Strategy & Business Development Operations Lead - Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Operations

VW. Two letters. Endless opportunities. A bright future.

Innovation. Sophistication. Optimization. This is our Passion.

Worldwide, the Volkswagen Group has a long tradition of dramatic innovations. The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN. Here in the US, we are blending German engineering with American ingenuity.

As ADMT, we develop and realize fully autonomous mobility and transportation services. Our mission is to make mobility-and transportation-as-a-service safe, accessible and most attractive for society. For that, we cover the entire ground from strategy and business development, software development and end-2-end integration, fleet operations to next-generation self-driving systems. Being the driver in Volkswagen Group initiative for mobility solutions, we are an integral part of Volkswagen Group's future success.

Role Summary – Manager, Sales Strategy & Business Development

This role is within the Volkswagen Group of America’s Autonomous Driving Mobility & Transport (ADMT) business unit. The ADMT Sales Strategy & Business Development Manager is responsible for defining future business models and commercializing the ID.Buzz AD product in the US market through B2B revenue generating activities (i.e. deal sourcing, negotiations, contracting, program management & delivery). 

This position will be responsible for managing the end-to-end deal flow process of identifying business potential across various use-cases, assessing market opportunity, developing business case proposals to obtain organizational support, and executing partner on-boarding & collaboration within the organization.

The ideal candidate will have excellent planning, analytical, organizational and project management skills, and can build strong collaborative relationships with executives and key stakeholders.

Role Responsibilities:

Sales Strategy & Business Development

·        Define future B2B sales strategy by identifying and segmenting new distribution channels, use cases, assessing product-market fit, and prioritizing near vs. long-term growth opportunities.

·        Oversee development of operational and financial models to inform key decisions, prioritize projects for business development and/or supporting partner commercial negotiations.

·        Lead end-to-end deal flow process including partner sourcing & engagement strategy, term sheet negotiations, contract drafting, and managing stakeholders to deliver timely support.

·        Build long-term partner relationships, performing account management duties for existing customer deployments while spearheading new business development for future deployments.

·        Present regular US sales revenue strategy, business development, and project execution updates in leadership reviews (e.g. committee, steering reviews).

·        Drive leadership and cross-functional team (product, engineering, operations, finance, legal) buy-in and support, and influence key planning decisions for new business development and customer support.

Business Planning

·        Support on-going development of overall ADMT US business case premises, includes regular reviews with detailed budget development and long-range planning.

·        Lead development of various project initiatives and recommendations with thorough evaluation of alternatives, risk management, financial impact, and roadmaps required to implement.

Market Intelligence / Other

·        Maintain up-to-date market insights on key industry players & ecosystem and develop best practices in responding to threats, opportunities, changes, and trends.

·        Mentor and guide team members to knowledge share best practices and ensure professional growth.

Skills (General)

·        Ability to build strong relationships to influence, manage, and execute strategic partner initiatives & organizational priorities

·        Exceptional written & verbal communication skills

·        Capable of successfully operating in fast-paced & dynamic environments

·        Strong project management, comprehensive due-diligence, and organizational skills

·        Highly competent in solving complex problems in a proactive, efficient, and a solution-oriented manner

·        Strong judgment and detail oriented in exercising careful planning

Skills (Required Specialized) 

·        Familiarity with autonomous driving industry, operating models, and key value chain activities

·        Adept at engaging executives, managing partner relationships, leading negotiations, and developing key positions

·        Proven experience with legal review and contract drafting across R&D and commercial projects

·        Comfortable navigating complex financial models and formulating commercial offer proposals

·        Advanced proficiency in developing various types of external/internal presentations

·        Proven leadership to collaborate across all employee levels, manage and drive teams to deliver complex large projects on timely basis

Skills (Required Desired) 

·        Experience commercializing new business & technology products in autonomous, mobility, or robotics industry

·        Experience working in large tech companies, automotive OEMs, and/or mobility/transportation companies

·        Experience building out sales pipeline and prioritize partners across use cases, product & technology readiness, and financial viability

·        Successful closure and end-to-end deal flow management experience of large-scale contracts

Qualifications

·        Passion for automotive engineering

·        Fundamentals of systems engineering

·        Inclination to learn and grow in systems and safety engineering discipline

Years of Relevant Experience

•           7-10+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, management consulting, and/or investment banking/private equity across automotive, technology, or transportation industries.

•           Candidate should possess strong understanding of business models in autonomous, mobility, and transportation ecosystem and prior experience managing end-to-end dealmaking process with strategic partnerships, including engagement strategy, negotiations, contract drafting and stakeholder buy-in & support process.

Education

•           Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business, Finance, Engineering, or other quantitative field of study with a history of comparable qualification  

•           MBA or Masters in a quantitative field is a plus

Work Flexibility:

•      This is a hybrid role located in Belmont, CA.

·        Accommodation for working time zone differences between international locations as needed

·        Domestic and international travel is estimated to be 10-25%

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Role requires flexibility in daily schedule, including early morning meetings with Europe, evenings for the West Coast, and weekends for events and travel.

The average base salary range for this role in Belmont, CA will be $170,000 - $200,000, plus an annual bonus target and other incentives and benefits.

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

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