General Manager - Business Development (Seating System)

Role Overview

A leading automotive manufacturing group is looking for a strategic and dynamic General Manager Business Development to lead revenue expansion and market penetration for its Commercial Vehicles (CV) Seating Systems division.

Role & responsibilities

• Business Development & Market Expansion: Drive top-line revenue growth across domestic and institutional CV segments; formulate long-term sales strategies for seating system product lines.
• OEM & Tier-1 Client Acquisition: Build and nurture high-level relationships with key CV OEMs, STUs, fleet builders, and Tier-1 suppliers.
• Tendering & Government Liaison: Spearhead public sector procurement, defense/state transport corporation tenders, and direct institutional sales via the GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal.
• Product Customization & Commercial Alignment: Interface with engineering, design, and program management teams to align client specifications with prototype development and commercial feasibility.
• Contract Negotiations & Program Launches: Lead high-value contract closures, pricing reviews, RFQ management, and project timeline tracking from award to start of production (SOP).
• Team Leadership: Mentor, direct, and build high-performance regional sales and business development teams.

Preferred candidate profile

• Education: B.E. / B.Tech in Engineering; MBA in Marketing / International Business or equivalent post-graduate qualification preferred.
• Experience: 18+ years of strong B2B sales and BD leadership within the commercial vehicle or automotive components industry, with substantial exposure to seating systems.
• Skills: Demonstrated track record in OEM acquisition, RFQ handling, tender bid preparation, GeM execution, and techno-commercial negotiation.