Regional Sales Manager I - PM, Geographic Sales

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A. Strategic OEM Engagement (35%)

Develop and execute Gates’ First Fit sales strategy for Korea, focusing on top-tier OE customers in automotive and industrial sectors.
Lead specification-in initiatives with R&D and design teams at OEMs.
Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing models, and long-term supply contracts.
Represent Gates at technical reviews, customer audits, and sourcing councils.

B. Sales Pipeline & Program Management (25%)

Drive aggressive hands-on sales activity with OE accounts, ensuring pipelines are actively managed and opportunities progressed.
Build ROI models and technical-commercial proposals for PT + FP solutions.
Coordinate trials, pilot installations, and qualification testing with application engineers.
Shorten time-to-specification by working closely with customer engineering and procurement teams.

C. Cross-Functional & Distributor Collaboration (20%)

Work with regional/global product teams to localize solution offerings for Korean OEMs.
Align with supply chain and operations to ensure on-time, cost-effective fulfillment.
Support local distributors engaged in OE-related projects and joint initiatives.

D. Market Intelligence & Competitive Strategy (10%)

Track competitor OE wins, product introductions, and pricing strategies.
Provide regular insights on OE market dynamics, platform launches, and sourcing shifts.
Use market gut feeling and intuition to anticipate customer moves and act decisively.

E. Leadership & Talent Development (10%)

Mentor 2–3 junior sales engineers or coordinators to strengthen OE customer support capability.
Promote solution-selling discipline, CRM usage, and best-practice deal management.
Build a culture of resilience, technical credibility, and collaborative growth.

Keys to Success

• Beyond the core responsibilities, the successful candidate will demonstrate:

  • Engineering Credibility: Able to engage OEM R&D and technical teams confidently.
  • Hands-On Sales Intensity: Frequent field visits, technical reviews, and direct negotiations.
  • Interpersonal Leadership: Trusted by customers, partners, and internal stakeholders.
  • Commercial Agility: Blend of data-driven analysis and gut feeling for market decisions.
  • Cross-Cultural Exposure: Experience working in multinational environments with global alignment.
  • Persistence in Long Sales Cycles: Comfortable with multi-year OE program timelines.
  • Fluid Power (FP) Exposure: Strong advantage for candidates with FP/ hydraulics experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• 3+ direct reports
• Manages a generally homogeneous team; adapts plans and sets priorities to meet goals
• Has performance management and people development responsibility for managers or associates
• Provides subject matter guidance to associates, colleagues and/or customers

Requirements and Preferred Skills

Must-Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Automotive, or related).
• 8+ years’ experience in OEM/First Fit sales or key account management.
• Proven track record with Korean big OE customers (e.g., Hyundai Motors/ CE, Kia Motors / CE, Doosan, Volvo CE, Bobcat).
• Experience in a multinational company environment.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills (Korean & English).
• Hands-on sales experience with ability to manage complex, technical deals.

Preferred:

• Exposure to Fluid Power (FP) solutions alongside PT.
• Experience leading specification-in projects and program launches.
• Ability to mentor junior talent and strengthen sales team capability.