Location: Shin-Yokohama, Japan
Work Style: Hybrid
Salary: Up to 13 million JPY (depending on experience)
Overview
An exciting opportunity for an experienced automotive sales professional to manage commercial activities with major Japanese OEM customers within a global automotive supplier.
This role is responsible for driving new business acquisition, leading commercial negotiations, and developing long-term customer relationships throughout the product lifecycle. Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, finance, and global sales teams, you will play a key role in business growth while representing customer requirements across the organization.
The position offers broad exposure to international teams, strategic customer engagement, and advanced automotive technologies within a collaborative global environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage commercial activities for assigned Japanese OEM customers
- Develop and execute long-term account strategies
- Lead RFQs, quotations, pricing activities, and commercial negotiations
- Manage customer contracts, commercial agreements, and related documentation
- Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, finance, and program management teams to support business objectives
- Support new business acquisition and successful program launches
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customer purchasing, engineering, and management teams
- Represent customer requirements within the global organization
- Monitor financial performance, pricing, and commercial KPIs throughout the product lifecycle
- Support annual business planning, forecasting, and sales strategy activities
- Identify new business opportunities while supporting long-term customer growth
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related discipline
- 3+ years of experience within the automotive industry
- Experience in automotive sales, account management, commercial management, or business development
- Understanding of commercial negotiations, pricing, contracts, and financial processes
- Business-level Japanese and English communication skills
- Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to work effectively within global cross-functional teams
Nice to Have
- Experience with a global automotive Tier 1 supplier
- Experience supporting Japanese OEM customers
- Experience managing RFQs, quotations, pricing negotiations, or commercial agreements
- Understanding of automotive manufacturing and product development processes
- Experience working with finance, engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing organizations
- Experience supporting sustainability or carbon-neutral initiatives
Ideal Background
This opportunity may be a good fit for professionals with experience as a:
- Sales Manager
- Account Manager
- Key Account Manager
- Business Development Manager
- Commercial Manager
- Customer Business Manager
- OEM Account Manager
- Program Commercial Manager
Transferable automotive sales or commercial experience from a Tier 1 supplier is highly valued.
Why this role?
This position offers the opportunity to lead commercial activities for major Japanese automotive customers while working across a broad international organization.
Rather than focusing solely on day-to-day sales activities, you will help shape customer strategy, lead commercial negotiations, coordinate global teams, and support long-term business growth.
For automotive sales professionals looking to expand their commercial responsibility, strengthen their global exposure, and play a key role in strategic customer development, this represents an excellent next step in their career.
