Role SummaryThe Smart Vending Business Development & Operations Manager leads the U.S. commercialization and scale-up of MISUMI's Smart Vending business. The role is responsible for validating customer demand, converting qualified opportunities into successful pilot programs, and building a scalable, low-touch operating model that supports profitable long-term growth.
Through the March 2027 Go / No-Go decision, this position serves as the primary customer-facing coordinator across Sales, Product Management, IT, Customer Service, suppliers, and external service partners, ensuring that pilot requirements, customer feedback, operational readiness, and business economics are fully validated.
Following approval to scale, the role will lead commercial expansion by converting successful pilots into additional machines, customer sites, and new accounts while continuously improving customer adoption, machine utilization, replenishment efficiency, revenue, and gross profit.
Areas of ResponsibilityDrive U.S. Smart Vending commercialization by converting qualified opportunities into 3-4 successful pilot customers and validating customer demand, business requirements, and measurable success criteria.
- Lead pilot execution and operational validation, ensuring customer adoption, inventory availability, replenishment, service quality, and KPI performance meet agreed pilot objectives.
- Build a scalable U.S. operating model by establishing standardized workflows, external-partner support, ownership, escalation paths, and operational readiness for the March 2027 Go / No-Go decision.
- Own commercial performance and growth, driving toward the Year 1 target of $2.2M annualized revenue run-rate and 25-30% gross profit, while improving utilization, assortment, pricing, and replenishment economics.
- Expand successful pilots into additional machines, sites, and customers while coordinating execution across Sales, Product Management, IT, Customer Service, suppliers, and external service partners.
All employees are expected to maintain and contribute to the Quality Management System (QMS).
Desired Traits- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Prior experience in sales, business development, customer support, or account management.
- Strong business communication skills, including professional email, presentations, and stakeholder coordination.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong customer relationships
- Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and execution skills.
- Ability to work independently and coordinate multiple cross-functional initiatives.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Spanish-language capability is a plus but not required.Physical Demands- Ability to work in both office and customer-site environments, including manufacturing and industrial facilities, as required to support Smart Vending pilots and customer operations.
- Ability to attend customer meetings, pilot installations, operational reviews, trade shows, demonstrations, and other business-related activities as required.
- Ability to use standard office equipment and computer systems for extended periods as part of normal business activities.
- Ability to perform routine on-site observation and operational support related to Smart Vending pilots and deployments.
- Ability to travel within the United States as required to support customer meetings, Smart Vending pilot activities, site visits, trade shows, demonstrations, operational reviews, and business-development activities.
