A.W. Chesterton Company company
About Chesterton Founded in 1884 in Boston Massachusetts, USA, Chesterton is a world leader in helping process industry companies and manufacturers improve the reliability and efficiency of their process platforms. We are known across a wide range of industries for our award-winning pump and valve sealing solutions, applications expertise, equipment maintenance, wear prevention products and knowledgeable hands-on local service. We employ over 1100 people in 27 countries and have sales offices in 113 countries.
We have introduced two new positions in our Japan team as a strategic part of our succession planning efforts. These roles are designed to facilitate a smooth transition as we prepare for the retirement of our experienced, long-term employees. By creating these positions, we aim to ensure that the vast knowledge and skills of our senior team members is passed on to the next generation, providing both continuity and growth within the Japanese territory.
Positions: Area Sales Manager x 2 (Full-time, Remote, Japan)
Key Responsibilities:
• Sales and Service Support: Provide sales, service, and technical management support to Distributors and other direct sales personnel.
• Territory Strategy Development: Develop and implement territory sales and distribution strategies to drive business growth and achieve objectives.
• Budget Management: Ensure sales targets are met and monitor the budget to maintain expense objectives.
• Guidance and Leadership: Offer guidance to distributor owners and specialists to optimize performance and growth.
Location: Remote-based role within Japan, with frequent travel to various regions. This position offers the opportunity to work fully remotely while playing a key role in shaping the growth strategy for the territory, driving sales, and supporting both internal and external teams.
Key Tasks
• Drive regional corporate account business strategies and new product introductions.
• Develop and implement appropriate product and distribution channel strategies and sources.
• Assist distributors, distributor specialists and Chesterton sales specialists in strategic and tactical account planning to ensure sales and market share growth.
• Conduct quarterly reviews of Distributors and Direct Sales and develop and monitor any necessary corrective actions
• Provide formal quarterly business plan update to management along with monthly update.
• Provide product, installation and application training for distributors and end users.
• Assist and train Distributor specialists and Direct Sales personnel through joint Sales calls and /or conduct in-plant and hotel seminars.
• Conduct high level, plant / corporate standardization and reliability presentations.
• Develop and coordinate Business Development Manager territory requirements and schedules.
• Collect business intelligence on prospective customers including equipment manufacturers, identifies opportunities by product, manufacturing locations, key decision makers/influencers at local, divisional and corporate levels and captures these opportunities in monthly reports.
• Act as liaison between Chesterton and the Distribution channel.
• Ensure that assigned Distributors maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Work closely with the Distribution and Sales Management organizations toward the common goals of meeting budget objectives.
Key Experience & Qualifications
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in industrial sales/management or technical field
• College/University Degree or equivalent, preferably in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering
• Must have relevant technical industry experience that could include refineries, pumps and compressors, marine applications, water, wastewater and mining
• Must hold a valid driver’s license.
Key Skills
• Excellent interpersonal and selling skills and able to meet set objectives and targets.
• Strong customer service sand solution-oriented skills.
• Exceptional networking skills with the ability to leverage relationships critical for sales success in Japan.
• High level of accuracy and able to demonstrate a strong sense of urgency and responsiveness to meet business demands while working under pressure and rapidly changing priorities.
• Proficient IT skills including the use of Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Power Point and Excel.
• Verbal and written fluency in both Japanese and English with excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills and good with a strong work ethic.
• Must have or be capable of developing strong technical knowledge of Chesterton products.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process flow.
• Ability to work under pressure and rapidly changing priorities.
• Willing and able to travel extensively within the region (by land or air) and on occasion, internationally
Complexity of Duties
• Works under general direction and supervision.
• Represents the organisation in providing solutions associated with the sale and marketing of our products.
• Must motivate Distributor personnel through superior product knowledge.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, climb, talk or hear and reach with hands and arms. While in a factory environment, the employee may be required to bend, stoop, crouch, crawl, and lift up to 30 pounds. Duties require extensive travel and flexibility. Specific vision abilities required with this job include close and distant vision, the ability to distinguish the colour of products and colour-coded materials, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Moderate to very loud noise exists in the daily work environment.
We require passionate and solutions focused individuals who want to belong to a company that puts our core values of Accountability, Innovation, Integrity and Collaboration into every interaction with our colleagues and customers
