Manager, Strategic Accounts

Company Overview

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone Americas and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The Bridgestone Americas family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.Guided by its global corporate social responsibility (CSR), commitment 'Our Way to Serve,' Bridgestone embraces its responsibility as a global leader by striving to improve the way people move, live, work and play.

Job Category

Sales & Marketing

Position Summary

In this role, you will craft the growth strategy and lead the execution for Firestone's agriculture tire business. You'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact by:

-Expanding Firestone Ag's reach: Establish and grow our presence across key opportunity areas, including our government business, large original equipment dealers, mixed fleets, construction firms, and commercial farms.

-Forge strategic partnerships: Collaborate closely with seasoned professionals to gain valuable insights and build strong, lasting relationships with new partners across diverse sectors.

-Champion sustainable solutions: Promote Firestone's commitment to sustainable agriculture through innovative tire technologies that optimize yield, minimize soil compaction, and reduce fuel consumption.

Specifics

This position involves growing and establishing new strategic accounts and requires the candidate to have boots on the ground representing Firestone Ag with acute focus on growth. The ideal candidate must be a self-starter and will establish a strong understanding of how to navigate the organization, address customer issues effectively and ensure that customers receive top-notch service. This role necessitates 50%+ overnight travel and compensation will ultimately be based on the achievement of sales targets.

Responsibilities

Account Development and Ownership:

• Collaborate with the Replacement Sales team to develop and execute strategies for maximizing sales and market share across areas of responsibility.

• Create and execute strategic business plans.

• Contribute to crafting pricing and promotional plans for customers.

Relationship Building:

• This role requires the candidate to focus on new customer/partner prospecting and establishing and nurturing relationships with said customers.

Learning and Development:

• Collaborate with the Sales team to understand the intricacies of the replacement channel business including, but not limited to channel dynamics and conflict.

Build and Maintain Knowledge of Organization and Organizational Processes:

• New customer onboarding (customer set-up, payment terms, programming, etc.)

Market Research and Analysis:

• Support market research, competitor analysis, and trend assessment efforts.

• Support understanding on market competitiveness, customer preferences, and industry dynamics.

• Contribute to quarterly reports on market conditions and opportunities.

Additional/Misc. Responsibilities

• Business Case Construction:

• Develop business cases to justify, set up, alter, or discontinue essential elements such as credit terms/extensions, pricing, programming, and product allocation.

• Drive Customer Education in Collaboration with Internal Stakeholders:

• Lead effort to organize and deploy internal stakeholders to support executing grassroots/field clinic training and education initiatives on product portfolio, value drivers, features, benefits and proper application.

• Support Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Network with cross-functional teammates across business to collaborate on growth with key customers, collecting customer feedback, selling strategies, industry metrics, market dynamics, and Joint Business Plans (JBPs).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in business administration, marketing, engineering, or a related field

• Minimum 8 years of customer facing sales or sales related experience.

• Candidate must be a self-starter with strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.