Department: Specialty Products

Reporting:  The Business Development Executive is reporting to the President & CEO and general manager

FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act): Exempt

Working time: Full time employee as per staff handbook and addendums.

The major job duties can be summarized as follows:

A. MARKET DEVELOPMENT

• Develop and execute business development strategies (marketing & sales) to acquire new customers or clients, entering a new market segment, launching a new product line or entering a new geographical area.
• Closely monitor competition, economic indicators, and industry trends and reporting related summary to the management on quarterly basis.
• Continually exploring new ways to improve the Company’s image (Brand image).
• Defining proactive sales methods including end user customer presentations (e.g. landfill/digester owners), phone sales and new business opportunities at trade shows and industry events.
• Specifying targets and quota as well as projects, forecasts and budgets on annual, quarterly and monthly basis for submission to the management for approval. The same applies for long-term plans such as mid-term plan (3 years or longer plans) or estimations included in feasibility studies.
• Track and analyze develop plans and sales results to identify performance gaps among individual team members. Implement ways to improve the development status and sales results, including cost down reported to the management.
• Analyze legal requirements and related changes with the potential impact on business as well as opportunities they may provide.

B. TECHNICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & SOLUTION ENGINEERING

• Act as the technical-commercial interface between engineering companies, EPCs, and customers developing skid systems of RNG (renewable natural gas) or other industries.
• Support customers in the selection, sizing, and configuration of gas separation membrane modules to meet performance, purity, recovery, and cost targets.
• Analyze customer process conditions (gas composition, pressure, flow rate, impurities, operating constraints) and propose optimized membrane-based solutions.
• Work with customers to optimize overall system design, including membrane staging, recycle strategies, compression requirements, and integration with upstream/downstream equipment.
• Translate customer technical requirements into internally aligned solutions, coordinating with engineering, R&D, and manufacturing teams as needed.

C. IDENTIFYING CUSTOMER NEEDS

• Maintain a deep understanding of customer needs and monitor their preferences.
• Following up all product leads and inquiries received from advertising, web sites and trade shows.
• Attending trade shows and other events as necessary in order to increase the presence of the Company and to establish new contacts and product markets.
• Participating and networking in associations and industry networks and reading professional and industry publications.
• Establishing and maintaining close relations to decision makers in the industry such like brand owners, end-users (landfill/digester owners), certifying bodies like norming committees setting industry standards.

D. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (SUPPORTING THE GENERAL MANAGER)

• Developing goals for the business development team and securing business growth, ensuring they are met.
• Active participation in monthly department meetings run by the General Manager in order to: Share important information on company’s business – and financial situation; Reporting of status related to business development projects & sales. Definition of action plan for the next reporting period; News on inter-company rules and regulations.
• Training personnel and helping team members develop their skills. Develop entry level staff into valuable sales people.
• Definition of individual targets for each team member and evaluate the level of accomplishment.
• Running annual appraisals (preferably semi-annual) to identify individual strength, hidden talents being not used, and skills to be improved by internal or external professional training.

E. GENERAL JOB REQUIREMENTS & PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

• Manage time and resources by using tools provided by the company (phone, fax, e-mail) in order to maximize productivity and to accomplish tasks on time.
• Keeping management informed by participating in meetings and by reporting problems to management verbally or in writing in order to avoid confusion or issues.
• Knowledge & compliance with federal, state and local requirements, adhering to requirements; and filing reports as necessary (forms).
• Studying existing and new regulations.
• Contributing to the company- & team effort by being flexible in work assignments, covering for other staff if needed and accomplishing related tasks when requested.
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attaining job-related certification, keeping up on industry trends and by applying that knowledge to the job.
• Acting on constructive feedback by being open to feedback from peers, supervisors, and clients and by using the feedback to improve performance.
• Improving processes by examining departmental work processes, research procedures, administrative procedures etc. and by recommending changes where appropriate.
• Upholding work standards by maintaining professional conduct and appearance and by realizing one’s own limitations and seeking assistance when needed by using established communication channels.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Sales & Marketing Skills: Market Knowledge; Build Relationships; Sell to Customer Needs & Meeting Sales Goals based on own efforts; Planning & Budget Preparation; Negotiation; Customer-focused, solution-oriented mindset.
• Technical & Professional Skills: Strong understanding of gas separation processes, membrane-based systems, or similar separation technologies; Ability to evaluate and optimize process flow diagrams (PFDs) and system concepts at a high level; Strong analytical skills with the ability to balance technical performance and commercial considerations; Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining technical concepts to both engineering and non-technical stakeholders.
• Language & Communication Skills: Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working in cross-functional and customer-facing environments; Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business documents, forms and instructions; Preparing reports, business correspondence and procedure manual; Effectively responding to questions from management, staff, clients and the general public; Communicating verbally and in writing to individuals and groups in English. Japanese language capabilities would be an asset
• Mathematical, Accounting & Finance Skills:  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume; Applying concepts of basic algebra and geometry and to draw and interpret graphs.
• Computer Skills: Knowledge of MS Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook; Proven experience with SAP Business One or SAP R/3 or alternative ERP-systems.
• Others skills: Strong organizational and analytical skills; Having a very positive work attitude. Tactful, mature, flexible and able to successfully respond to multiple tasks and working under time pressure. Willing to work some longer hours during peak periods.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Min. Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering preferred, Business Administration, Business Economics and similar required.
• Having a minimum of 10 years’ experience in Sales & Marketing functions, preferably in chemical industry.

PERSONALITY:

• Ability to multi – task, work under pressure and meet deadlines required.
• Have a high discipline.
• Sense of urgency.
• Competitive nature.
• Self-motivated to learn new concepts and participate in new projects.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work from home based with regular interaction with customers, internal teams and external partners. While performing the duties of the job, the staff member is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The staff member is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to pick-up, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The staff member must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. The position requires vision abilities such as close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment (open plan office) is usually moderate. The staff member may be required to travel for business and needs to have a valid driver’s license as well as being able to fly with well-known airlines. The staff member needs to be ready to work beyond normal business hours when occasionally being necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: UBE America Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.