Assistant Manager / Sales / Bilingual Japanese

80 to 90K | Full-time | New York, NY

About the role

A major global import-export trading company is seeking an Assistant Manager to support business development and sales activities for advanced communications and government-related technology products. This position will work closely with customers, overseas manufacturers, technical teams, and internal management to develop new business opportunities, manage existing accounts, and support the commercial development of assigned product lines.

Candidates do not need extensive sales experience. However, familiarity with the telecommunications, advanced communications, aerospace, government contracting, or defense-related industries is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify prospective customers and develop new business opportunities within existing and new accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, manufacturers, suppliers, and business partners.
• Work with overseas manufacturers’ engineering and management teams to support customer meetings, presentations, product demonstrations, and technical discussions.
• Understand customer requirements and coordinate appropriate product or service solutions.
• Prepare and respond to quotations, proposals, requests for information, and Requests for Proposal.
• Manage assigned sales opportunities and contribute to revenue and profitability goals.
• Prepare customer visit reports, sales activity reports, business meeting reports, and internal presentations.
• Maintain weekly and monthly sales forecasts and provide updates on active business opportunities.
• Analyze projected revenue, costs, margins, and profitability for products and projects.
• Support product planning, market analysis, forecasting, goal setting, and business development action plans.
• Coordinate inventory planning and product availability with internal teams and overseas suppliers.
• Support the establishment and review of customer credit limits.
• Monitor sales-related expenses in accordance with approved budgets and internal financial guidelines.
• Identify potential complementary products, strategic partnerships, and new market opportunities.
• Coordinate internal approval processes for inventory commitments and other commercial transactions.
• Attend customer meetings, industry conferences, trade shows, and business events.
• Travel domestically and internationally approximately 20%, depending on business needs.
• Participate occasionally in evening or weekend conference calls with overseas offices and business partners.

Requirements

• Professional experience or working knowledge related to telecommunications, advanced communications, aerospace, government contracting, defense-related products, or another relevant technical industry.
• Some experience in sales, business development, account management, project coordination, or customer-facing work.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, technical professionals, manufacturers, and senior management.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently while contributing as part of a team.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience preparing quotations, proposals, presentations, or other commercial documents.
• Sound judgment and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Business-level Japanese and English communication skills, including reading, writing, and speaking.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer-sponsored visa support.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting contract negotiations or commercial transactions.
• Experience with technical products, solution-based sales, or technical proposal development.
• Basic knowledge of international trade practices, logistics, customs procedures, and Incoterms.
• Strong professional writing skills in both English and Japanese.
• Experience working with Japanese companies or in a global business environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has a general understanding of the telecommunications, advanced communications, aerospace, or defense-related industries and is interested in developing a long-term career in international business development. Extensive sales experience is not required. The company is open to candidates who have relevant industry knowledge, strong communication skills, technical aptitude, and the ability to develop trusted relationships with customers and overseas business partners.