Account Manager - Piston Automotive

Detroit Thermal Systems (DTS) is a key subsidiary within the Piston Group, a prominent private investment firm specializing in the automotive manufacturing and design sector. Founded with a focus on creating economic opportunity, the Piston Group has grown into a multi-location enterprise encompassing several companies. DTS stands out as a leading minority-owned manufacturer of top-tier climate control systems and components for automobiles. Their expertise lies in developing and producing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that optimize driver comfort within vehicles. This focus on in-car temperature regulation ensures a pleasant driving experience across various weather conditions.

Why Detroit Thermal Systems? 

Competitive Wages, Paid Holidays & Vacation, Medical & Rx Plans, Dental & Vision Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Life & Disability Coverage, 401K with Company Match, Tuition Reimbursement , Vehicle and Product Discounts

Position Overview: The Account Manager will lead all commercial program activities to ensure successful account management, cost reduction (TVM), and new / /incremental business development in compliance with the DTS objectives.

• Ensure successful execution of all account management activities
• Ensures commercial project objectives are met in terms of cost, delivery, and timing
• Generates and submits cost estimates and quotes to the customer engineering and purchasing groups as necessary
• Responds to prototype, service, and production quotes in the customer quote system (i.e. Webquote)
• Negotiates price and tooling increases in a timely manner to support implementation timing
• Escalates and resolves all commercial project issues with the customer engineering and purchasing organizations as necessary
• Creates part records in Plex to ensure price and P.O. information are entered correctly (No EDI issues)
• Ensures integrity of the pricing of all parts by compiling price history files and submitting accurate quotes
• Updates Plex, and verify all quarterly material adjustments and price changes are correct
• Creates DTS ECR's to ensure focused communication and clarity between customers-engineering-production
• Maintains an open issues list for all commercial program activities (including champions, status, and due dates)
• Enters PP PPAP dates and update the GPIRS tracker based on received orders
• Collects all tooling information and pictures, update webquote, and work with finance to ensure tooling invoices are paid by resolving any open issues
• Leads and prepares quotes for new and incremental business development opportunities at DTS
• Obtains customer sourcing agreements and commercial agreement for new business opportunities (i.e. SOBA, CPA)
• Negotiates all tooling/ pricing for new / incremental business opportunities with the customer
• Works with the DTS engineering team to establish engineering hours required to support the programs (i.e. Mountain Charts)
• Effectively manage cost reduction (TVM) activities
• Brainstorms cost reduction ideas and conduct production line walks with DTS engineering / manufacturing, and customer engineering / purchasing functions
• Ensures all cost reduction opportunities are reviewed and agreed to by the DTS functions (i.e. engineering, manufacturing, purchasing) by creating and tracking ECRs as necessary
• Works with the appropriate program manager to develop implementation plans for TVM activities
• Provide TVM status updates to the DTS executive team, customer engineering, and purchasing as required

• Associates / Bachelors in Business or equivalent experience
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to function in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• 5 -10 years of account/sales management experience or equivalent
• Must be self-motivated, well organized, results oriented, a team player and have good organizational and interpersonal skills