Sales Specialist

Yazaki is a global leader in the research, development, and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions.

Yazaki works with virtually every major auto manufacturer globally, and we've strived to maintain strategic and stable growth throughout our 84-year history. Today, we're looking for energetic people with the potential to perform and the ability to strengthen - and thrive in - the positive work environment we pride ourselves on.

Location: Columbus, OH, USA

What we are looking for:

Yazaki is looking for a Sales Specialist to join our TPNO Business Unit in Columbus, OH. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a collaborative and action-driven environment making lasting impacts on the organization.

The Sales Specialist will represent Yazaki North & Central America with OEM, Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 suppliers as assigned. Work with commercial organizations to establish price strategies and technical organizations for competitive product levels. Develop customer sales price and quotes, supporting vehicle pricing strategy and development from sourcing through build out. Function as your assigned vehicle’s subject matter expert with comprehensive knowledge of all aspects affecting profitability; communicate this with management and support commercial negotiations with the customer. Support management in coordination and business planning meetings. Work with Yazaki manufacturing and appropriate internal teams to develop material costs and profit improvement plans. Embody Yazaki’s image to build trusting, positive customer relationships.

What you will be doing:

• Customer Inquiries
  • Respond to customer or potential customer requests for information and/or problem solving
  • Coordinate and communicate customer inquiries internally

• • Customer Relationship Management
    • Maintain professional relationships with customer contacts
    • Identify customer needs and act as the customer voice at internal meetings
    • Promote Yazaki business objectives clearly with the customer
  • Quotation Requests
    • Provide support necessary to Account Managers / Platform Management in the development and response to customer inquiries for product price quotations including but not limited to Sourcing, Engineering Changes, Cost Planning and Service
    • Use internal databases to develop and track quotation data
  • Pricing Strategy
    • Support the sales price development process
    • Elaborate or revise a pricing strategy on specific products
    • Maintain and track sales prices and profit improvement
  • Respond to pricing issue inquiries from company and customer personnel
  • Purchasing Analysis
    • Conduct Purchase Price analysis at each term and design change
    • Organize Yazaki Engineering and Manufacturing to support Purchase Price analysis
    • Analyze manufacturing Bills of Material
  • Profitability Analysis, Improvement and Execution
    • Prepare expense evaluations and comparisons of profitability by product or product line
    • Recommend profit improvement ideas and implementation plans
  • Manage Supplier relationships
    • Work with primary OEM customer to understand roles and responsibilities of tiered supplier structure
    • Manage customer interaction with Tier customers and OEM suppliers
    • Develop profit improvement plan for major Tier customers and OEM supplier base
  • Tooling
    • Manage the tooling costs associated with quote to customer for new business (production and prototype)
    • Recover tooling cost for engineering changes
  • Provide supporting information for short and long-term forecasts
  • Act as a liaison between Sales and other non-Sales functions
  • Make business decisions that may affect day-to-day and financial operations of the division
  • Attend organizational meetings (e.g. Staff, Departmental)
  • Contribute to processes standardization and promote awareness and understanding of ISO 16949 compliance
  • Attend workshops, seminars or conferences to enhance job-related skills
  • Participate in special assignments as requested (e.g. study and improve financial/ operational efficiency)
• Support long-range and short-term group forecasts, goals, objectives, and priorities
• Support other projects, tasks, and/or duties as assigned

What you will bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s in Sales, Business or related field or equivalent experience
• 5 years of experience in a customer-related capacity
• Preferred: 1-3 years of experience in Automotive, Manufacturing or International Business
• Domestic/International travel may be required (less than 10%)
• Fluency in English required; Fluency in Spanish or Japanese is very beneficial
• Microsoft Office Suite, high proficiency in Excel, with technical aptitude to learn new software and systems
• Proficiency in organization, communication, planning, decision making, problem solving, and interpersonal skills

What we can provide you:

• A collaborative learning environment that will help you reach your maximum potential
• A diverse team of experts
• Supportive leadership and team members to help you do your best work
• Opportunities to build your professional network
• An engaging and supportive work culture
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including incentive compensation, 401K match, tuition assistance and a generous holiday schedule
• Hybrid work schedule

Yazaki North America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, handicap, veteran status, or other legally protected status or characteristic. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship. Yazaki North America complies with federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and strives to keep the workplace free from all forms of harassment.