Defense Program Account Representative

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

$92K — $112K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • Minimum of 3+ years of experience in defense industry account management or sales
  • Fluency in Japanese
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and SAP
  • Experience in customer interaction and back-office functions

Responsibilities

  • Supervise a portfolio of defense clients as the primary US contact
  • Build and maintain relationships with U.S. OEMs and Japanese partners
  • Understand and meet client needs with tailored solutions
  • Serve as the main U.S. liaison, ensuring coordination with all stakeholders
  • Track program milestones, deliverables, and compliance with regulations
  • Communicate program status and risks to senior management
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet client expectations
  • Monitor budgets and contractual obligations for compliance

Benefits

  • Hybrid work style with minimum 2 days in office per week
  • Willingness to travel for client meetings and industry events
  • Support for professional development opportunities
Full Job Description
Defense Program Account Representative ($92,000 - $112,000)

Job Summary:

The Defense Program Account Representative will supervise a portfolio of defense industry clients, serving as the primary point of contact within the U.S. for various U.S. OEMs and their counterparts in Japan. This role involves managing complex relationships, handling account-specific issues, and acting as the lead U.S. interface for accounts under the overall responsibility of the senior management team. The position requires effective communication and coordination between U.S. clients, Japanese partners, and other key stakeholders to ensure exceptional service delivery, and fostering strong client relationships.

Duties/ Responsibilities:

  • Supervise a portfolio of defense industry clients and serve as their primary point of contact within the US.
  • Build and nurture relationships with U.S. OEMs, Japanese counterparts, and relevant government stakeholders.
  • Understand client needs and objectives to provide tailored solutions and services.
  • Serve as the lead U.S. interface on programs, ensuring smooth coordination between U.S. OEMs, Japanese partners, and government agencies.
  • Track milestones, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring that the needs of each OEM are met while maintaining compliance with government regulations.
  • Communicate regularly with senior manager regarding program status, financial health, and any issues or risks.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver on client requirements and expectations.
  • Work closely with international partners in Japan to achieve targets and objective.
  • Provide timely, solutions-focused support, adapting approaches as necessary to meet the unique requirements of client.
  • Stay updated on Defense program industry trends, regulations, and competitive landscape.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to monitor budgets, expenditures, and contracts.
  • Ensure all contractual obligations are met in line with both client and government expectations, ensuring full compliance with regulations.
  • Assist in financial forecasting, cost proposals, and provide regular reports on program financials.


Job Specific Knowledge/Skills & Abilities:

  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships.
  • Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.
  • Proficient in using Microsoft suites and SAP.


  • Fluency in Japanese
  • Understanding of defense sector products, services, and market dynamics.
  • Work and business experience, including back-office functions (some customer interaction, account/program management, and SAP experience in a back-office setting).
  • Versatility to adapt to various environments, including customer, corporate, accounting, and legal.


Education, Certification and Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Minimum of 3+ years of experience in account management or sales within the defense industry


Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to perform standard office-based work with or without reasonable accommodation
  • Hybrid work style (Minimum 2 days in the office/week)
  • Willingness to travel for client meetings and industry events
  • There is no visa sponsorship provided for this position

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Defense Program Account Representative jobs: