Warn Automotive, part of Vehicle Service Group is a world leader in driveline disconnect technology. Our heritage comes from making WWII surplus Jeeps easier to drive on the road with the first unlocking hubs. We continue today by making disconnects for cars, trucks, and SUVs around the world. These trusted technologies come from years of innovation and listening to our customer's needs. We have a bright future ahead so come join our growing team at Warn Automotive.
Company Overview:
Warn Automotive can trace its beginning back to 1948, when Arthur Warn invented the first disconnecting four-wheel-drive hub for surplus World War II vehicles. Since that time, our products have continued to lead the industry with a history of innovation in Powertrain Disconnect technology.
Almost 75 years later, our products are sold to OEMs around the world, enhancing the performance, traction and capability of their vehicles while reducing fuel consumption and emissions to create a more mobile and efficient future.
Operating from our headquarters and manufacturing facility in Milwaukie, Oregon and our customer support center in Livonia, Michigan, Warn Automotive is proud to be part of Vehicle Service Group (VSG) a Dover Company.
Position Summary:
The Director of Sales & Business Development is accountable for driving profitable revenue growth and diversification across Warn Automotive's customer portfolio. This role serves as the primary commercial leader and customer interface in highly engineered automotive environments, converting technical capability into sustained growth, margin expansion, and strategic customer relationships.
This is a hands-on, execution-focused leadership role that sits on the executive team with a clear path to expanded responsibility based on growth and performance.
Essential Job Functions Include:
Revenue, Margin & Portfolio Growth
Own annual revenue, margin, and earnings performance across assigned customers and channels.
Lead commercial execution for large, complex OEM programs with significant revenue and profitability impact.
Drive portfolio diversification by building 3rd-party, non-OEM, and aftermarket revenue streams that expand margin and reduce cyclicality.
Protect and improve margins through pricing discipline, scope control, productivity actions, and change management.
OEM and Aftermarket Sales Leadership
Serve as senior commercial liaison to OEM customers while expanding relationships with Tier suppliers, distributors, integrators, and aftermarket partners.
Identify, structure, and close aftermarket and adjacent-market opportunities leveraging Warn Automotive's core technologies and manufacturing capabilities.
Lead pricing strategy, contract negotiations, and resolution of major commercial issues (volume, tariffs, warranty, timing, scope).
Market Intelligence and Forecasting
Actively evaluate OEM and customer vehicle release plans, program timing, and market trends to anticipate demand shifts.
Produce and maintain an accurate rolling 18-month sales forecast, integrating customer release schedules, pipeline maturity, capacity constraints, and risk.
Provide clear visibility to leadership on upside, downside, and timing risks tied to programs and markets.
Translate market and customer intelligence into actionable commercial strategy.
Business Development and Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute growth strategies across existing OEMs, new customers, 3rd-party partnerships, and aftermarket channels, spanning ICE and BEV platforms.
Lead cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, finance, program management) to win and execute profitable business.
Build data-driven business cases to support pricing, investment, and channel expansion decisions.
Product & Portfolio Input
Partner with Engineering and Product teams to define product roadmaps, market requirements, and lifecycle strategies.
Influence portfolio decisions that improve long-term P&L performance, mix, and capital efficiency.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred (MBA, Engineering, or related).
10+ years of experience in automotive OEM sales, business development, application engineering, or adjacent engineered markets.
Demonstrated success growing aftermarket, diversified, or non-OEM revenue streams.
Proven ability to sell highly engineered products in a consultative environment.
Strong analytical capability to translate market and customer release data into reliable forecasts.
Track record of delivering measurable revenue, margin, and mix improvement.
Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:
Excellent oral and written communication skills commensurate with the job tasks and position necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers while providing exceptional quality of work and outstanding customer service. Ability to effectively, independently, and professionally create and present highly technical sales and marketing presentations to customers and management team in a manner designed to educate, inform, and influence. Ability to maintain responsiveness through travel and other internal/customer obligations.
Must have mathematical & analytical skills equivalent to those required under education and/or experience. Must be capable of comprehending basic finance calculations required for establishing a business case and analyzing projects such as revenue, margin, burden, labor and other calculations. Clear understanding of cost details, competitiveness, and Market Price to effectively and successfully drive, negotiate, and defend pricing.... For full info follow application link.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other factors prohibited by law.
