Director, Account Management (Automotive, Europe)

To apply for the Director, Account Management position at Sila, candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field or a combination of experience and education. An MBA or equivalent is a plus. Additionally, having 7-10 years of experience in account management within the automotive supply chain, along with strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, will be essential.

The primary focus of the Director, Account Management role at Sila is to foster strong relationships with European automotive customers while shaping the strategy for customer engagements and tracking demand. This position involves coordinating with technical and commercial stakeholders to progress commercial opportunities effectively.

As the Director of Account Management at Sila, your contributions directly impact our mission to transition to clean energy. By managing relationships and advocating for customer needs, you ensure that our innovations in battery technology meet the demands of the automotive sector, ultimately supporting the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption.

Key responsibilities for the Director, Account Management at Sila include monitoring demand across various European automotive customers, promoting best practices for customer engagements, mentoring team members, developing project plans, and closely working with product management to align customer product roadmaps with our solutions.

Yes, the Director, Account Management position at Sila requires at least 50% travel, both domestic and international. This travel will enable you to engage directly with customers throughout Europe, enhancing relationships and furthering Sila's strategic objectives.

The starting base pay for the Director, Account Management role at Sila is between $198,000 and $250,000. The actual salary may vary based on factors such as education, experience, and skills, and is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes additional benefits and perks.

Sila seeks candidates for the Director, Account Management position who possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, a solid background in automotive supply chains, strong negotiation capabilities, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment geared towards customer satisfaction.

When answering this question, focus on specific roles you've held that are relevant to account management, particularly in the automotive sector. Share quantifiable achievements and the impact you made on customer relationships, demonstrating your ability to drive results and meet strategic goals.

In your response, emphasize your methodology for understanding customer needs through active listening and proactive engagement. Discuss how you coordinate with internal teams to balance those needs with company objectives, ensuring both customer satisfaction and organizational goals are met.

Discuss your approach to relationship-building, such as regular check-ins, personalized communication, and understanding their business challenges. You might also want to highlight how you use insights from these relationships to influence product offerings or improvements.

When discussing a challenging negotiation, structure your answer using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Focus on the strategies you employed, the outcome of the negotiation, and what you learned from the experience that you would apply in future situations.

Highlight any project management tools you have experience with, such as Trello, Asana, or Microsoft Project. Discuss methodologies like Agile or Waterfall, and explain how you've successfully applied them in managing projects that align with customer engagements.

Explain your process for analyzing market trends, historical data, and customer feedback to develop accurate demand forecasts. You could also mention any specific tools or software you've used to assist in creating these forecasts.

Share an example where customer requirements shifted unexpectedly. Emphasize your flexibility, how you reassessed project priorities, and the ways you communicated changes to both the customer and your team to ensure alignment moving forward.

Discuss your style of leadership, including how you set clear expectations and provide constructive feedback. Emphasize your commitment to mentoring by providing examples of how you've helped team members grow and achieve their goals in past roles.

Express your understanding of how technology can streamline account management processes, enhance communication, and provide data analytics for better decision-making. You could also discuss tools you've used that have improved client interactions.

Highlight your approach to conflict resolution, which should involve active listening, empathy, and finding common ground. Provide an example of a past situation where you successfully navigated a conflict, ensuring both the client's and the company's interests were addressed.