Lead customer acquisition and commercial activities for the Americas region. Perform market and competitive analyses, prepare feasibility assessments and quotations, negotiate contracts, coordinate technical and commercial product lifecycle changes with U.S. and German facilities, represent the company at industry events, manage customer relationships, and support data management and strategic growth initiatives. Requires frequent domestic and international travel.
Sales Manager
Location: 40701 Woodard Ave, 102, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Detroit Sales Office)
Company: Erdrich USA, Inc.
Department: Sales (Americas Region)
About Erdrich USA
Erdrich is a global leader in precision metal forming and automotive components, serving major OEMs worldwide. Our Detroit Sales Office supports customer acquisition, program development, and technical coordination for the Americas region in close collaboration with our engineering and production facilities in Germany and the USA.
We are seeking a highly driven Sales Manager to support customer acquisition, strengthen our regional market position, and manage commercial aspects throughout the full product lifecycle.
Position Overview
The Sales Manager is responsible for customer acquisition and support for the Americas region, working closely with Business Units and Product Lines in Germany. This role supports the development of new products, leads commercial discussions with customers, and helps drive the company’s strategic growth initiatives. The position requires coordination with U.S. and German plants, international travel, and strong technical-commercial expertise.
This role reports directly to the Head of Sales.
Key Responsibilities
- Support and further develop existing product segments while identifying and expanding new strategic segments.
- Conduct market and competitive analyses; explore new product opportunities.
- Collaborate with technical counterparts to prepare calculations, quotations, and feasibility assessments.
- Present products and lead commercial contract negotiations with customers.
- Coordinate technical and commercial product changes throughout the lifecycle.
- Act as the main commercial point of contact for assigned customers and internal stakeholders.
- Represent Erdrich at workshops, fairs, exhibitions, and industry events.
- Drive acquisition of new projects and grow business with existing and potential customers.
- Ensure accurate and complete data management within the sales function.
- Support alignment of project goals and requirements across German and U.S. facilities.
Required Qualifications
- Completed engineering degree or comparable technical background (Bachelor’s or Master’s preferred).
- Several years of professional experience in sales within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
- Strong understanding of press technology, deep drawing, forming, joining processes, coating, and related manufacturing technologies.
- Knowledge of automotive industry development cycles and terminology.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications.
- Ability to interpret technical drawings, evaluate manufacturability, and explain deviations to customers.
- Strong contract and commercial knowledge.
- Professional-level English (additional languages a plus).
- Profit-oriented mindset with strong analytical and organizational skills.
Professional Competencies
- Deep understanding of sales processes, costing, and quoting parameters.
- Ability to evaluate product feasibility and provide technical-commercial insight.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts clearly.
- Knowledge of tooling, automation, assembly systems, and special machinery.
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with production, engineering, and business units.
Personal Attributes
- Strong organizational skills
- Resilience and adaptability
- Motivation and eagerness to develop markets
- Conflict resolution ability
- Team-oriented and persuasive
- Detail-focused, accurate, and reliable
- Results-oriented and credible
Work Environment & Travel
- Primary work location: Detroit Sales Office (Bloomfield Hills, MI).
- Travel required domestically and internationally, including extended trips (weekly or multi-week).
- Must comply with all company safety and environmental regulations.
Why Join Erdrich?
- Global exposure and collaboration with multiple international plants
- Opportunity to drive strategic growth in a key region
- Highly technical and innovative product environment
- Competitive compensation and benefits
- Family Culture
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Big Data • Cloud • Information Technology • Software • Cybersecurity • Data Privacy
Leads pre-sales professional services engagements, including scoping, proposals, quotes, statements of work, business cases, forecasting, and bookings. Partners with account executives, sales engineers, delivery teams, support, and resilience stakeholders to position services, conduct customer workshops, align scope with post-sale outcomes, and support larger deal closures. Requires expertise in change management, transformation, data protection, cloud, cyber resilience, and security. Travel is required up to 10%.
Top Skills:
Artificial IntelligenceCloud ComputingCyber ResilienceCybersecurityData ProtectionRubrik Security Cloud
Artificial Intelligence • Big Data • Cloud • Information Technology • Software • Big Data Analytics • Automation
Drive partner-related business across an assigned sales region by building partner-led pipeline, accelerating revenue, managing strategic and emerging partners, and aligning partners with regional sales teams. Own regional partner business plans, scorecards, QBRs, demand generation, forecasts, account targets, partner deals, teaming agreements, and pipeline development. Collaborate with sales leadership, hyperscalers, marketing, enablement, and cross-functional teams to generate revenue and establish repeatable partner growth motions.
Top Skills:
AWSDynatraceGCPAzureObservability
Automotive • Big Data • Information Technology • Robotics • Software • Transportation • Manufacturing
Manages GM dealership relationships across an assigned territory through frequent in-person visits. Supports sales growth, marketing initiatives, product launches, training compliance, inventory management, customer satisfaction, and problem resolution. Analyzes dealership performance, local markets, and competition to identify revenue opportunities, while mentoring dealers and helping achieve sales objectives. Requires extensive travel and regular motor vehicle operation.
Top Skills:
Excel
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Austin has a diverse and thriving tech ecosystem thanks to home-grown companies like Dell and major campuses for IBM, AMD and Apple. The state’s flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, is known for its engineering school, and the city is known for its annual South by Southwest tech and media conference. Austin’s tech scene spans many verticals, but it’s particularly known for hardware, including semiconductors, as well as AI, biotechnology and cloud computing. And its food and music scene, low taxes and favorable climate has made the city a destination for tech workers from across the country.
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
