VP Hardware Development

Group Description
Magna is an innovative leader in the development and manufacturing of high quality complete seating systems. Our solution includes seating structures, mechanisms and hardware, as well as foam and trim products for global automotive, heavy truck and bus industries. Our capabilities include market and consumer research; full concept development; design and engineering capabilities; testing, validation and world-class manufacturing. Our award-winning seating solutions are developed from consumer research, finding the ease of operation to be comfortable, convenient and connected.

Role Summary

Independently develops and maintains regular contact and communication with purchasing and other key program personnel relative to relationship development and closure of commercial issues.  Leads application team in the identification and closure of commercial issues with the objective of increasing market share, optimizing profitability and maintaining the positive perception of Magna Seating (MS) as a world-class supplier.  Draw from experience and knowledge and provides guidance within the sales community.  

Key Responsibilities

•    Generally assigned to large and/or complex programs and customer wide strategy development and intelligence gathering.  Assignments may include new platforms, programs with new customers, or the introduction of new technology or accelerated development cycles.
•    Promotes MS to the customer.  Aligns customer communications with MS policies, philosophy, structure, capabilities, business plans, and strategy.  Works to ensure customers view MS as innovative, proactive, and capable.
•    Establishes objectives, develops strategies, and ensures their implementation to achieve the goals of the Director of Sales, Application Team, and General Manager. 
•    Forecasts customer direction; market demand; competitor direction; MS’ competitive position (ie. capabilities, price, quality, penetration, market perception); and considers corporate and group strategy in the formulation of growth opportunities for both the assigned program and the customer. 
•    Generates new business opportunities.  Remains knowledgeable of customer’s business strategy, assesses validity and relevance of opportunities to group and corporate strategies, appropriately communicates information and opportunities within MS.
•    Helps define and communicate customer requirements to the application teams (Chief Engineer, Director, and VP of Operations).  Attends Product Development and other program team meetings to provide commercial goals and provide resolution of commercial issues.  
•    Negotiates and manages piece price, tooling price, ED&D price, prototype price, validation price, warranty costs recovery and share, customer cost reduction initiatives, and other contract imperatives for the program and develops customer wide strategies.  
•    Supports obsolescence price/service parts matters, as necessary.  Assists divisions in the preparation of claims, facilitates discussions with the customer, and negotiates closure.  
•    Independently prioritizes the completion of tasks and resolution of issues to ensure compliance to program objectives and commercial targets.  Serves as the lead on program commercial strategy and issues closure. 
 

Key Qualifications/Requirements

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or physical demands required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education
Bachelor’s degree (or bachelor’s equivalency) in Business Administration, Engineering or related field or combination of equivalent education and work experience. 

Experience/Special Knowledge/Skills
Seven (7) years’ experience in automotive sales, program management, or engineering management preferred.
Working knowledge of relevant cost models and supplier costs (JIT, Mechanisms, Trim).
Knowledge of customer, product, and supply base.
Ability to apply sales and marketing techniques in the generation of new business opportunities.
Strong communication skills; verbal, written and technical presentations.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to successfully coordinate and complete multiple tasks within and across departments to meet established and changing deadlines.
Demonstrated successful performance with independent problem solving, presentations, leadership and coordinating and completing multiple tasks within and across departments to meet changing deadlines on full program life cycle (concept to production). 
Proficient with word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.
Valid driver’s license.
  

Skills Testing
No skills testing required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment
Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer, travel required.
 

Additional Information

Physical Demands/Work Environment
Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer, travel required.

•    Assures timely and accurate documentation of sales and marketing deliverables as established, per the product delivery process.  Ensures timely flow of business documents between the customer and MS.  Ensures documentation of key positions and agreements.  Ensures documented agreements meet finance guidelines and requirements.  
•    Champions all customer quote processes.  Develops the quote strategy and drives completion ot meet objectives.  Reviews strategy with appropriate stakeholders.
•    Assists, as required, in resolving quality and production issues and commercial aspects of engineering change issues as they relate to the Customer.
•    Tracks “loss monies” and open cost issues and develops and implements closure strategy to resolve timely. 
•    Assesses validity of cost reduction proposals and provides guidance to application team concerning priority, likelihood of customer acceptance, and applicability to business strategy.  Negotiates implementation and pricing of engineering cost reductions.
•    Ensure employees work in the manner consistent with the organizations established objectives and targets utilizing protective equipment, devices, measures, and procedures as promulgated by state and federal regulations. Establish clear goals for workplace health and safety. Complete safety talks, safety meetings, and required training occur, as defined.