Assistant Sales Manager - Farmington - Activ8 Recruitment & Solutions

Description

A multi-industry manufacturing, distribution and professional services company is seeking an Assistant Sales Manager to join their automotive components manufacturing division's Sales & Operations team in the Farmington, MI area. This position is responsible for outside sales activities as well as total sales order lifecycle management including RFQs, logistics coordination, and risk management. The ideal candidate likely comes from a background in freight forwarding/3PL sales and account management.

*This is a full-time, exempt, onsite position with comprehensive benefits package.

Job Duties and Responsibilities of the Assistant Sales Manager

Developing and maintaining new and existing customers.

• Manage the entire sales process from order to delivery and collection (total customer satisfaction and risk management)
• Acquiring new orders and ensuring profit margins (price negotiations, determining terms)
• Market research of target segments, competitors, and price ranges for product planning purposes, including confirmation of standards, certifications, and regulations regarding importing and exporting regulations for potential customers' origin/destination countries
• Generating leads and developing potential customers (trade shows, industry networks, online referrals) including lead nurturing and customer management via CRM

Quotations and proposals

• Preparing quotes that clearly state product specifications, packaging, MOQs, and delivery dates
• Gathering and confirmation of trade terms such as FOB/CIF/DDP (inward trade), and presenting the terms and conditions to sales managers and clients
• Negotiations and contract conclusion: Participate in price negotiations, delivery schedules, payment terms (L/C, advance payment, T/T, etc.), warranty and return terms, etc.
• Preparation and filing of purchase confirmations and sales contracts

Procurement and production management (if manufacturing is involved)

• Support supplier selection, and quality and delivery date management; and confirm samples
• Order processing and internal logistics coordination: Order entry, delivery date adjustment, inventory confirmation, coordination with internal departments (purchasing and logistics)

Shipping arrangements and logistics coordination

• Arranging shipments with logistics partners (e.g. freight forwarders, shipping companies, airlines, etc.)
• Identify packaging specifications and establish loading plans including warehouse entry and exit management
• Prepare customs clearance and transportation documentation
• Preparation of commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, bills of lading (B/L)/AWBs
• Review invoices, and certify required documents for destination country

Insurance and risk management

• Arrange ocean freight insurance and confirm coverage
• Analyze credit risk (credit management), foreign exchange risk hedging
• Handle payment and collections as needed
• L/C handling, bank procedures, collection management (payment confirmation and receivables management)
• Ensure import and export regulations and sanctions compliance through export control (review of restricted goods and technology)
• Ensure complaint handling of returns and maintaining a quality experience for relationship building and repeat orders/continued business

Ideal Minimum Requirements of an Assistant Sales Manager

• Bachelor of Business Administration or other Advanced degree in Management, Sales, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, or similar
• 6 to 9 years of sales/customer service experience
• Freight Forwarding Sales experience is preferred
• Proficient in various computer systems and software suites including MS Office's Excel (VBA/Macro automation is a plus), SQL, BI tools (PowerBI, Tableau, etc.), and basic ERP usage (SAP, Oracle, Workday, etc.)
• Excellent communication skills in written / verbal English
• Japanese language skills is a plus but not required
• While performing the duties of this job you may be required to intermittently sit, stand, walk, lift up to 20 pounds, climb stairs, use hands to handle or feel paperwork and interact with a computer, talk and hear. You may also be required to use close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision

NOTE: Activ8 and its clients will NOT charge any fees or costs to applicants at any point during the application or hiring process.

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Activ8 Recruitment & Solutions / Renaissance Resources Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, acting as a trusted leader in North American recruiting for Japanese businesses for over 25 years. We specialize in connecting top talent with companies in the Automotive, Electronics, Food & Beverage, Logistics, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Banking & Finance, and Entertainment industries. By working closely with each candidate individually, we provide tailored job search solutions to meet your needs.

We screen ALL Candidates to verify the validity of each applicant's provided information. Upon submitting your resume, we will contact only those candidates that we deem qualified for our client. If we do not contact you, we do not see the fit for the position. If we are unable to reach you in a reasonable timeframe, you will be eliminated from the pool of potential candidates.