Technical Account Manager - Yokohama Tire Corporation

Summary:

The Technical Account Manager-OE serves as the main technical liaison with vehicle manufacturers and facilitates coordination between the customer, the tire development team, and corporate quality. This role plays a vital part in supporting the OE sales team and development team by offering expertise in upcoming projects, RFQ support, OE development interface.

 

The Technical Account Manager-OE will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the seamless integration of tires into OE vehicles, effectively meeting the needs of both customers and the company.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with OE manufacturers.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all technical inquiries and support throughout the Request for Quotation (RFQ), Development, Product Launch, and the entire lifecycle of the tire.
• Obtain and negotiate technical requirements during the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process and continue to manage and negotiate these requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Understand tire specifications, performance metrics, and industry standards.
• Provide technical guidance and support to clients regarding tire selection, testing, and validation.
• Act as the technical expert during interactions with OE customers, providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on all technical aspects related to tires.
• Collaborate with internal departments (R&D, production, quality assurance) to meet OE requirements.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables to ensure on-time delivery of products.
• Conduct quality assessments and audits to ensure tire compliance with OE specifications.
• Address any quality issues or concerns in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Monitor industry trends, market demands, and competitor activities related to OE tire offerings.
• Provide insights and recommendations for benchmarking, product improvements and market positioning.
• Maintain accurate records of client communications, project details, and technical specifications.
• Prepare reports and presentations for internal stakeholders and clients as needed.
• Facilitates the formal communication of relevant information to the appropriate internal departments.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of tire industry, design, manufacturing, quality, and testing.
• Automotive industry approval and launch processes and quality requirements.
• IATF16949, PPAP, PFMEA, DFMEA.
• Ability to communicate well with numerous internal and external parties in a manner that positions you as a trusted partner.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in technical sales, account management, or project management within the automotive industry, with a preference for candidates with specific experience in the tire industry.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience as an engineering interface at a Tier 1 supplier.
• In-depth knowledge of tire technology, manufacturing processes, and industry standards.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, adapting to various challenges effectively.

Physical Requirements:

• Flexibility to travel as necessary for client meetings and industry events, with an expected travel time of up to 40%.
• Required to ride with professional drivers during tire testing.
• Assist with tire handling or sorting during testing as needed.