Director of Sales & Business Development, Automotive (Tokyo)

Sales Director needed to drive sales and develop new business for automotive connected media products which will be used by Japanese OEMs and Tier 1s. The Director of Sales and Business Development will be working cross functionally with this company’s Global Sales, Engineering, and Marketing and to grow the connected automotive software business with Japanese car brands as well as the Tier1 supplier ecosystem.

As Director of Sales and Business Development, you will support to define and execute the strategy to sell automotive infotainment software with Japanese OEMs and Tier1s. This position demands a unique blend of business insight, technical understanding and the drive to succeed in selling the deployment of this company’s connected media offering by new Japanese car customers.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable dealing with senior executives as well as tactical level people. The position will require domestic travel in Japan as well as international travel to the US and Europe. This position is based in the Japan Sales division, reporting to the Japan country manager and indirectly reporting to a person in the US. You will join a global multidisciplinary team to grow this company’s connected media business with Japanese car companies.

Responsibilities:

Define and execute a sales strategy for the company’s connected media products with Japanese OEMs, tier 1 & 2s

Work with the Global Sales team, Product, Engineering and Marketing, to support the sell-in of the company’s connected media solutions, driving demand by regional offices of Japanese OEMs, tier 1 & 2s

(especially with Company’s North America and Europe teams)

Close new programs for this company’s connected media products with Japanese OEMs and tier 1 & 2s,  securing new vehicle design wins that will result in revenue growth

Gather, manage, and prioritize customer opportunities

Monitor competition by gathering marketplace information on features, pricing, schedules

Research the competitive environment and work with the Product team to support the development of Company’s connected media product vision, strategy, and roadmap

With the Product team, redefine product positioning, price and go to market strategy as needed

Write proposals and quotations for Japan opportunities, collaborating with Product and Engineering

When necessary, work with Product, Engineering to propose solutions to bridge gaps between customer requirements and product offering

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree

10+ years of experience in roles driving sales of automotive technologies, product and business planning, product marketing or business development in an OEM and/or Tier1 supplier ecosystem

General Requirements

Required Skills

Minimum of 5 years of experience in Connected Vehicle / Automotive industry

Experience in dealing effectively with customers at senior and technical levels

Proven experience in gathering, analyzing, and prioritizing opportunities

Connected Vehicle know-how

Experience working with customers to develop new business models and negotiate pricing

Experience building solid customer relationships

Strong business analysis, problem solving and strategy development skills

Ability to grasp / explain and use engineering concepts

Demonstrated experience in building relationships across a large organization in a multinational environment

Good public speaking and presentation skills

Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Strong organizational and people skills, successful track record of coordinating between multiple stakeholders, within the company’s sales as well as technical divisions

Native or fluent Japanese language

Strong oral/written command of English language to conduct business is required

Position will require domestic and international travel

Job Location

• Tokyo – 23 Wards

Work conditions

Hiring Company Information