Sales Manager _Japanese Accounts_COLLC

Columbia/Okura is seeking a Sales Manager for Japanese Accounts to join their Sales Team. This role involves coordinating with various departments to acquire new customers, increase sales volumes, and maintain relationships with key international accounts in North America.

Responsibilities:

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Understands and documents internal and external customer needs and expectations
• Communicates to appropriate team(s) when an expectation will not be met
• 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
• 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
• Willing to attempt new assignments or fill in for others as needed; accomplishes other duties as assigned

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
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
• Intimate familiarity with packaging equipment, preferably end-of-line packaging
• Analytical skills
• Organizational, interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills
• Project/Process Management skills
• Computer/Technical skills
• Clerical/Secretarial skills
• Strong technical aptitude; has the ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables with a high attention to detail
• 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
• Heritage or background that provides a deep understanding of Japanese culture
• Customer Relationship Management Software - SugarCRM
• Bachelor Degree in Business, Engineering or related field experience