Position Overview
We are seeking a Sales & Trade Representative to support business development, sales operations, project coordination, and supply chain activities within an industrial and manufacturing environment. This role coordinates with customers, vendors, internal departments, and international suppliers to ensure successful product launches, project execution, and delivery.
The ideal candidate has experience in business-to-business sales, account management, project coordination, or materials management. Japanese language proficiency is a plus.
Key Responsibilities
1. Sales and Business Development
- Develop and maintain relationships with customers to identify future sales opportunities and projects.
- Visit customer sites to build business relationships and support future sales bids.
- Prepare sales bids, quotations, cost summaries, and business proposals.
- Review sales reports and prepare sales forecasts.
- Create and update quotations for new business projects.
2. Project and Product Management
- Coordinate with product development, sourcing, supply chain, vendors, shipping and receiving, and operations for new product launches and changes to existing products.
- Develop and manage detailed launch plans, including product requirements, timelines, and material readiness.
- Coordinate engineering changes and product discontinuation processes.
- Establish project scopes, objectives, responsibilities, and deadlines.
- Monitor project progress and performance to ensure timely completion.
- Maintain comprehensive project documentation and provide progress updates.
3. Purchasing and Supply Chain Coordination
- Establish and implement purchasing contract terms.
- Prepare purchase orders and invoices.
- Coordinate and monitor shipments for various projects.
- Assist with import/export documentation and customs clearance, including the assignment of Harmonized System (HS) codes.
- Coordinate with vendors and suppliers to support material availability and project schedules.
4. Financial and Business Reporting
- Manage assigned accounts receivable (A/R) and accounts payable (A/P) reports.
- Prepare cost summaries, sales reports, and forecasts.
- Review project costs and support commercial reporting activities.
- Use Microsoft Excel formulas and functions to analyze data and maintain accurate records.
5. International Coordination
- Maintain regular communication with vendors and business contacts in Japan.
- Coordinate schedules and project requirements across different departments and time zones.
- Support communication between customers, suppliers, and internal teams to resolve project-related issues.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Experience in business sales, account management, project coordination, purchasing, supply chain, or materials management.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, including formulas and functions.
- Knowledge of basic engineering concepts, business management, account management, and materials management.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.
- Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule to communicate with vendors in Japan.
Preferred Qualifications
- Japanese and English bilingual communication skills.
- Experience in industrial B2B sales or business development.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes and product launch coordination.
- Experience with international shipping, import/export procedures, and customs documentation.
- Knowledge of purchasing contracts, quotations, invoices, and financial reporting.
Additional Responsibilities
- Perform other duties as assigned by management.