Position: Account Manager

Team / Department / Location: Commercial/HPP/ Tokyo, Japan

Purpose of Position

The Account Manager Japan manages the sales activities and resources in Japan for assigned key accounts and distributors as well as specific market segments, i.e. Electronics & Polymer modification, Polyurethane additives, Epoxy curing agent, will be the focus. He/She implements the Japan along with APAC and/or global business strategies, works with key accounts & distributors for a profitable growth, and promotes relationships with commercial partners. He/she is accountable for safe operation and delivery of the annual sales and margin budgets for the accounts he/she is assigned.

The focus of this role is the development of HPP’s position in the above-mentioned accounts and segments.

Principal Accountabilities

• Ensures the implementation of HPP Business strategies and EH&S policies in Japan, by working closely with Japan Country Manager, Marketing Managers, Commercial Support Manager/Team, EH&S, Technical Group as a part of Japan commercial team

• Accountable for the delivery of Sales and Contribution Margin budget from the assigned accounts.  He/she is responsible for the preparation of the annual Sales budget for these accounts and segments and ensures the delivery of the agreed budget by working closely with related people mentioned above as well as customers. Keeping effective working capital by providing accurate sales forecast and ensuring timely invoice payment by customers

• Ensures the accuracy of the monthly sales forecasting against its delivery which is in line with the business strategies and the market conditions.  Proposes and carries out gap closure actions  

• Provides leadership and improvement on the business processes, which include distributor quarterly & annual performance review, legal aspects, account plans & reports, Key account management, pricing file, customer complaints & satisfaction, and receivables monitoring

• Delivers a high degree of communication internally by participating & contributing in business meeting, day-to-day communication with Commercial Team, and others outside Japan as necessary  

• Engaged strongly with marketplace to ensure profitable growth for Huntsman.  Identifies new opportunities, market intelligence, market dynamics, and political development in Japan, and initiates work on market development, proposal of change of strategies and potential investment.

• Good team work to Japan commercial team by helping each other and sharing good practices and knowledges as well as with people in other countries and functions, such as supply chain, marketing, technical, EH&S, in professional manner

Scope of Position

Problem solving and know-how -  Wide experience in solving problems related to customer satisfaction, pricing, technical problem solving, people management, legal issue, product registration and other commercial issues.  Know-how of HPP products, country commercial/trade policies, Business ethics, is essential.

Major Challenges

The Japan market is almost a mature market, but there are still room for growth above GDP, and it is now the center of product/application development and innovation. Challenges for the Japan Account Manager are optimization of the current business, account identification and initiation of product/application development in new areas, managing competition from local, Chinese, European and American competitors, and managing distribution channels for profitable growth with limited resource.

Additional Locations: