Sales Engineer-Schaumburg, IL,#12373

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Occasional evening and weekend work required as job duties demand
Reports to: Director of Sales- Appliance
Category: Exempt

This job description is subject to change at the discretion of the company with advance notification.

Job Description

Summary:
The Sales Engineer will apply technical product knowledge to support business development in the appliance and consumer electronics industries.

Key responsibilities include communicating directly with customers, including through on-site visits,
understanding their needs, presenting technical solutions, proposing competitive pricing based on market analysis, and securing business awards.

The role involves close collaboration with international group companies, including the Japan headquarters and affiliated companies or factories in the US, Mexico, and occasionally Asia, and contributes to achieving annual targets for business awards, sales, and profit.

Essential Functions
1) Manages and Expands Customer Accounts by communicating with current and potential customers about the effectiveness of the Company's technical products.

a. Own and exceed annual sales and profit targets for the Appliance Sales team.
b. Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve sales targets and expand the customer base.
c. Build and maintain strong, long-lasting customer relationships.
d. Effectively communicate value propositions through proposals and presentations.
e. Communicate with multiple stakeholders and coordinate activities to achieve growth objectives.
f. Travel locally, regionally, and internationally to facilitate business goals.
g. Understand D&B ratings and mitigate financial risk with customers in cooperation with accounting and inside sales teams.

2) Prepares Estimates and Quotations
by developing financial and operational estimates, by preparing and presenting sales projections for accounts managed

a. Determining estimates of the cost effectiveness for the customer to use the Company's products as opposed to competitors' products; by researching and preparing all information regarding estimates.
b. Providing price quotes, proposals, and credit terms to current and prospective customers; and by answering questions from customers in a timely manner.

3) Increases Profits
by achieving sales goals; by analyzing sales trends and operating efficiency, product presentations, and best practices in order to maximize profit;

a. Researching and identifying potential customers in specified industries; by researching market and technological information affecting the Company's products.
b. Developing proactive sales methods and best practices
c. Sharing information with colleagues within the Chicago Sales team.

4) Represents the Company
by attending trade shows and other events as necessary in order to increase the presence of the Company.

a. Continually exploring new ways to improve the Company’s image.

Additional Job Functions
1) Demonstrates Customer Care
by establishing and maintaining lasting relationships with customers, vendors, and suppliers.

a. Accurately delivering complex work in a timely manner, with necessary negotiation and adjustment.
b. Collecting and sharing information and creating proposals that benefit all parties.
c. Resolving service and/or delivery issues.
d. Identifying and understanding potential needs of customers and internal departments and
proactively providing support and information as necessary.

2) Drives Continual Improvement
by focusing on kaizen and identifying areas for improvement or potential opportunity, communicating to Senior Management and supporting implementation as necessary.

3) Creates and Maintains Positive Working Environment by demonstrating and upholding corporate culture
a. Encouraging cooperation
b. Ensuring compliance with industry standards, laws and regulations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
1.Preferred experience in the home appliances or consumer electronics industry (approximately 3–5 years).
2.Preferred experience in the plastic injection molding or surface decoration technologies (such as IMD, IML, or the printing process).
3.Proven ability to drive the sales process from plan to close.
4.Prior work experience at a Japanese company or its subsidiary is preferred (minimum 3 years).
5.Japanese language skills are not required.
6.Capability to facilitate communication across multiple group company locations (e.g., US, Mexico, Japan, China).
7.Strong mathematical skills for calculating figures such as product manufacturing costs, selling prices, and profit margins.
8.Proficiency in English communication.
9.Strong listening skills and the ability to accurately understand the needs of customers and team members.
10.Flexibility and adaptability.
11.Ability to respond to multiple work pressures.
12.Willingness to provide casual and frequent updates and consultations with supervisors.

Required Education and Experience
1. Create and nurture customer relationships from scratch to develop new sales accounts.
2. Background knowledge on display technology and market trends. Having background in IMD/IML (preferred).
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills (both internal and external).
4. Intermediate Microsoft office skills (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook).
5. Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business Administration or related degree

Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The Sales Engineer may be required to travel for business and work beyond normal business hours when necessary.
The Sales Engineer will occasionally be involved with factory tours, prototype trial attendance with customers, and trouble-shooting activities in a factory environment.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to pick-up, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
This position requires vision abilities such as close vision, the ability to adjust focus, and the ability to distinguish colors.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work is required as job duties demand.

Travel
This position requires up to 50% travel. Frequently, travel is outside the local area and overnight. Some of the travel is international.