.Account Director - Europe (Chinese OEMs – Mandarin speaking)This is an exciting, newly created position to lead the commercial activities with Chinese OEMs outside of China, and has the future potential to manage and lead others globally.Location: Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Budapest, and Wroclaw (This role can be undertaken in other European cities too, location will be on condition that candidates would live within commuting distance of one of our GKN Automotive sites)Travel: 25% in EuropeBenefits:Hybrid and flexible working conditions to ensure you enjoy a balanced work and home life given some of your time will be spent travelling to customers in Europe.Career and leadership development given this role will grow into a people management role in the next 12 months - this role will suit Key Account Managers ready for promotion.Competitive local package given language skillset required and additional benefits will be indicated post screening stage - once desired location is confirmed.Closing date: Sunday 8th SeptemberGKN Automotive is a world-leading global automotive technology company at the forefront of innovation. Its origins date back to 1759 and for the last 70 years it has been putting key technologies into series production. It is the trusted partner for most of the world's automotive companies, specialising in developing, building, and supplying market-leading drive systems and advanced ePowertrain technologies. We are driving change in our sector, using our talents and experience to be a leader in finding new, sustainable solutions for the next phase of the automotive industry.What will you be doing in this role?Supporting the VP, Commercial Emerging Customer Group, this newly created role will be critical in the future value creation and customer retention of our largest growing customer base. This means leading key account activities on assigned customer accounts (Chinese OEMs in Europe) to establish effective strategic customer relationships & meet GKN Automotive Business objectives, ROIC & Margin targets. You will also be working closely with our GKN Automotive's JV partner in China (SDS) to meet the company's objectives.Key Responsibilities:Developing your own objectives, and your future team's, achieving these through the implementation of strategic relationship management plans.Managing key customer relationships, often through account teams, focused on resolving any issues to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction and loyalty.Specific experience or behaviours that will set you up for success in this role:The ability to speak, write and read Mandarin is essential.Experience of championing customer focus internally within an international manufacturing environment.Experience of clarifying customer needs and requirements.Exposure to budgets/negotiations at regional level.Ambition (Quiet or Overt!) as this role will be taking you places in your career