Head of Business Development, Automotive and Industry

Company Description

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 400 factories. Its more than 33,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 11.76 billion in 2024. Sika is active in Japan with more than 1300 people and has a long-standing history.

Job Description

Position Summary

The position of Head of Business Development at Sika Japan, Automotive and Industry is a senior leadership role responsible for driving growth and strategic expansion across various markets, including E-mobility, Marine, Dielectrics, and other related industries.

Main function/responsibility/competencies

Strategic Leadership:
- Lead and manage the business development team, including 3-4 Business Development Managers, to drive the growth and development of Sika’s automotive and industrial sectors.
- Develop and implement business development strategies aligned with Sika’s overall goals and vision.
- Monitor and analyze market trends, emerging technologies, and customer needs to identify new business opportunities in E-mobility, Marine, Dielectrics, and other industries.
Market Expansion:
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new market opportunities, partnerships, and customer segments in targeted regions or industries.
- Foster relationships with key industry players, potential customers, suppliers, and partners to expand Sika’s footprint in the automotive, industrial, and specialized markets.
- Coordinate market analysis and competitive intelligence to inform business strategies and decision-making.
Team Leadership & Collaboration:
- Provide mentorship, coaching, and guidance to the team of Business Development Managers, ensuring alignment with company goals and individual performance objectives.
- Encourage cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Technical service, marketing, sales, and other departments to leverage Sika’s full potential in delivering innovative solutions to the market.
- Facilitate team communication and collaboration across multiple regions and sectors.
Customer & Product Focus:
- Lead customer engagement efforts to understand their needs and align Sika’s product and service offerings with market demand.
- Drive the development and launch of new products or solutions tailored to the evolving demands of the E-mobility, Marine, and Dielectric markets.
- Oversee the preparation of business proposals, presentations, and negotiations with customers to close new business deals.
Revenue and Profit Growth:
- Take ownership of business development KPIs, ensuring sustainable revenue growth and profitability.
- Monitor and track business development initiatives to meet or exceed sales targets.
- Provide regular reporting on market performance, opportunities, challenges, and key achievements to senior management.
Innovation and Sustainability:
- Stay abreast of the latest technological innovations, sustainability trends, and regulatory changes within the automotive, industrial, and related sectors.
- Lead initiatives aimed at incorporating sustainability and eco-friendly solutions into product development and business practices, especially in the growing E-mobility market.

Qualifications

Qualifications

4-year College degree (Master degree in Economics, Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering is plus)
At least 5 years of Key Account management experience in sales or engineering sales at the manufacturers/makers (experience in chemical products preferred) or working experiences at Automotive & Tier companies (Team management experiences are plus)
Technical & Professional knowledge, preferred to have Battery, BIW or Interior or NVH related business experiences and business experiences with JOEM/OES.
Fluent in English, native speaker of Japanese language
Have strong sense of responsibility to meet the due date and end result. Understand what he/she is requested to do and strive to accomplish the goals
Able to think, explain and analyze logically Open-minded, self-motivated, self-driven
Team spirit, good communicative skills to customers and colleagues
Proactively tackle complex issues and environment and analyze and find solutions by cooperating with his/her managers as well as other departments
Hands on working style, good presentation, organisational skills and social competence

Additional Information

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