For our client we are looking for a Vice President Key Account Sales for the machine tool building Industry.

Main Tasks:

  • The Vice President will report directly to the CEO in China. Reporting into the position will be two direct reports.
  • Key responsibility for the strategic development and management of the sales efforts with defined Key Account Customers in China
  • Support the sales group in working efficiently and meeting targets, and provide coaching and training as needed to improve performance.
  • Provide leadership to direct reports as well as the overall sales, marketing, service, and customer solution organizations.
  • Maintain on-going coordination with the GM and the worldwide Key Account Management.
  • Maintain on-going coordination with the leadership at headquarters regarding conditions of key accounts, basic contracts, dealer development, sales activities, marketing efforts, service activities and technical requirements.
  • Establish and implement long-term strategy and annual sales plans in cooperation with parent company, establish, organize and manage internal business processes.
  • Provide continuous personnel review, and ensure an optimum staffing situation for the group.
  • Develop and manage a team of sale managers.
  • Maintain existing key-accounts and further develop sales and sales channels into Automotive customers and defined other industries.
  • Continually observe market trends and initiate innovation or applications to further develop sales.
  • Establish a well-run key-account sales organization through leadership, motivation, and continuous development of employees.
  • Increase and maintain the group’s existing network in conjunction with China and German headquarters, and support necessary processes to grow the group’s chinese business.
  • Set-up and development of Key Account Management in China in close cooperation with the German Head Office.
  • Development of strategies for customer acquisition and support
  • Responsibility for a highest possible and economic market exploitation (revenue, gross margin)
  • Recognition of market and product trends and deduction of according measures
  • Regular direct customer contact (> 80% of working hours)
  • Implementation of the company-own strategy in the market

Tasks in detail:

  • Calculate, know and develop potentials on location level
  • Create and carry out customer specific concepts and measures
  • Annual planning (budget, measures, objectives, etc.)
  • Negotiate prices, close deals
  • Negotiate frame contracts
  • Acquire new customers
  • Prepare and track tenders in cooperation with internal sales
  • Maintain relationship to contacts and (top) managers
  • Customer retention via several ways (products, services, seminars, events, trade fairs, etc.)
  • Market research: track corporate structures (acquisitions and sale) with adaption of commercial consequences
  • Competitor analysis, determine weaknesses and derive specific measures
  • Reporting, ensure regular information
  • Close cooperation with Key Account Management-Team (KAM) and Internal Sales
  • Customer projects in logistics, services etc.

The Qualification:

  • Education: B.S. / B.A. degree in a business or technical field, with advanced (M.S.) or MBA beneficial but not required.
  • Work Status: Chinese or non-Chinese with residency.
  • Language(s): Chinese language skills, English is required, German, beneficial but not required.
  • Approx. 10 years’ successful track record in high-level sales management in a machine tool manufacturing environment. Must possess clear skills in business development and customer acquisition.
  • Experience with both direct and indirect sales preffered.
  • Solid commercial skills, with experience dealing with complex customer contract negotiations.
  • Excellent planning and organizational skills, with ability to analyze and improve sales processes, as well as the ability to effectively communicate goals to staff.
  • Clear ability to develop and implement strategies, including skills in developing proper monitoring and performance measurement tools.
  • Experience with managing sales teams, with background maintaining and expanding sales networks highly desired.
  • Experience ideally within a machine tool company or other firm employing high-quality machine tool equipment.
  • Demonstrated strong sales leadership capability with proven growth results.
  • Practical experience in sales of capital equipment or machine tools desirable.
  • Metal-cutting and machine tool experience is required.
  • Experience working for a German or European-based company beneficial.

Location
The employing company is located in Jiangsu Province.

Further Information
Please send your application to Mr. Dr. Karl Waldkirch (kw@asc-waldkirch.com)