Strategic Planning Manager jobs in South Bend, IN

What We Do

General Stamping & Metalworks is a leading supplier of stampings and assemblies to the North American solar power industry, which is forecasting another decade of double-digit growth. In addition, we are a key supplier to market leaders in a diverse set of industries including outdoor power equipment, agricultural and construction equipment, recreational vehicles and industrial trucks.

GSM has been in business since 1922, and we realize that our employees spend a large portion of their lives working; therefore, we have invested in the finest facility and grounds in the fabricating industry. We also invest in state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and in our greatest resource, our employees.

What Makes Us Different

GSM is proud of our diverse, welcoming workforce, and we make every effort and investment to ensure their success and provide a path to build better lives. We offer:

• Excellent wage
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Cafeteria
• Fully equipped fitness center
• Locker rooms with showers
• Air-conditioned welding department
• Employee wellness initiatives (on-site flu vaccination, wellness care, and EAP resources)
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
• 401(K) Contribution and Match after 1 year of service
• Holiday pay, and vacation accrual that starts on the date of hire
• Advancement opportunities only a growing company can provide

General Description

The Strategic Accounts Manager is charged with the responsibility for ensuring strong, long lasting customer relationships are developed to ensure sales growth and profit margin targets are achieved.

This job description is intended to be an overview of primary responsibilities for this position. All employees are charged with providing assistance in generally similar duties when management deems it necessary.

Organizational Relationships and Authority

The Strategic Accounts Manager reports directly to the Sales Manager and collaborates extensively with Estimators, Engineers and Managers. There are no direct reports to this position.

Key Responsibilities and Purpose

The primary responsibility of this manager is to oversee a portfolio of assigned customers to ensure GSM lands profitable opportunities that are within our capabilities or goals and to service those opportunities until they become a profitable reality.

Additional Activities

• Develop new business from existing clients
• Actively seek new sales opportunities with new prospects
• Prepares expense reports related to role
• Maintains accurate and up to date Customer account records within the ERP system
• Travel approximately 60% to customer/prospect sites
• Understands customer needs to deliver profitable solutions
• Forecast and track key account metrics
• Prepare and deliver reports on account status
• Assist with challenging client requests

Job Demands and Expectations

The Strategic Account Manager exemplifies the values of General Stamping & Metalworks and its vision. Therefore, one of the primary directives for the individual in this position is to continuously improve their knowledge, skills and abilities as focused on the communicating GSM capabilities to customers.

This position also requires the employee to travel in the role of ambassador, and to interact with the public and within the industry as a spokesperson for the company. Therefore, it is necessary that standards of appearance, demeanor, and communications reflect a high level of professionalism and competence at all times.

All management personnel are expected to update job knowledge on an ongoing basis by identifying and participating in functionally related educational opportunities, reading professional publications, reporting key learnings to the management team, maintaining personal networks to the benefit of the company, and participating in professional organizations where indicated or requested.

Qualifications and Competencies

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess proven work experience as an Account Manager or relevant role. This manager must have knowledge of ethical sales and marketing practices.

The position requires a strong ability to be attentive to detail, results orientation, and the ability to keep and maintain detailed and accurate records.

They must possess excellent interpersonal and management skills as well as the ability to produce financial and written documents that comply with regulations, conform to industry best practices, and are free of math, and grammatical errors.

As a leader in the company, the AM must maintain the strictest confidence regarding confidential information of which the employee may become aware in the course of their work.

Due to the intense communication component of this position, the individual will also develop and maintain competency with the following programs and equipment:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
• Visio
• PowerPoint
• Outlook
• Laptop, tablet and/or desktop computer
• Cellular and office telephone system
• ERP systems

General Competencies

• Dependability: Follows the direction of the Sales Manager and provides accountability for performance of key responsibilities: takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits time necessary to reach goals; meets deadlines or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Sales Influence: Ability to persuade and influence others both outside and within the organization toward the company’s goals; understands motivating factors in the buy/sell paradigm; frames all propositions from “buyer’s perspective” and “sellers perspective”; and maintains ethical boundaries all financial dealings.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Must have strong analytical and higher-order reasoning abilities; proficient computer and math skills; ability to use creative talents and skills to successfully resolve problems; develops solutions that work; works committedly with others to solve problems and resolve situations.
• Attendance/Punctuality: Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments prepared and on time.
• Employee Relations: Manages difficult or emotional employee situations using good communication skills; responds promptly and effectively to employee questions and needs; solicits employee feedback to improve responsiveness and initiatives; responds to requests for information and assistance in a supportive and enthusiastic manner; meets commitments.
• Oral Presentations: Makes full use of audio-visual technologies and programs to develop clear, engaging and persuasive presentations.
• Listening Skills: Listens carefully to the input of others and gets clarification before generating conclusions; responds thoughtfully and non-defensively to questions;
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Accuracy: Provides accurate, relevant and timely financial reports free of errors and ambiguities; routinely provides proper documentation of assumptions used to formulate forecasts and planning materials

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing (preferred)

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years recent experience as a Sales Account or Business Development Manager

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Open office, cubicle, individual or shared office
• Plant floor tours

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly or occasionally required to meet the following physical demands:

• Able to speak clearly and understandably, with a pleasant tone of voice and manner
• Ability to hear within a range that enables telephone communication
• Able to see a computer screen within reasonable reading distance without strain
• Able to type at a keyboard without discomfort most of the working day
• Ability to ambulate around the office environment and manufacturing floor comfortably in order to fulfill tasks required in various offices and departments
• Ability to travel beyond the office environment by air, automobile without stress or discomfort

GSM is growing in sustainable energy sectors. The ideal candidate will have a genuine interest in building a responsible ecosystem for energy consumption.