OEM Partnerships Director in Newcastle upon Tyne

About us

Founded in 2008, CitNOW is an innovative, enterprise-level software product suite that allows automotive dealerships globally to sell more vehicles and parts more profitably. CitNOW's app-based platform provides a secure, brand-compliant solution – for dealers to build trust, transparency and long-lasting relationships. CitNOW Group was formed in 2021 to unite a portfolio of 12 global software companies leveraging innovation to aid retailers and manufacturers in delivering an outstanding customer experience. We have over 300 employees worldwide who all contribute to our vision to provide market-leading automotive solutions to drive efficiencies, seamlessly transforming every customer moment. The CitNOW Group is no ordinary technology company, we live a series of One Team values and this guiding principle forms the foundation of CitNOW Group's award winning, collaborative and inclusive culture.

About the role

This role will focus on strategic networking, building senior-level relationships, and driving growth by increasing awareness of the CitNOW Group portfolio within UK OEMs and NSCs. The successful candidate will be an accomplished professional with extensive experience in developing and expanding automotive manufacturer accounts, ideally within a SaaS environment. They will demonstrate strong commercial acumen, the ability to influence at executive level and a proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder environments successfully. Additionally, we’re looking for strong leadership experience, with the ability to guide and develop a team while ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Networking within UK NSC's to identify and build relationships with key influencers and decision makers
• Seeking out revenue growth opportunities within NSCs for all group brands in the UK market, progressing these individually and leveraging support from the UK Sales team where required
• Coordinating and overseeing all stages of NSC opportunities in the market, from initial deal negotiation through rollout and onboarding, whilst ensuring clear communication with stakeholders throughout the process
• Developing and strengthening relationships with new entrants into the UK market to drive growth and establish long-term partnerships
• Creating a top down and bottom-up approach in the UK market to aid growth
• Building awareness of Group solutions and aligning them to the key challenges brands face internally or within their dealer networks
• Identifying and building relationships with key contacts in all relevant divisions
• Staying informed on key stakeholder movements internally and across brands to ensure engagement with the right contacts and timely introductions to new decision-makers
• Acting as the primary representative of CitNOW Group for UK NSCs, strengthening relationships and building trust across all brands
• Understanding the strategic priorities and key focus areas of UK NSCs to ensure alignment and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Developing a clear view of each brand's future roadmap, enabling proactive planning and identifying where CitNOW Group can add value, particularly around the transition to agency and associated timelines
• Identifying and analysing pain points within NSCs and their dealer networks to inform tailored solutions and strengthen partnerships
• Building strong relationships with NSC regional teams to increase awareness of the value of our solutions
• Leveraging regional teams as key connectors between NSCs and dealers to enable successful top-down rollouts and implementations
• Securing introductions to dealer council members and key contacts at dealer groups through regional teams, positioning our solutions with their endorsement

We’re looking for:

• In-depth understanding of the UK automotive market, OEM and NSC structures, and dealer networks
• Awareness of emerging brands and new entrants to the UK market, as well as knowledge of the transition to the agency model and its implications for OEM–dealer relationships
• Proven experience in selling and implementing SaaS solutions within automotive environments
• Understanding of integration challenges and digital transformation trends in the sector
• Understanding of OEM strategic priorities and future roadmap
• Expertise in managing large, complex accounts at senior level and familiarity with multi-brand and multi-stakeholder environments
• Exceptional networking skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience in leading and developing high-performing teams, aligning teams with strategic goals

In addition to a competitive salary, our benefits package is second to none. Employee wellbeing is at the heart of our people strategy, with a number of innovative wellness initiatives such as flexi-time, where employees can vary their start and finish times within our core business hours and/or extend their lunch break by up to 2 hours per day. Employees also benefit from an additional two half days paid leave per year to focus on their personal wellbeing. We recognise the development of our people is vital to the ongoing success of the business and proudly promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement, along with opportunities to develop and progress a successful career with us. The CitNOW Group is an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity across our international teams. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone's individuality is valued.