Country Sales Manager - Director

About Our Client

Our client is a global leader in supply chain management and logistics services. With a strong presence in over 120 countries, they are committed to providing innovative solutions that enable businesses to improve their supply chain efficiency and competitiveness. Specializing in freight forwarding, contract logistics, road transport, and supply chain optimization, our client helps organizations worldwide streamline operations and grow their businesses. They are committed to excellence, sustainability, and creating value for their customers, employees, and stakeholders.

Our client is also a leader in Japan in providing equal opportunities regardless of Gender. 

Our client is seeking a dynamic and experienced Country/National Sales Manager/Director for Japan to lead their sales team and drive business development efforts within the country. This role will have a broad scope, managing sales, key accounts, and developing the Top Line and Gross Profit for the Japan region. The position will also involve strategic leadership, market penetration, and the continuous development of new business opportunities within Japan's fast-paced logistics sector.

The role requires strong people management and client influencing skills in Japanese as well as being comfortable to work in collaboration with the European and APAC head quarters in English or French.

Mandatory skills needed for this role are: 1) Fluent in Japanese 2) Experience in working in an international environment 3) Strong diplomacy skills and the ability to communicate through story telling,  

Key Responsibilities:

• Sales Leadership: Lead and manage all sales operations in Japan, including the development of the national sales strategy aligned with our client's global business objectives.
• Business Development: Develop and execute a comprehensive business development plan to identify new opportunities, customers, and market segments.
• Key Account Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key accounts, ensuring customer satisfaction and long-term business partnerships.
• PnL Management: Take responsibility for the PnL of the Japan region, ensuring revenue growth, cost control, and profitability in line with business objectives.
• Customer Interaction: Regularly meet with new and existing customers to understand their needs, identify risks, and explore cross-selling and up-selling opportunities.
• Market Expansion: Identify and pursue new business opportunities in Japan, focusing on innovative e-solutions, digital marketing, and alternative sales channels.
• Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams such as procurement, operations, IT, and finance to ensure smooth customer processes and collaboration across departments.
• Sales Reporting & Analysis: Utilize CRM tools to track sales performance, document successes, and ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for business processing.
• Team Development: Lead, mentor, and develop the sales team in Japan, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting continuous professional growth.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Conduct regular credit checks before submitting offers to new customers and ensure all compliance guidelines are met in coordination with the finance department.

Position Requirements:

• Education/Experience:
  • A degree in Business, Logistics, or a related field (or equivalent freight forwarding training with further specialization).
  • Minimum of 5 years of sales experience in the logistics or transportation industry, with a proven track record in business development and key account management.
  • Familiarity with the freight forwarding industry in Japan is essential.
  • Experience in managing a PnL and achieving sales targets in a corporate environment is highly desirable.
• Skills:
  • Language Proficiency: Business-level proficiency in Japanese (both spoken and written), and fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
  • Strong negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in an international and multicultural environment.
  • Excellent knowledge of MS Office and CRM tools.
• Other Requirements:
  • Proven ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities.
  • Strong analytical mindset with a focus on results and customer satisfaction.
  • Willingness to travel regularly for client meetings and business development.

Our client is an equal-opportunity employer, and they strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role at a global logistics leader, we would love to hear from you!