Sales / Business Development – Raw Materials

Location: Fort Lee, NJ

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Work Style: Hybrid / Frequent Travel Required

Base Salary: Approximately $75,000, DOE + Bonus

Visa Sponsorship: Not Available

Preferred Start Date: September 2026

Position Overview

A Japanese trading company is seeking an experienced Sales / Business Development professional to join its Metals & Minerals team.

This position will focus on the sales, sourcing, and business development of raw materials, including ferro alloys, metals, scrap materials, and other nonferrous metal products.

The ideal candidate will have 3–5+ years of relevant industry experience, strong sales and negotiation skills, and an established network within the steel, specialty steel, foundry, and/or refractory industries.

This position requires frequent domestic and international travel, approximately 50% of the time.

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Business Development

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective customers.
• Promote and sell raw materials, including ferro alloys, metals, scrap materials, and other nonferrous metal products.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities and prospective customers.
• Negotiate product pricing, terms, and sales conditions with customers.
• Develop and manage sales contracts.
• Maintain a strong sales network among steel mills, specialty steel mills, foundries, and/or refractory companies.
• Communicate with customers and related parties to resolve sales-related issues.
• Manage customer credit lines and support accounts receivable collection.
• Coordinate closely with Sales Assistants regarding sales activities and transactions.

Sourcing

• Research and identify new suppliers.
• Develop and propose new sourcing strategies.
• Communicate and negotiate with suppliers regarding pricing and contract terms.
• Evaluate product quality and condition through samples and supplier visits as needed.

Marketing & Sales Support

• Conduct market research, including competitor and supplier analysis and identification of potential investment opportunities.
• Review and analyze information from end users to understand pricing, customer needs, and product specifications.
• Plan and attend trade shows and industry events.
• Support Sales Assistants and other team members with sales and marketing activities.
• Review and approve sales-related documents and contracts prepared by Sales Assistants.
• Prepare and submit weekly and/or monthly sales reports to management.
• Perform quantitative analysis, including price and term simulations.

Other Responsibilities

• Continuously identify opportunities to improve work processes and efficiency.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned by management.
• Maintain high ethical and professional standards.
• Report irregular issues or problems to management and assist in resolving them.
• Maintain effective communication with internal team members and external business partners.
• Comply with company policies and procedures.
• Submit accurate and timely expense reports.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of professional experience in raw materials, metals, ferro alloys, scrap, or a related industry preferred.
• Previous sales and/or purchasing experience involving raw materials is highly preferred.
• Strong sales network among steel mills and/or specialty steel mills and/or foundries and/or refractory companies is preferred.
• Strong sales, business development, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to research and develop new suppliers and customers.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, planning, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with internal teams.
• Fluent/professional English communication skills required.
• Japanese language skills are not required.
• Must be able and willing to travel frequently, approximately 50%, including domestic and international travel.
• Must be interested in developing into a long-term sales team leadership role.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer visa sponsorship.

Key Skills

• Sales & Business Development
• Raw Material Sales
• Sourcing & Supplier Development
• Negotiation
• Market Research
• Customer Relationship Management
• Sales Management
• Problem Solving
• Planning & Organization
• Team Leadership
• Business Communication
• Ethics & Business Compliance