Sales Manager _Japanese Accounts_COLLC

Columbia Machine • Vancouver, WA

225d • $103,000 - $144,200 • Remote

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Sales, this position will be part of the Columbia/Okura Sales Team and requires close coordination with Sales, Applications, Engineering, and Marketing teams to acquire new customers, increase sales volumes, and maintain existing customer relationships with key international (Japanese) accounts operating in North America.

Requirements

• Native or near-native fluency in Japanese language (speaking, reading, and writing)
• Demonstrable understanding of Japanese business culture and etiquette
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience living and/or working in Japan
• Bachelor Degree in Business, Engineering or related field experience is preferred
• Five years' experience in Packaging Automation with strong understanding of palletizing systems, preferably in an Engineering, Sales or Customer Service role
• Experience with a variety of the industry's concepts, practices, and procedures

Nice To Haves

• Heritage or background that provides a deep understanding of Japanese culture
• Intimate familiarity with packaging equipment, preferably end-of-line packaging

Responsibilities

• Leads sales activities at Assigned Accounts
• Develops target market sales strategy by identifying short-term and long-range sales forecasts
• Implements strategies to identify and communicate with Customer influencers and decision makers
• Supports the sales proposal preparation process and reviews Customer Specifications
• Creates professional presentations targeted at the specific needs of each Customer
• Tracks lost order reporting and analyzes root cause to develop competitive advantage
• Services existing customer relationships and accounts
• Serves as the Ultimate Customer Advocate by ensuring that unresolved issues are visible and resolved in a timely manner
• Maintains and expands our relationship with all accounts and channel partners in the assigned territory
• Performs regular follow up communication regarding our performance on existing systems and the potential for new projects
• Conducts ongoing training and product updates to maintain channel partners technical proficiency
• Develops new customer relationships and accounts
• Creates and conducts customized technical sales presentations, trainings, and proposals based on information supplied by sales representatives and gathered from existing and potential customers
• Researches new sales opportunities by becoming familiar with potential new customer and industry niche needs
• Manages sales channel productivity by driving niche customer solutions and implementing programs to expand the sales pipeline
• Recommends changes in products & services
• Evaluates project results, customer feedback and competitive developments from the field and communicates research and development opportunities to the engineering team
• Consults with Engineering, Applications, Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, and Service teams on new product developments and provides technical support with new product introductions
• Provides expertise on systems concepts to provide the most comprehensive solution available
• Maintains a good rapport with Columbia/Okura departments while asking the difficult questions necessary to ensure that solutions are comprehensive and efficient
• Maintains accurate and up to date customer data and opportunities; actively collects and adds market information to the CRM system
• Supports internal and external customer service
• Understands and documents internal and external customer needs and expectations
• Communicates to appropriate team(s) when an expectation will not be met
• Contributes to continuous improvement effort
• Identifies process improvements, makes constructive suggestions for change, and collaborates on implementation
• Documents processes and procedures, eliminates non-value-added activities, and participates in cross functional CI teams
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge
• Establishes personal networks, participates in professional societies, attends professional workshops and reviews publications
• Stays current with developments in Palletizing, Stretch Wrapping, Case Conveying, Pallet Conveying, Labeling and any other technology related to the Case Palletizing Business
• Contributes to team effort
• Willing to attempt new assignments or fill in for others as needed; accomplishes other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Machinery Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree