Account Manager (Sales-OE)

Purpose/Summary

• Manage sales activities of organization by performing the following duties:

 Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Plans, controls, and manages sales activities to attain maximum sales volume and develop maximum potential volume from specified customers for the organization's products and /or services
• Act as liaison between customer and Akebono
• Collaborates with a wide variety of functional areas such as engineering, program management, quality, manufacturing, and purchasing to develop and provide product definitions responsive to customer needs and market opportunities; May be required to perform program management duties on an as need basis within the Sales Department depending on the significance of the issue/request
• Performs costing activities for profit/loss evaluation including summarizing and proposing recommendations to management concerning new business opportunities as well as strategies to exit/outsource business yielding a negative impact. 
• Monitor, summarize, and distribute customer ratings to Manager such as on-time delivery, past dues, etc. 
• Researches and resolves customer problems, recommending modifications to the product line(s) in an effort to expand sales; Handle customer problems related to pricing, engineering changes, shipping, etc.; Resolve any discrepancies to original contracts and/or agreements
• Leads development of product and pricing proposals to the customer (presentations, pre-source agreements, RFQ, engineering changes, etc.)
• Solicits and maintains favorable contacts with current and potential key customers.
• Supports all commercial items for assigned programs including cost estimates, purchase orders, commercial terms, and special negotiations as defined by the manager.
• Answers routine and non-routine questions as received by the customer regarding the company's products and/or services and policies.
• Prepares periodic sales report showing sales volume, potential sales, and areas of proposed client base expansion. 
• Monitors and reports sales results vs business plan and implements appropriate countermeasures to achieve the sales plan.
• Supports the 5 year business planning process and assists in the development of the department's budget and sales forecast.
• Plans and conducts market research to identify opportunities for increased sales.
• Identifies market potential, establishes pricing and market strategies, estimates potential sales, introduces market, distribution/channel issues, and manages mature product through phase-out.
• Monitors and evaluates the activities and products of the competition.
• Coordinates development of sales objectives, strategies, advertising and promotional programs (if applicable).
• Provides expertise in a particular product area and develops strategies for applicable portions of the company's business plan, budget or sales forecast.
• Ability to manage either OE or OES accounts
• Able to complete all task with moderate supervision
• Capable to handle multiple customers and or Tier 1’s
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year College or university; engineering or business degrees preferred.
• 5-10 years related sales experience calling on multiple OEM’s and or Tier I’s
• Brake sales experience or component sales experience highly desirable.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Strong understanding of customer needs and competitive environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks/ projects/ products
• Excellent negotiation and problem solving capabilities
• Financial and business acumen
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to perform essential duties
• Ability to develop instructions and guidelines to perform functions of the job as necessary

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility. However, this position is required to lead cross-functional teams and manage the multiple competing deadlines from each of the interfacing departments.

Physical Demands/Environment

• Must be able to lift and carry a minimum of 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Travel to visit other Akebono facilities, customers or vendors, either domestic or international may be require. Travel is anticipated to minimal or 10% of the time.