Tire / RE - Key Account Manager
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, MBA
Tokyo, Japan
In Person
Sales & Account ManagementAccount Management
About the job
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in business or engineering is required; an MBA is a plus.
- At least 10 years of sales experience in a top-tier international company.
- Automotive or tire sales experience is preferred.
- Strong analytical and presentation skills.
- Project management knowledge and experience working for an international company.
- Ability to interact with senior-level customers.
- Ability to manage a local sales team, including individual sales representative development and motivation, with human resources knowledge.
- A performance-driven leadership style and ability to work as part of a team.
- International communication skills and cultural understanding.
- Native-level Japanese, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 level with more than five years living in Japan.
- Fluent English at a business communication level.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans for assigned accounts over the short, medium, and long term to contribute to overall company sales goals.
- Achieve sales volume targets and increase share of assigned accounts; provide short- and long-term sales forecasts; create annual customer activity plans; and develop new accounts.
- Develop the retail channel, improve sell-out performance, and strengthen the company's presence at retail outlets.
- Achieve sales targets for assigned accounts in line with company sales targets and grow or maximize the business.
- Achieve monthly targets and execute promotional plans and other sales activities.
- Maintain a sustainable balance between sales volume and profitability.
- Drive retail sell-out performance by working with customers to improve product availability, retail execution, and consumer demand.
- Support the National Sales Manager in developing national sales strategy and ensure its implementation.
- Develop regional and customer-level sales strategies aligned with national sales strategy.
- Provide monthly, quarterly, and yearly forecast data and continuously improve forecast accuracy and seasonal curves.
- Develop customer-specific retail growth plans, including promotional activities, sell-out initiatives, and annual joint business plans.
- Monitor retail performance and identify opportunities to improve channel effectiveness and market share.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with assigned customers through a clear understanding of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and improve relationship profitability.
- Implement key projects and initiatives at customer level, track progress, and collect feedback.
- Provide training and customer service using existing team and company resources.
- Conduct regular business review meetings with customers and execute action plans.
- Expand the portfolio to address Japanese consumer needs, including regulatory checks, supply chain requirements, and price negotiations.
- Work with retail customers to improve in-store visibility, merchandising, product assortment, and overall retail execution.
- Collaborate with customers to plan and execute retail campaigns and consumer activation programs.
- Identify, negotiate, and establish new customers aligned with company requirements and strategic plans.
- Provide channel, regional, and customer insights to internal marketing, logistics, and product teams.
- Identify opportunities to expand retail channel coverage and strengthen the company's brand presence in the market.
- Develop the team by steering and coaching junior sales representatives and reviewing their performance weekly.
- Identify team development needs.
- Lead projects assigned by the National Sales Manager.
- Lead retail-related projects with cross-functional teams to improve retail execution and customer engagement.
Desired Qualifications
- Automotive or tire sales experience.
- An MBA.
About the company
Continental is a German manufacturing group best known for making tyres for cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, and buses, sold to vehicle manufacturers and through the consumer aftermarket, and ContiTech supplies rubber and plastic components like hoses, belts, seals, and surface materials. How it works: tyres and ContiTech products are designed, developed, and manufactured at global sites, with tyres built to fit different vehicles and conditions and ContiTech components customized for specific equipment. How it differs from competitors: Continental combines a broad product portfolio with extensive global production, R&D, and after-sales networks to provide integrated mobility solutions across multiple industries, not just tires. Goal: provide reliable mobility by designing and delivering tyres and advanced automotive and industrial rubber and plastic components worldwide, supporting customers from development to aftermarket service.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Hanover, Germany
Founded
1871
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- August 2026 Tires margin exceeded guidance, showing strong pricing and mix.
- Volkswagen ID. Polo approval on August 26, 2026 deepens EV fitment relationships.
- Expected €2.5 billion shareholder payout from ContiTech sale supports valuation and buybacks.
What critics are saying
- ContiTech sale to Lone Star, announced July 4, 2026, still needs approvals.
- ContiTech cut 1,600 German jobs in May 2026, signaling persistent cost pressure.
- Sales depend on autos and replacement demand; 2026 guidance still faces volatility.
What makes Continental unique
- After July 2026, Continental becomes a pure-play tire maker, simplifying strategy.
- September 2026 added 650 UHP sizes through 2027, strengthening premium replacement demand.
- May 2026 Rayong expansion added 3 million tires and local motorcycle production.
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Benefits
- Performance Bonus