Technical Sales Manager - Hiroshima, Japan

You know the moment. It’s the first notes of that song you love, the intro to your favorite movie, or simply the sound of someone you love saying “hello.” It’s in these moments that sound matters most. 

At Bose, we believe sound is the most powerful force on earth. We’ve dedicated ourselves to improving it for nearly 60 years. And we’re passionate down to our bones about making whatever you’re listening to a little more magical. 

For over 40 years, we have partnered and seen rapid growth with some of the finest automobile brands in the world to create unique sound solutions for our customers on the road. With a meticulous blend of hardware and software design, we can deliver a magical listening experience in the car with more of the sound you want—your music, your phone calls—and reduce the sounds you don’t want, like engine and road noise.

Job Description

Job Title: Technical Sales Manager (TSM)

Job Requisition: R27579

Reports to:  Regional Manager, Technical Sales Japan – ASD

Location: Hiroshima, Japan

Position Summary

Audio. Automotive. And you?

We are looking for a Technical Sales Manager to join our Bose Automotive team.

At Bose, we believe sound is the most powerful force on earth. We’ve dedicated ourselves to improving it for nearly 60 years. And we’re hardworking down to our bones about making whatever you’re listening to a little more magical.

You love sound and have a passion for Automotive? Then this might be the perfect job for you. When you join our Bose Automotive team, you join us in our mission to create extraordinary sound experiences for some of the best car brands in the world. As our new Technical Sales Manager, you will be working together with a global team of passionate experts and help our prestigious OEMs provide their drivers and passengers with premium sound systems that make every ride a joyride.

In your role, you will develop and maintain relationships with key technical decision makers at the OEM customer(s) to identify and influence the audio and noise management technical product strategy for global and regional vehicles. You will be leading the selling activities as well as the identification, pursuit, and quotation of new business targets from a technical perspective, and be responsible for achieving new business awards that include market leading Bose technologies and experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for strategic planning of technical customer roadmap in alignment with our Product Planning strategy of Bose Automotive
• Understands and influences customer roadmaps and audio/active sound management product plans worldwide
• Be the technical champion for the customer: develop compelling technical strategies that deliver market-leading customer value; create a plan for remarkable experiences with the right value proposition, that have customer and market appeal.
• Identifies new business opportunities and recommends the right technical strategy to deliver growth
• Establishes and builds relationships with OEM’s, partners and other key stakeholders. 
• Work with a cross-functional team to support new business pursuits and customer engagments
• Identifes, formalizes, and communicates customer’s goals including technical specification and development timing
• Identifies system level target pricing / costing in alignment with Business TeamDefines and initiates advance development studies/projects with customer in coordination and alignment with Division, customer account, and category team strategies / objectives
• Ensures alignment with Product Line Manager (PLM), Engineering, and Customer Team organizations within Division
• Plans and organizes project specific deliverables / technical submissions / presenting technical solutions in liaison with the customer and internal departments until system approval is achieved
• Responsible for validating technical and/or system input to the OEM Account Business Plan (Account Plan of systems and products road maps along with Opportunity Management / Target Identification projects)

Scope:

• # of Customers: 1+.  Account revenue:  >$50M per year.  # of Customer Brands: 1+.  # of Customer Engineering, Purchasing, and / or Manufacturing foreign operating locations: 4+ 

Education:

• A Bachelor´s degree is required, ideally in Engineering or Business Management. An MBA or advanced degree would be a plus, but significant business and technical accomplishments will be a more important consideration

Experience:

• Candidate should have a minimum of 8 years of progressive combined business, customer management, technical account planning, and / or technical experience in the functional areas of engineering, product planning, account management, or business development

Required skills & competencies

• International Technical Sales Management and/or Commercial Account Management work experience within automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, Infotainment / Audio suppliers or Content providers (i.e. Pandora, XM/Sirrius) is desired 
• Strong customer orientation while having the ability to balance and execute Division strategies and objectives within the context of the Company essence and values
• Extensive experience in automotive systems preferably electronics and / or software based; knowledge of audio systems, active noise reduction and sound management is desired.
• Thinks and acts innovatively; equally comfortable challenging the status quo internally or at the customer to generate creative technical and commercial solutions to grow the business
• Has the ability to lead a team in support of the company’s initiatives, including using tools to plan, budget, and manage cross-functional Customer Team activities independent of OEM customer, product and /or geographic region (as necessary)
• Confidently and competently handles multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change. Interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, overcomes barriers, and shows resilience in the face of adversity and failure
• Customer Service orientation and responds promptly to customer needs and requests for service/assistance. Meets commitments given to customers
• A strong focus on metrics, data, and financial results
• Have a comprehensive understanding of both the customers’ businesses and that of its market competitors to ensure that effective strategic solutions are provided
• Foster strong relationships – history of establishing & building powerful connections externally & internally.
• Strong communication skill across all elements (written, presentation, in person engagements and virtual meetings).  
• Fluent in Japanese and advanced English skills, verbal and written

Domestic and International travel required approximately 20%-30% of time.

What We Offer

“My vision is for each and every one of us to be able to work in a climate that allows individuals to reach their fullest human potential.” – Dr. Amar Bose, Founder

To realize that vision, we are constantly evolving our culture to create an environment that welcomes diverse perspectives, facilitates inclusivity, and prioritizes personal and professional growth. This drives innovation which, at Bose, is amplified when everyone experiences a collective sense of belonging and feels valued for who they are. Each of us, no matter what level, role, or function, plays an active role in helping us innovate. We reward our employees with competitive compensation, development opportunities, and comprehensive and flexible benefits that support our employees and their families. In an increasingly competitive global market, inclusivity is, now more than ever, critical to success.

Sounds good? Then apply now!

Our goal is to create an atmosphere where every candidate feels supported and empowered in the interviewing process. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our success, and we believe that providing reasonable accommodation is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of our commitment to being an employer of choice. We recognize that individuals may have different needs and requirements based on their abilities, and we provide reasonable accommodations to ensure ideal conditions are met during the application process.

If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation, please send a note to [email protected]