Sr. Sales Specialist (Latin America) - Kuraray America

Title: Senior Sales Specialist (Latin America)

Location: Houston, TX

Who we are:

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 31 countries and employs more than 11,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

Since 1972, Kuraray has been the world leader in high gas barrier technology, production and technical development of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH). Kuraray produces the world's widest available grade range of EVOH resin under the name EVALâ„¢.

Why Kuraray:

Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability.

As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.

Position summary:

Manage sales of EVAL to Latin American customers through effective management of a local agents and working in conjunction EVAL customer service and PM teams. Work closely with Market Development and Technical Service and Development teams to drive the growth of EVAL products in the Latin American market. Work with senior management to assess competitive threats and develop a pricing strategy that is in-line with the global strategy. Assists in resolving late payments and credit.

Responsibilities:

• Communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals
• Ensure quality service and profitable business growth by managing a portfolio of complex customer relationships and/or a small team of account managers.
• Contribute to the development of annual and longer-term business plans; forecast performance against business key performance indicators (KPIs); develop business cases for key activities/projects; and estimate the financial and human resources required to deliver performance targets.
• Develop and implement relationship management plans for complex potential customer accounts to identify and build relationships with relevant decision-makers and influencers within the customer organization and to enable effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues.
• Manage ongoing relationships with identified customer segments to ensure their needs are met, providing themes, summary analyses, and recommendations for changes based on customer input.

• Develop internal marketing plans and workcollaboratively with other departments to improve internal relationshipsand build strong external customer relationships.
• Deliver a budget for an area of the organization or conduct complex analyses on budget progress in other areas of the organization.
• Maintain and renew a deep knowledge and understanding of the organization's policies and procedures and of relevant regulatory codes and codes of conduct, and ensure own work adheres to required standards.
• Develop and propose own performance objectives; take appropriate actions to ensure achievement of agreed objectives, using the organization's performance management systems to improve personal performance.
• Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs.
• Plan and implement actions to build their capabilities.
• Provide training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.
• Set clear objectives for each sales call; develop and make presentations that are tailored to the known interests, needs, issues, and concerns of decision-makers and influencers within the customer organization; gather and analyze relevant information; and gain agreement to a statement of customer requirements.
• Develop a personal network within the business sector and represent the organization at business sector events.
• Obtain market intelligence and enhance the visibility and reputation of the organization, its products, and its services.
• Travel up to 50% to LATAM as required to visit customers and attend meetings and trade shows
• Work with the local agents in the various LATAM regions

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in STEM or Business field
• 10 years minimum polymers petro-chemical or film converting experience in the LATAM market
• Proficiency in written and spoken Spanish required
• Proficiency in Portuguese is a plus
• Experience with customer service, logistics, and international shipping to LATAM
• Outstanding verbal and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, creative thinking, consulting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize work to manage multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving/decision-making skills.
• Strong organization skills and the ability to multi-task
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license

Competencies:

• Customer Focus
  • Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Business Insight
  • Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
• Cultivate Innovation
  • Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Action Oriented
  • Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability
  • Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results
  • Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances
• Collaborates
  • Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Difference
  • Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Communicates Effectively
  • Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Courage
  • Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Instills Trust
  • Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability
  • Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.

Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Please apply online at: http://www.kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer AA M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

No third-party candidates accepted.