Athena Marketing International

Director of Sales & Marketing

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 agricultural manufacturers. Its objective is to assist in building profitable, sustainable brands for U.S. food, beverage and agricultural manufacturers while providing international importers, distributors and retailers with unique U.S. food and beverage products.

Position Summary

The Director of Sales & Marketing has the opportunity to play a key role in building a world-class professional services firm. This position reports to the President, and will manage significant functions of the business as it develops into a mature company. However, there will be close interaction with other marketing executives in the company. The successful executive must be willing to be a “hands on” enabler in the current growth phase of the company.

The winning candidate will ideally have spent time in a large food and beverage or agricultural company, preferably with international sales and/or marketing responsibilities. He or she may also have worked in a smaller, more resource restricted professional services company that requires a hands-on, entrepreneurial management style. This role requires a “roll up the sleeves” type person who thrives on making things happen.

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

Major Responsibilities

• Correspond and build a network of international distributors and importers to increase client sales.
• Develop international marketing strategies and plans on behalf of AMI clients.
• Manage and attend international trade shows, and assess potential distribution partners.
• Develop and maintain an effective business network within the U.S. food and beverage industry to develop a detailed understanding of needs and opportunities of manufacturers.
• Develop effective business relationships with key U.S. government and international officials, food and beverage industry representatives and trade organizations to ensure that the interests of AMI can be effectively promoted and protected.
• Drive the identification of additional growth opportunities and strategic initiatives in addition to AMI’s core business, and manage the tactics and execution to achieve company objectives.
• Improve execution and productivity at all levels by encouraging functional excellence to transcend industry benchmarks.
• Assist company’s Public Relations affiliate to issue press releases, schedule speaking engagements, website marketing, blogging and other public relations and promotion of the company.

Candidate Specification: Key Selection Criteria

Ideal Experience

• A proven sales, business development or marketing professional with 7-10 years of successful progression in a food, beverage or agriculture environment, with ideally, several years in a Tier I professional services company.
• A track record of international experience would be valuable, and a clearly articulated desire to build a world-class professional services company.
• Demonstrated ability to work with business executives of foreign cultures.
• One who has worked in a more resource restricted, entrepreneurial company is required.
• Has enjoyed success in developing professional service firms into mature companies
• Experience building teams as well as forming solid business relationships and contacts at all levels of organizations.

Compensation

Athena Marketing International offers a competitive compensation package that includes base compensation commensurate with a candidate’s background and experience, bonus opportunity, and a complete health care 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