Global Business Development Director

Company Overview:

Meridian is an automotive company and the world leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of high-quality magnesium and aluminum die cast components. We are driven to provide lightweight, innovative, and effective solutions for our distinguished automotive clients around the globe.

Primary Purpose of Position

Reporting to the CEO, this position is responsible for strategically leading the company’s business development, market assessment, product portfolio management and competitive benchmarking efforts that drive increased top line sales and contribution margins that enables Meridian to maintain its position as the pre-eminent lightweight solution provider to global OEMs and major Tier One Groups. The position will work with the leadership at all Meridian sites to gather requirements for business development & business opportunities, assess market penetration, develop robust cost and margin improvement actions, benchmark industry, peer group and competing lightweight technologies and develop and execute a global business development strategy that aligns and leverages the commercial, engineering and manufacturing activities of the organization to fulfill the Company’s vision.

Major Responsibilities of Position

- Contribute to the development and refinement of Company’s vision and strategy.

- Develop and foster intimate relationships with all global OEM key customer decision-makers, as well as key Tier 1 customers.

- Support the overall process of management and corporate decision-making to ensure the organization maximizes its short, medium and long-term profitability and shareholder returns.

- Liaise with other executive heads on the implementation of the company’s strategic and operational plans.

- Develop, review, and report on the business development strategy, ensuring the strategic objectives are well understood and executed by the team.

- Develop and lead the Company in market studies, competitive benchmarking and growth strategies working cross functionally with all global leadership groups of the Company.

- Impact the profitability of the company through ensuring strategic and tactical management decisions and new business development results.

- Intimately understand customer product engineering demands and translate those into tangible business development strategies.

- Study new machinery and facilities and recommend or select efficient combinations in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Develop flexible or integrated manufacturing systems and procedures in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Conduct studies and implement programs to determine optimum inventory levels for production and to allow optimum utilization of machinery, materials and resources in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Analyze costs of production.

- Develop evaluation systems in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Conduct studies of the reliability and performance of plant facilities and production or administrative systems in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Evaluate and assess the Company’s production facilities in conjunction with customer requirements.

- Evaluate, from a BD perspective, and recommend new product platforms with detailed cost impacts, CapEx, expansion requirements, ROI, and competitive disruptive technology.

- Monitor industry trends to identify useful product portfolio opportunities for Meridian’s technology.

Education and Skill Requirements

- Minimum 8 years in a senior position (Director or above) within the automotive industry in engineering and business development coupled with prior work experience in strategic planning, sales & marketing, product design/development, release or applications positions. Preference given to die casting expertise.

- Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, marketing or related disciplines, Masters/ MBA in related field an asset.

- Advanced knowledge of automotive OEM customer business model

- Proven record of assessing, planning, and implementing strategic business development processes that improve overall performance and ensures competitive positioning.

- Direct involvement in bringing new business development and product to market.

- Extensive experience in business development to grow revenue.

- Problem analysis and problem resolution skills, at both a strategic and functional level.

- Demonstrated experience with employee training and development.

- Strong customer orientation with the ability to build accountability and drive innovation and change while maintaining trust and involvement.

- Ability to manage complex and interrelated projects with cross-functional teams

- Strong organizational skills to work independently and to prioritize a heavy workload under the pressure of competing assignments. Excellent written and oral communication skills

- Strong demonstrated accountability, commitment, time management, influence and intellect to lead change and gain support of long-term vision

- Ability to travel to all company and customer global locations as needed to assess programs, developments, new business opportunities and support client relationships.

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