Associate Account Manager

Hitachi•(JRA)Remote - JRHolland, MI

5d•Remote

About The Position

JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is seeking an Associate Account Manager to work remotely. This role involves tracking custom automation trends, converting research into actionable prospecting, and identifying new opportunities. The Associate Account Manager will be responsible for positioning JRA as a leading automation, integration, and custom machine manufacturing company, contributing to industry recognition and growth, and meeting annual lead targets. This is a full-time salary position based remotely in Michigan.

Requirements

A degree in engineering, business administration, advertising, marketing, similar field, or equivalent experience, calculated as two (2) years of relevant work experience for each year of academic study
Two plus years’ experience working in a sales or research capacity within a manufacturing, industrial service, or custom automation operation
Demonstrated knowledge of sales and marketing techniques
Ability to develop effective negotiation skills, representing the company's long-term business requirements
Passion for manufacturing and automation coupled with a demonstrated technical aptitude
Self-motivation to help the company achieve aggressive sales lead goals
Talent for developing relationships
Ability to work in a team-oriented environment
Strong communication skills (listening, verbal, and written)
Emotional intelligence

Nice To Haves

Current or prior JR Automation experience, or experience in the automation industry is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Understand the needs and expectations of the customers and provide relevant solutions
Source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow‐up and outbound cold calls and emails
Develop order/bookings forecasts as requested using the Salesforce CRM system
Collect and construct market/account intelligence data
Use established relationships with partners to further develop the customer base
Collect and construct market/industry data
Identify and lead customer dialogue to uncover opportunities
Achieve sales lead objectives set by VP of Sales
Collect customer requirements and generate recommendations
Instill a reputation and passion for best in industry customer service
Represent the company and project teams in customer meetings
Determine and document project requirements for internal stakeholders
Interface with all business units to address customer requirements
Manage small to medium projects on as needed basis
Establish and maintain leads with potential customers by effectively employing the highest level of skills with regard to the art of salesmanship, product knowledge, knowledge of customers business and organization and knowledge of JR Automation product lines strategic plans for sales growth.
Review and respond to inbound sales opportunities and customer inquiries.
Conduct discovery calls to understand customer requirements, objectives, timelines, and budget considerations.
Qualify opportunities based on technical fit, business need, funding availability, and strategic alignment.
Assess project readiness and identify key decision-makers and stakeholders.
Route qualified opportunities to the appropriate sales directors, account managers, or business units.
Maintain detailed records of opportunity progress and customer interactions within CRM systems.
Research target markets, industries, and organizations to identify potential business opportunities.
Conduct outbound prospecting through cold calling, cold emailing, LinkedIn outreach, and other engagement channels.
Monitor industry news, funding announcements, capital projects, grants, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.
Analyze market trends and competitive activity to uncover new sales opportunities.
Identify organizations with potential future purchasing needs based on business developments and market conditions.
Develop prospect lists and opportunity pipelines through research and business intelligence gathering.
Create detailed corporate overview reports for prospective customers.
Research company history, leadership teams, financial health, ownership structure, and market position.
Analyze annual reports, public filings, press releases, and industry publications.
Evaluate customer business strategies, growth initiatives, and organizational priorities.
Provide internal stakeholders with actionable insights to support customer engagement strategies.
Review Statements of Work (SOWs), technical specifications, and project requirements.
Interpret customer needs and communicate requirements to appropriate internal teams.
Conduct preliminary assessments of technical fit and solution applicability.
Assist in determining project scope, complexity, and resource requirements.
Support sales teams by identifying risks, challenges, and opportunity drivers.
Prepare customer briefing materials for sales, leadership, and technical teams.
Facilitate smooth handoffs between opportunity qualification and active sales engagement.
Coordinate with sales, engineering, operations, and subject matter experts to support opportunity development.
Provide research, intelligence, and background information to improve sales effectiveness.
Serve as an initial point of contact for prospective customers.
Build relationships with customer stakeholders during the discovery and qualification process.
Gather and document customer goals, challenges, and success criteria.
Maintain professional communication throughout the opportunity lifecycle.
Represent the organization in a consultative and customer-focused manner.