Strategic Account Executive - Original Equipment Manufacturers for Europe

Valvoline Global is a worldwide leader in automotive and industrial solutions, creating future-ready products and best-in-class services for partners around the globe. Established in 1866, we introduced the world’s first branded motor oil, claiming our position as The Original Motor Oil. As an affiliate of Aramco, one of the world"s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies, we continue to invest strategically and expand globally, driving unparalleled product innovation and sustainable business solutions.

Our corporate values of care, integrity, passion, unified, and excellence shape everything we do. Living out our values is what makes our company, our employees, our partners, our customers, and the communities we serve great.

When you join Valvoline Global, you join a culture that is committed to: treating all people with care, operating with integrity, striving for excellence in everything we do, showing passion about delivering on our commitments, and being unified in all our enterprise endeavors.

Valvoline Global Operations EMEA has a rewarding opportunity for a Strategic Account Executive for Original Equipment Manufacturers for Europe (SAE OEM), a key individual contributor commercial role in the Sales Department with the primary goal to manage and develop strategic key account relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers in the Automotive segment, passenger cars and heavy duty primarily. The SAE OEMs reports to the Sales Director Western Europe.

This role is responsible of delivering the Valvoline growth strategy by managing and developing key accounts, both first fill and aftermarket, in the European landscape as per the global OEM strategy. The SAE is responsible for designing, developing, and executing strategies to drive the profitable growth of the accounts under his mandate in Europe. This role focuses on enhancing the delivery of our value proposition, fostering business growth, and collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Global OEM team, Marketing and Supply Chain, to refine and evolve our strategic approach. Key responsibilities include expanding sales and market presence, ensuring consistent communication of our value proposition, and maximizing profits through effective market penetration. This position requires strong strategic thinking, collaboration, and performance monitoring skills.

The SAE OEM must manage multiple priorities, requiring continuous interaction with various internal and external stakeholders such as clients, distributors, sales team, legal, marketing, technical, supply chain, pricing, customer service and global OEM teams among others. This is a key sales position, requiring an entrepreneur individual that is driven by business growth, disciplined to drive a sales growth initiatives aligned with the long term Valvoline strategy for OEM segment.

• Act as an ambassador for Valvoline business and products, providing sales leadership on all matters. Contribute to creating a winning mindset within the sales team and the business unit
• Act as a leader within the Western Europe team, and represent the OEM business within Valvoline Global Operations Europe organization, supporting and driving end to end strategic projects (CX, continuous improvement) to maximize customer satisfaction and key account value towards Valvoline
• Contribute to Valvoline strategy build-up supporting the European management team and responsible of translating and operationalizing that strategy in the OEM accounts under responsibility
• Own existing local OEM relationships and OEM P&L in Europe, both for First Fill and Aftermarket business. Act as OEM focal point for the European region, supporting global OEM team strategy
• Support the build up and development of global OEMs prospects in Europe, and develop regional key accounts as per Europe strategic road map
• Achieve annual business plans and metrics (volume, profit) in responsible territories, including proactive management of formula price mechanisms, and aftermarket deployment programs
• Work in partnership with the respective in-country Regional Business Managers to develop aftermarket OEMs, supporting both dealer conversions and national sales company discussions as required. Run OEM QBRs with assigned accounts under territory.
• Be the first point of contact for any technical or commercial queries for assigned OEMs. Work with Legal department (contracts, due diligence) and act as escalation point for operational issues that cannot be troubleshoot by Customer Service team (invoicing, deliveries, credit, …. ).
• Responsible to support regional cross sell and up sell activities within assigned OEM accounts to strengthen cooperation and business between OEM and Valvoline
• Act as linking pin between customers and the various internal departments such Technology or Technical Services, to deliver premium customer experience today, and also in the future while developing the respective OEM R&D road map
• Adhering to occupational health and safety measures in accordance with regulations and employer"s internal acts. Respecting work discipline, internal employer regulations, and rules of business conduct.

• Several leading OEMs in the Automotive space, with both Factory Fill and Aftermarket business
• 7+ European markets. Expectation to expand into more territories and OEMs within the region in the coming period

• Masters degree, preferably in the field of engineering, marketing, business, or related disciplines. MBA a plus.
• Minimum of 5+ years in similar roles within the lubricants or automotive industry or related fields.
• A track record of initiating, structuring, and executing commercial agreements with external stakeholders
• Cross-business collaboration experience. Demonstrated prior work with multiple disciplines is required (commercial, technical, financial, legal)
• Excellent English communication skills, ability to negotiate in this language. Fluency in other European languages is considered an advantage. German or Italian language a plus.
• Hybrid virtual position, expected 50% of business travel across European markets

• Proven ability to work with people, to build leadership, to create a strong team and to work in people performance capability.
• Demonstrated capability in developing close relationships with customers, fostering productive working relationships at all levels, externally and internally, acting as team player
• Ability to translate technical requirements into business opportunities, applying consultative B2B selling and understanding the value of Total Cost of Ownership in driving Premium product sales across Lubricants, Greases and Coolants
• Outstanding and effective communication skills, able to communicate with diverse client groups (from production line workers to CEOs and managers).
• Organized, stable, independent, and self-sufficient. Takes initiative and can successfully handle multiple tasks with minimal direct supervision.
• Flexible, proactive, positive and with a can-do mindset and player attitude.