Careers

Manager – International Customer Support

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Company

Located in Seattle, Washington, Athena Marketing International (www.athenaintl.com) (AMI) provides international marketing, business development and consulting services to U.S. food, beverage and consumer goods manufacturers. Its mission is to build profitable, market sustainable food, beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands globally.

Position Summary

The Manager – International Customer Support has the opportunity to play a key role in building a world-class professional services firm. This position will report to the President initially, and will support our international customers in over 130 countries worldwide. There will be close interaction with our Vice President, Marketing Managers and Sales Managers, as well as other marketing and research executives in the company. The successful candidate must be willing to be a “hands on” enabler in the current high growth phase of our company.

This position will have the responsibility for researching various import procedures and regulations in a large variety of countries worldwide. The Manager – International Customer Support will ensure that all AMI exports are managed in compliance with U.S. and international regulations. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of export documentation required in various markets is necessary for this role.

The winning candidate will ideally have spent time in a food and beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing company, preferably with international customer support and/or inside sales responsibilities. He or she may also have worked in a smaller, more resource restricted environment that requires a hands-on, entrepreneurial management style. This role requires a detailed, “roll up the sleeves” type person who thrives on making things happen. Being a global company, AMI employees often work “around-the-clock” with our customers worldwide.

This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage all assigned markets and clients to ensure each international customer is managed properly and professionally with excellent customer support.
  • Advise specific documentation and procedures required for foreign market entry
  • Assist clients with processing of international Purchase Orders to ensure efficient importation of products at foreign destination
  • Communicate with international customers and government agencies on a timely basis
• Improve international customer satisfaction by providing timely invoices, pricing, product updates, features and benefits, and relevant market research
• Solicit international customer feedback and use it to improve AMI service levels
• Identify, assess and recruit qualified international distributors and importers of food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods.
• Expand AMI clients’ international sales and distribution and increase their global brand exposure.
• Conduct appropriate market research in foreign countries to understand category and competitors of client companies.
• Correspond with and build a network of international distributors and importers to increase client sales.
• Conduct due diligence and on-the-ground primary research in foreign markets of potential client distribution partners.
• Develop effective business relationships with key U.S. government and international officials, food and beverage industry representatives and trade organizations worldwide to ensure that the interests of AMI are effectively promoted and protected.

Key Selection Criteria

Ideal Experience

• A proven Customer Support / Service professional with 2-5 years of successful progression in a food, beverage or consumer goods company.
• A track record of international customer support / service experience would be valuable, and a clearly articulated desire to build a world-class professional services company.
• Knowledge of export processes, procedures, and regulations for food and beverage products.
• Experience with food manufacturing, ingredients and technical issues would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of foreign import regulations and requirements is required.
• Experience building customer support / service teams as well as forming solid business relationships and contacts at all levels of organizations.
  Demonstrated ability to work with business executives of foreign cultures.
• Attention to detail and follow-through.
• Strong verbal and written skills, as well as MS Office computer skills.

Compensation

Athena Marketing International (AMI) offers a competitive compensation package that includes base compensation commensurate with a candidate’s background and experience, bonus opportunity, health care benefits and employer-contributed 401(K) plan.

AMI Internships

Position Summary

All Athena Marketing International interns have the opportunity to become an integral part of the AMI team and play a vital supportive role. The AMI internship program is designed to allow student interns the opportunity to learn first-hand about the business of international trade, export marketing and international sales. The internship involves interacting with international business professionals, conducting market research and participating in the daily operations of this dynamic company providing international importers, distributors and retailers with unique U.S. food and beverage products. The goal of the internship program is to enable our interns to build upon their educational background and gain valuable real-world experience in international business.

Major Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this internship include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist AMI’s export marketing, internet marketing, and international trade associates in the research of foreign markets and client companies.
• Assist in the development and coordination of export promotional programs, recruitment for overseas trade events, organize business briefings, and provide a variety of assistance for international programs conducted by AMI.
• Provide direct assistance to the AMI team in the development and execution of AMI’s strategic consulting and client export marketing plans.
• Assist with the coordination of international trade events and AMI educational activities.
• Support the AMI team with any current programs for clients, foreign delegations and dignitaries.
• Work directly with AMI leadership and principals on potential special projects.
• Assist the AMI staff with some administrative duties.

Upon completion of this course, the student will have:

• Become familiar with the type of work and the working environment related to the field of export marketing and the workings of a company such as AMI;
• Acquired work experience in an area of export marketing, international trade and international business development;
• Applied knowledge and skills from marketing and other international courses to actual marketing problems and situations.

Responsibilities of AMI

The firm agrees to expose the student to the type of work which he/she would encounter in an entry level professional position. It agrees to provide appropriate personnel to oversee the project(s) assigned to the student, and the resources needed to accomplish the work. While the student is not an employee of the firm, the company will treat the student as it would any employee, and expect the same degree of responsibility from the student.

The supervisor may be asked to provide a written evaluation of the student’s performance to the faculty advisor at the end of the program, to provide the student with a periodic evaluation of his/her performance, and to consult with the faculty advisor when and if necessary.

Eligibility

An internship with Athena Marketing International is available to graduate and undergraduate University and Community College level students in Washington State involved in an accredited internship program within their school and with the expressed permission from their institution. Qualifications: Excellent communication skills, verbal and written. A good attitude and basic computer knowledge (windows, excel) is required.

Working Hours

There is an expected time commitment of at least 12 hours per week in the AMI office. AMI interns are given challenging and unique professional experiences and we serve as an invaluable reference.

Next Available Internship Position

Internship positions with Athena Marketing International are available on an ongoing basis. Spots are open based on availability and need.

Applying for an Internship with AMI

To apply for an internship with Athena Marketing International submit the following information:

1. Cover letter expressing interest
2. Resume
3. Dates and Times Available for Internship
4. Transcript
5. 3-5 page writing sample

Send this information to:

Athena Marketing International
1411 4th Ave.
Suite 629
Seattle, WA 98101
Tel: +1 (206) 749-9255
Fax: +1 (206) 624-8826