We’re the world’s leading data, insights, and consulting company; we shape the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere.

Our Automotive Practice colleagues are masters at using insights to resolve industry challenges. They help automotive brands define what they should stand for, reinvent and renew their offerings, reach audiences more effectively, and win with customers and prospects. We blend human expertise with technology and extensive data assets to deliver innovative insights to automotive brands everywhere.

Why this job is important

Kantar’s Business Development team is comprised of the industry’s most connected and influential commercial leaders. As a VP of Growth & Strategy, you’ll be part of a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team responsible for generating sales revenue by identifying, cultivating, and closing business that expands our footprint with existing clients and brings new clients into Kantar’s Automotive vertical.

You are a veteran of the automotive industry, deploying a disciplined and well-adapted sales process to drive short and long-term revenue growth. You have depth knowledge of the challenges of Automotive marketers and strategists today, and you’re well-versed in the role market research, data, and analytics can play in addressing those challenges. You’re customer-centric, possess executive presence, and excel at active listening, probing to uncover critical problems, and consulting with prospective clients on Kantar’s solutions. You bring deep competency in consultative selling and negotiating with buyers, legal, and procurement, to drive both maximum client satisfaction and Kantar revenue.

The right candidate is energised by and immersed in the automotive industry, bringing a point of view to clients that opens doors to new business. You’ll spend approximately 70% of your time on direct, consultative sales, 20% contributing to smart, industry-relevant study design and delivery, and 10% informing and crafting thought pieces to elevate Kantar’s automotive practice.

You are a strategist with solid competency in stakeholder management. You’re magnetic, passionate about human behaviour, and dedicated to helping clients improve their business strategies to drive sales, brand, and enterprise growth. Detail-oriented yet empowering, you play a role in bringing others along in their career development. You’re an empathetic and inclusive leader, contributing positively to Kantar’s culture and success through influence and value-add. You balance professionalism with genuine fun, offering ideas and perspectives to improve yourself and those around you.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify new business opportunities by analysing marketplace data, leveraging your established network, and hunting for new buying centers.
• Develop account strategies and create relationships with key contacts and prospective clients using both the Kantar client network and your personal connections.
• Lead all aspects of the sales process, from prospecting to qualification to closing.
• Generate new sales revenue across Kantar’s ecosystem of solutions: Brand Strategy, Brand Performance, Creative Testing, and Media Measurement.
• Log sales activity and maintain your sales pipeline, including revenue forecasts and weekly updates, through our internal CRM.
• Lead RFP and proposal development, collaborating with internal teams, coordinating client timelines, and developing pitch collateral that resonates with clients and tells a differentiated story.
• Conduct client meetings to build and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction across all solutions and engagement with Kantar.
• Immerse yourself in the automotive industry, bringing a point of view that informs client meetings, study design, and reporting.
• Understand the competitive landscape and report back to the organisation on points of differentiation; contribute to written and recorded automotive thought leadership suitable for external publication.
• Negotiate deals that adhere to Kantar’s financial guidelines, understanding the financial implications of each engagement.
• Actively contribute to Automotive industry organizations to drive Kantar’s salience and build new prospect relationships.

What You’ll Bring

• Deep understanding of the US automotive industry, with significant experience working at an automotive manufacturer, media agency with an automotive focus, or in automotive/mobility practices at top consulting firms.
• Proven success in a commercial senior-level role, with a strong network in the automotive ecosystem.
• Confidence and credibility engaging with C-suite and senior stakeholders.
• A natural connector with a proven track record of winning new business and building executive-level relationships.
• Familiarity with market research, data, or insights solutions, or senior level experience in marketing or brand.
• Ability to navigate complex organisations and influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• A hunting mentality with experience using your network of client relationships and generating leads.
• Proven success generating revenue with multi-million-dollar new business/new logo accounts.
• Demonstrated ability to translate sophisticated concepts into concise, insightful messaging.
• Highly motivated, self-starter, driver of change and transformation.
• Shown cross-portfolio collaboration and leadership.

What’s in it for you

We provide a highly competitive benefits package!

• Medical plans with comprehensive, affordable coverage for a range of health services
• Health Savings Account/FSA
• Dental, Vision and benefits to cover unique healthcare needs
• Wellness Program
• 401k with matching
• Tuition Reimbursement, Commuter benefits
• Unlimited PTO

At Kantar, we go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion, and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that’s out of the ordinary and join us. We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted, and are allowed to flourish. We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking, and better commercial outcomes.

Kantar is committed to inclusion and diversity; therefore, we welcome applications from all sections of society and do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: By applying to this opportunity, you consent to the personal data you provide to us being processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited (“Kantar”). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS for as long as is necessary for recruitment purposes.

The salary range for this role in Detroit is $140,000 - $190,000/year. Your final base salary will be determined based on several factors, which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education, and/or certifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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