingham are preferred.
The Package
Base salary of £90,000 to £110,000, plus bonus and benefits. If you are currently earning above this range, please do not let salary be a barrier to an initial conversation. Our client is committed to securing the right person.
To apply, please send your CV to Gary Simpson.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your automotive OEM experience prominently as the role specifically requires working with OEM customers across UK and Europe
📊 Quantify your business development results: 'Secured £2.3M in new OEM contracts, growing territory by 45%'
🔧 Emphasise any experience with engineered components, particularly powertrain, transmission, or braking systems mentioned in the advert
🌍 Showcase your European market experience and willingness to travel extensively across UK and Europe
🤝 Demonstrate cross-functional collaboration skills with Engineering, Quality, and Logistics teams as mentioned in the role requirements
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Secured £2.8M in new OEM contracts across 12 European automotive manufacturers, growing territory revenue by 34% over 18 months
- •Managed portfolio of 15 key accounts including tier-1 suppliers for powertrain and transmission systems, achieving 98% customer retention rate
- •Led cross-functional collaboration with Engineering and Quality teams to resolve technical issues for 3 major OEM customers, preventing £450K in potential contract losses
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Letter preview — tailored to Simpson Recruitment Services
Dear Hiring Manager,
Your Business Development Manager role at Simpson Recruitment Services' client represents exactly the automotive OEM challenge I'm seeking. My background in key account management and experience with safety-critical assemblies aligns perfectly with your requirements for managing UK and European automotive accounts.
My background in automotive business development has equipped me with the technical understanding and relationship-building skills essential for this role. I have successfully managed OEM relationships across powertrain and transmission systems, consistently delivering new business growth while maintaining strong cross-functional collaboration with engineering and quality teams.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Describe your experience working with OEM customers in the automotive sector
- ›How do you approach developing new business opportunities in the powertrain or transmission systems market?
- ›What's your understanding of safety-critical assemblies in automotive applications?
- ›How do you manage technical discussions with engineering teams at OEM level?
- ›Explain your experience with European automotive market dynamics
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to build relationships with multiple stakeholders across different departments
- ›Describe a situation where you had to travel extensively to maintain client relationships
- ›Give an example of how you've turned a lapsed customer into an active account
- ›Tell me about a challenging negotiation you've had with an OEM customer
- ›Describe a time when you had to collaborate with engineering teams to solve a customer problem
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to build relationships with multiple stakeholders across different departments
Describe a situation where you had to travel extensively to maintain client relationships
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