Commercial Director

Company

Our client is a global tier-1 automotive supplier, known for its cutting-edge solutions and leading presence in the market. Having achieved substantial growth the past years, the company is now focused on maximizing the potential of its existing products, client base, and teams. The organization operates at the forefront of the automotive interior sector.

Role

As Commercial Director, your primary mission is to unlock and maximize the full potential of the company's existing resources. Driving greater value from established products, strengthening relationships with key OEM clients, and optimizing the performance to ensure continued growth and operational excellence. The focus has shifted from rapid expansion to capitalizing on the company's current market position, products, and customer relationships, ensuring that all processes, teams, and strategies work cohesively to deliver long-term success.

You will be responsible for overseeing a cell-structure sales model, with a dedicated team, ensuring they understand the client's needs and processes intimately. With key accounts including leading OEMs, the emphasis will be on strengthening relationships, ensuring smooth operations, and leveraging the company’s strong position in the market to further enhance profitability. Reporting into the CCO, the homebase of the role is The Netherlands. The board is seated here. Thus, to be truly able to be part of this great company, frequent travel to NL is part of the job.

Key Responsibilities

• Strengthen relationships with major OEM clients, focusing on negotiation strategies and ensuring teams meet transactional demands.
• Maintain and enhance performance and adopt data-driven negotiation and client management, integration with traditional models.
• Maximize value from existing product lines by aligning them with client needs, maximizing on R&D insights, and improving production efficiency.
• Improve operational efficiency across the teams, sharing best practices. Streamlining processes while maintaining alignment with corporate strategies.
• Take a lead role in negotiations with OEMs, navigating challenges while maintaining profitability and market position.
• Execute commercial strategies that support long-term goals. Work closely with the board to align the company's commercial goals with its broader business objectives.

Candidate

• Over 10 years of expertise in high-stakes negotiations with the majority of automotive OEMs, managing Tier 1 supplier dynamics.
• Senior commercial leader with a track record of managing and developing teams and driving operational excellence in the automotive supply chain.
• Experience in executing strategies and implementing business growth that aligns with corporate objectives.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities with key stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Strong ability to optimize established product lines and client relationships, enhancing the company's market position.
• Skilled in leading teams across global regions, with an understanding of various cultural and operational nuances.
• Proficient in data-driven decision-making, process improvement, and understanding market trends and internal systems.
• Capable of navigating high-pressure situations and complex negotiations, particularly in a transactional client environment.
• Deep understanding of business operations, finance, sales, marketing tactics, and market conditions.
• Holds a degree (BSc/BA/MSc/MA) in business administration, finance, or a related field.
• Analytical and creative thinker with a strong attention to detail, time management, organizational and leadership ability to guide the business to achieve business goals.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Mindset: Focused on long-term sustainability and growth.
• Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: Strong communicator, capable of collaborating across regions to drive results.
• Business Acumen: Deep understanding of operations, market conditions, and financial planning.
• Leadership Balance: Ability to balance team leadership with hands-on management of high-level client relationships and negotiations.

Qualifications

• BSc/BA/MSc/MA in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage.
• Extensive experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management.

What our client offers

• Competitive compensation package.
• Opportunity to play a key role in maximizing the potential of an industry-leading company.
• Senior leadership role with significant influence over strategy execution and the development of key OEM relationships.
• Dynamic, global work environment that emphasizes innovation and sustainability.

If you feel you have what it takes to fill this role, please contact Bart Heerdink from Lens, Executive Search in Amsterdam on +31.20.4623060 for further information and discuss the role in confidence.

Direct applications, including motivation, can be sent to hello@lens.careers. You will be contacted shortly.