Program Manager, Automotive

WHO YOU ARE

As an Automotive Program Manager at Sila, you will play a key role forming, building, and maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our OEM customers and our cell manufacturing partners. You will work directly with the VP of Automotive to set overall automotive strategy and direction and with our customers and partners around the world. Our sales process and customer audiences are highly technical so you will be comfortable working directly with technical teams and communicating clearly across different parts of the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

• Open, develop, and close new business opportunities in Automotive OEM sectors
• Work closely with cell manufacturing partners to incorporate Sila’s anode material  in their cells.
• Project manage each OEM and cell manufacturer relationship, coordinating product development and launch activities with the three separate engineering teams
• Implement this BD strategy and direction; develop and initiate new BD activities as appropriate
• Establish and maintain relationships with cross-functional teams at Sila, OEM and cell manufacturer
• Create efficient processes for assessing, reporting, and managing scarce resources, technical dependencies, and other program risks
• Gather necessary information and prepare presentation materials for technical and executive meetings

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s Degree in the sciences, Master’s Degree preferred with 10+ years related work experience or PhD and 5+ years work experience
• Proven track record of building customer/partner relationships
• Excellent negotiation and pipeline management skills
• Experience working with large companies, preferably automotive and/or consumer electronics manufacturers
• Experience with complex, long-term, value-driven sales cycle, particularly for new products in new markets
• Proven ability to develop strong working relationships inside the company, with customers, and partners
• Be comfortable with technical & business audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational and presentation building skills
• Ability to speak Mandarin, German or Korean would be a plus

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel to Customer and Cell Manufacturing Partner locations to manage and establish new work programs. Travel (mostly to Asia and Europe) expected up to 25% of time.