Job Description

Job Description: Sales Manager – South East Asia

Location: Preferably Thailand or China

Territory: South East Asia

Reporting to: Global Sales Director

Employment: Full-time

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Sales Manager for South East Asia to strengthen and expand our presence across this strategically important region.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and developing existing customer and distributor relationships while actively identifying and converting new business opportunities. The role combines account management, business development, distributor management and market development across multiple countries and markets.

South East Asia is a diverse and rapidly developing industrial market. We are therefore looking for someone who understands how to develop business across different cultures and markets, can build strong local relationships and is capable of turning opportunities into sustainable sales.

The ideal candidate will be based in Thailand or China, with extensive travel throughout South East Asia and occasional international travel as required.

We are looking for someone who is commercially minded, independent and proactive, but who also understands the importance of working within a structured international sales organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Existing Account Management

Maintain and further develop relationships with existing customers, distributors and strategic accounts throughout South East Asia.
Act as the primary commercial contact for assigned customers and partners within the region.
Understand customer needs and identify opportunities to increase sales and product penetration.
Follow up on quotations, projects, orders and commercial opportunities.
Ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and long-term customer loyalty.
Regularly visit key customers and distributors.
Identify opportunities to expand existing business into additional countries, applications and product categories.

2. New Business Development

Identify and develop new customers, distributors, agents and sales channels across South East Asia.
Proactively generate new leads through market research, networking, customer visits, trade fairs and other commercial activities.
Develop relationships with potential strategic partners and key accounts.
Introduce the company's products and solutions to new markets and customer segments.
Manage the complete sales process, from initial contact and qualification through quotation, negotiation and closing.
Develop and maintain a healthy sales pipeline.
Actively search for new applications and industries where the company's products can create additional business opportunities.

3. Market Development

Monitor market developments, customer requirements and competitor activities across the region.
Identify new market opportunities and provide recommendations for market expansion.
Assess the potential of individual South East Asian markets and prioritize commercial opportunities.
Support the introduction of new products and solutions within the region.
Provide regular feedback to management regarding market trends, pricing, competition and customer expectations.
Help establish and implement regional sales strategies.
Build market knowledge and strengthen the company's visibility and position throughout South East Asia.

4. Distributor & Partner Management

Develop and maintain strong relationships with distributors, agents and other commercial partners.
Support partners with product information, quotations, training and commercial activities.
Monitor distributor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
Identify, evaluate and recruit new distribution partners where appropriate.
Help distributors develop their local markets and customer base.
Ensure that partners are aligned with the company's commercial strategy and objectives.
Encourage distributors to actively promote and develop the company's products rather than simply process existing business.

5. Sales Planning & Reporting

Prepare and maintain a clear sales forecast and pipeline for the assigned territory.
Set priorities and develop action plans to achieve agreed sales targets.
Report regularly on sales performance, opportunities, customer developments and market conditions.
Maintain accurate customer and opportunity information in the company's CRM system.
Provide management with clear visibility of market developments, competitive activity and future opportunities.
Work closely with internal sales, marketing, product management and the international management team.

6. Trade Fairs & Customer Events

Represent the company at international trade fairs, exhibitions and industry events throughout South East Asia.
Organize and participate in customer visits, demonstrations and product presentations.
Support distributors during exhibitions and customer events.
Build a strong professional network within the welding, industrial, automation and manufacturing sectors.
Use trade fairs and industry events as a platform to generate new business opportunities and strengthen existing relationships.

Requirements

Experience

Minimum 3–5 years of experience in B2B sales, preferably within an industrial, manufacturing, welding, automation, engineering or technical environment.
Proven experience in both account management and new business development.
Experience working with distributors and international customers is highly desirable.
Experience working across multiple countries or cultures is a strong advantage.
A demonstrable track record of achieving sales targets and developing new business.
Experience in the welding or industrial equipment market is an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
Proactive, entrepreneurial and results-oriented mindset.
Able to identify opportunities and turn them into concrete business.
Comfortable working independently while operating within an international management structure.
Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
Willingness to travel extensively throughout South East Asia.
Good understanding of B2B sales processes and distributor management.
Affinity with technical products and the ability to understand and communicate technical concepts.
Strong intercultural communication skills and the ability to work effectively with customers and partners from different countries and business cultures.
Self-motivated and comfortable spending time in the field with customers and distributors.

Languages

Fluent English is a prerequisite.
English will be the primary working language within the international organization.
Additional Asian languages are an advantage but are not a requirement.

Location

The preferred location is Thailand or China.

The candidate should be comfortable working remotely and travelling regularly throughout South East Asia. Proximity to an international airport is strongly preferred due to the travel requirements of the position.

What We Offer

An international sales position with responsibility for a strategically important and growing region.
Significant autonomy and responsibility for developing the South East Asian market.
The opportunity to develop existing business while building new markets, customers and distribution networks.
Direct cooperation with an international management and sales team.
Competitive salary and performance-related compensation.
Company support for customer visits, trade fairs and business development activities.
Opportunities for professional and commercial growth within an international organization.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means building sustainable and profitable growth across South East Asia.

The Sales Manager will be expected to:

Protect and grow existing revenue.
Consistently generate new business opportunities.
Expand the customer and distributor network.
Develop new markets and sales channels.
Increase market presence and brand awareness.
Build strong, long-term customer and distributor relationships.
Increase sales across existing and new product categories.
Deliver agreed sales and margin targets.
Provide management with clear visibility of the market, pipeline and opportunities.

This is a hands-on sales position for someone who enjoys being close to customers, travelling, creating opportunities and turning relationships into business.