Sales Associate

Job Title: Sales Associate
Location: Itasca, IL
Salary range: $30k-$80k DOE
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Job Type: Permanent

Japanese company is seeking a Sales Associate.

TThis position is responsible for promoting company products, increasing brand awareness and soliciting orders to achieve the sales quota which is discussed and agreed between the incumbent and management at the designated territory. The duties include traveling through assigned territory to call on existing and prospective customers.

Essential Job Functions
SALES MANAGEMENT
• Develops sales plan, forecast strategy in order to discover potential customers.
• Determines customers’ needs and budgets, and develops sales strategy for products.
• Manages, maintains and follows up existing Sales REPs’ activities.
• Performs opportunity identification, account qualification and needs analysis at all prospect levels.
• Responsible for establishing new contacts, maintain relationship with existing accounts.
• Maintains required activity metrics, via phone calls, appointments, demos and funnel development.
• Follows up on existing customers’ projects; Develops sales relationship with customers by following up frequently.
• Develops greater knowledge and familiarity with company products.
• Responsible for developing the market share in a designated area by contacting potential customers both by phone and in person on a daily basis as well as continued maintenance of existing customers.
• Documents and maintains all activities and customer interactions, and reports to the Vice President when necessary.
• Develops sales and action targets.
• Provides feedbacks to the business status to the engineers coordinating with factories and/or suppliers in Japan
• Provide technical support between Japan-US suppliers and/or vice versa.
• Responsible for REP training in order to familiarize with the new products.
• Prepares and attends Exhibitions and follows up to the customers after the Exhibition.
• Updates and improve its website and keep it up-to-date.
• Creates product catalogues and keeps it up-to-date.
• Develops and maintain marketing tools (sample kit for REPs, promotion data).
• Negotiates contracts with customers and REPs with support of legal team.
• Supports administrative related duties when necessary; assists General Affair’s related duties.
• Assists and supports those coming to the US from its parent company from Japan and/or its customers.
• Supports, supervises, and trains those coming to the US from its parent company as a trainee employee.
• Makes sure to collect all A/R, and follows up the customers when the payment is late.
• Responsible for any other work assigned by the management.

MARKETING MANAGEMENT
• Conducts research and analysis to identify customer needs.
• Collects information by researching market activities, analyses published data and statistics as well as the market trends of Company products.
• Communicates with existing and potential customers seeking sales opportunities as well as identifying market trends.
• Compares the Company products with its competitors and develops reports advising the senior management whenever a competitor plans/begins to market a new product.
• Participates in conventions and industry meetings in order to share information and keep the marketing information up-to-date.

MISCELLANEOUS
• Seeks constant improvement, more efficient and less expensive ways and means in work processes.
• Performs special projects and other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
• Maintains high ethical standards in the work place.
• Maintains good communication with subordinate employees, office staff members and outside contacts.
• Complies with all company policies and procedures.
• Responsible for maintaining a clean and safe working area.

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree from four-year College or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Business level Japanese & English fluency required.
- Able to lift up to 50 lb
- Open for frequent travel (domestic & international)
- Valid driver's license

BENEFITS:
Health insurance, life insurance, 401K, paid holidays, paid vacations, gym membership and etc.