About this role
<h4><span style="color:#008080"><strong>Company Profile</strong></span></h4> <p><br>Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) is an integrated global trading company active in a range of commercial ventures. It imports and exports raw materials, and goods and has diversified activities in businesses throughout the Americas. These activities include investments and financing, coordination and operation of urban and industrial infrastructure projects, providing transportation and logistics services, developing natural resources, distribution of steel and other products, and developing and managing real estate. SCOA is the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation (SC), one of Japan's major integrated trading and investment business enterprises with operations in a wide array of businesses, organized into eighteen industry focused segments, Tubular Products, Steel, Automotive, Commercial Aviation, Aerospace Defense & Technology, Construction Equipment Solution, Materials, Supplies, and Real Estate, Logistics, Social Infrastructure, Food & Lifestyle, Mineral Resources, Light Metals, Basic Chemicals & Electronics, Life Science, Agri-Business, Energy Innovation Initiative Americas, Power Infrastructure, Energy. Visit <a href="http://www.sumitomocorp.com">www.sumitomocorp.com</a> and <a href="https://www.sumitomocorp.com/en/us/scoa">www.sumitomocorp.com/en/us/scoa</a> for more information.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p><p><strong><span style="color:darkcyan;font-size:14.0pt">Defense Program Account Representative ($92,000 - $112,000)</span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><strong>Job Summary:</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Defense Program Account Representative will supervise a portfolio of defense industry clients, serving as the primary point of contact within the U.S. for various U.S. OEMs and their counterparts in Japan. This role involves managing complex relationships, handling account-specific issues, and acting as the lead U.S. interface for accounts under the overall responsibility of the senior management team. The position requires effective communication and coordination between U.S. clients, Japanese partners, and other key stakeholders to ensure exceptional service delivery, and fostering strong client relationships.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><strong>Duties/ Responsibilities:</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Supervise a portfolio of defense industry clients and serve as their primary point of contact within the US.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Build and nurture relationships with U.S. OEMs, Japanese counterparts, and relevant government stakeholders.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Understand client needs and objectives to provide tailored solutions and services.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Serve as the lead U.S. interface on programs, ensuring smooth coordination between U.S. OEMs, Japanese partners, and government agencies.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Track milestones, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring that the needs of each OEM are met while maintaining compliance with government regulations.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Communicate regularly with senior manager regarding program status, financial health, and any issues or risks.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver on client requirements and expectations.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Work closely with international partners in Japan to achieve targets and objective. </span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Provide timely, solutions-focused support, adapting approaches as necessary to meet the unique requirements of client. </span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Stay updated on Defense program industry trends, regulations, and competitive landscape.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to monitor budgets, expenditures, and contracts.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Ensure all contractual obligations are met in line with both client and government expectations, ensuring full compliance with regulations.</span></li> <li style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Assist in financial forecasting, cost proposals, and provide regular reports on program financials.</span></li> </ul> <p style="color:black"> </p> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><strong>Job Specific Knowledge/Skills & Abilities:</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:black"><strong><Required></strong><br></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color:black">Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.</span></li> <li><span style="color:black">Ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships.</span></li> <li><span style="color:black">Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.</span></li> <li><span style="color:black">Proficient in using Microsoft suites and SAP.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black"><strong><Preferred></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Fluency in Japanese</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Understanding of defense sector products, services, and market dynamics.</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Work and business experience, including back-office functions (some customer interaction, account/program management, and SAP experience in a back-office setting).</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:black"><span style="color:black">Versatility to adapt to various environments, including customer, corporate, accounting, and legal.</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><br><strong>Education, Certification and Experience:</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><span style="color:black"><strong><Required></strong></span><br></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color:darkcyan;background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Bachelor's degree</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:darkcyan"><span style="color:black">Minimum of 3+ years of experience in account management or sales within the defense industry</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="color:darkcyan"><br><strong>Physical Requirements:</strong><br></span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><span style="color:black">Ability to perform standard office-based work with or without reasonable accommodation</span></li> <li><span style="color:darkcyan"><span style="color:black">Hybrid work style (Minimum 2 days in the office/week)</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:darkcyan;background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Willingness to travel for client meetings and industry events</span></span></li> <li><span style="color:darkcyan"><span style="color:black">There is no visa sponsorship provided for this position</span></span></li> </ul><h4><span style="color:#008080"><strong>Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement</strong></span></h4> <p><br>Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Sumitomo are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Sumitomo will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.</p>