Account Director, Japan

Who You Are

As the Account Director for the Automotive and Consumer Electronics markets, you will own the commercial success and market entry strategy in Japan. Your mission is to cultivate deep, executive-level relationships with battery cell makers and OEMs by developing and executing engagement plans for both existing and prospective customers.

Success requires leading through influence, coordinating complex technical and commercial stakeholders to advance opportunities aligned with Sila’s strategic roadmap. We seek a seasoned commercial leader who acts as a key advisor to internal leadership, providing critical guidance based on deep local market knowledge. You will build rapport effectively from executive leadership to working-level teams and be responsible for crafting high-value contractual agreements and developing multi-year customer forecasts.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Define and execute comprehensive account strategies for key accounts in Japan, influencing Sila’s go-to-market strategy and product roadmap by synthesizing customer feedback and competitive intelligence.
• Cultivate and strengthen deep, multi-level relationships with key decision-makers at customers to act as a trusted advisor and advocate for Sila's solutions.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and manage the entire sales cycle, developing multi-year forecasts and demand projections to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Act as the primary commercial point of contact, capable of hands-on account management to ensure the successful progression of opportunities, and lead large, cross-functional internal teams through influence to ensure alignment on customer deliverables and timelines.
• Mentor junior commercial team members by modeling best practices in negotiation and complex account management, acting as a resource for navigating challenging customer dynamics.
• Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies, and effectively share critical insights with internal teams.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in strategic account management or technical business development, focusing on automotive supply chains and/or battery cell makers.
• Proven experience selling novel products that require physical integration and long qualification cycles.
• Expertise in leading complex, C-level negotiations for multi-year agreements.
• Fluency in English and Japanese is required, with international experience and familiarity with Japanese business culture being essential.
• Exceptional presentation skills with the proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location
• At least 50% travel required, both domestic and international.

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