Director

YAMAZAKI MAZAK SINGAPORE PTE LTD; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading machine tool manufacturer is seeking a Sales Director to oversee operations in Southeast Asia. This role involves driving sales strategy, managing teams across countries like Singapore and Malaysia, and establishing relationships with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have extensive sales leadership experience, a strong understanding of the CNC and manufacturing sectors, and fluency in Japanese and English.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10-15 years in sales leadership within the machine tools or manufacturing sector.
• At least 5 years in a director-level role managing regional SEA operations.
• Fluency in Japanese (business level) and English (native/fluency).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sales strategies for the Southeast Asia region.
• Lead direct and channel sales teams to secure new business.
• Cultivate relationships with C-suite executives and partners in SEA.

Skills

Sales leadership

Cross-cultural collaboration

Team management

Market analysis

Customer engagement

Technical proficiency

Fluency in Japanese

Fluency in English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Engineering

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

CRM tools

Sales analytics software

Job description

Role Purpose:

The Director (Sales Director) will lead our SEA sales operations, fostering growth in key markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. This role emphasizes strategic leadership, cross-cultural collaboration, and alignment with Yamazaki Mazak's global standards of excellence. The position oversees a dynamic team across multiple departments to deliver exceptional customer value and achieve aggressive revenue targets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sales Leadership

Develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies for the Southeast Asia region to drive revenue growth, market penetration, and customer acquisition in the machine tools and manufacturing sector. Set and monitor KPIs to ensure alignment with corporate objectives.

Direct engagement with Japanese dealers and customers in Singapore and Malaysia.

Departmental Oversight

Manage and integrate the following departments:

• Sales (Singapore and SEA): Lead direct and channel sales teams to secure new business, upsell solutions, and maintain key accounts across industrial clients in automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing.
• Parts and Service: Oversee aftermarket support, spare parts distribution, and service operations to maximize customer satisfaction, recurring revenue, and lifecycle value.
• Solution Engineering: Collaborate with engineering teams to customize CNC and multi-tasking machine solutions, providing technical expertise during sales cycles and ensuring seamless project delivery.
• Integrated Marketing: Direct marketing initiatives, including digital campaigns, trade shows, and promotional activities, to enhance brand visibility and generate qualified leads in SEA markets.

Team Management and Development

Build, mentor, and motivate a high-performing team of professionals across sales, service, and support functions. Conduct performance reviews, foster a culture of accountability and innovation, and promote cross-departmental collaboration.

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement

Cultivate strong relationships with C-suite executives, distributors, and partners in SEA. Represent Yamazaki Mazak at industry events and negotiate high-value contracts to expand market share.

Business Development

Identify emerging opportunities in digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0, conducting market analysis to inform product roadmaps and competitive positioning.

Compliance and Reporting

Ensure adherence to Japanese corporate governance and export control law, local regulations, and ethical sales practices. Provide regular reports on sales performance, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to global headquarters in Japan in Japanese language.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with manufacturing, R&D, and global teams to align regional activities with Yamazaki Mazak's worldwide innovation pipeline.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 10-15 years in sales leadership within the machine tools, manufacturing, or industrial equipment sector, with at least 5 years in a director-level role managing regional SEA operations. Proven track record of achieving multi-million-dollar revenue targets.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of CNC systems, metal cutting technologies, and B2B sales in competitive markets. Familiarity with SEA economic landscapes and manufacturing trends.
• Leadership Skills: Strong people management abilities, with experience leading diverse, multicultural teams. Demonstrated success in motivating teams to exceed targets through coaching and strategic planning.
• Technical Proficiency: Ability to engage on technical aspects of machine tools and solutions engineering; experience with CRM tools and sales analytics software.
• Language skill: Fluency in Japanese (business level) and English (native/fluency). Proficiency in Mandarin or other SEA languages is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cultural alignment with Japanese business practices (e.g., kaizen, long-term relationship building).
• Prior exposure to Yamazaki Mazak or similar Japanese OEMs in the machine tool industry.