About the role
About MISUMI Americas MISUMI Americas, a division of MISUMI Group, is a leading provider of standard, configurable, and custom manufacturing solutions. By integrating a vast catalog of components with a world-class digital manufacturing platform, MISUMI Americas empowers engineers and procurement teams to accelerate innovation across the entire product lifecycle. With operations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago, the company serves as a vital partner for the most innovative companies in the Americas. For this role, what matters most: MISUMI Americas is Panasonic Energy of North America's (PENA) #1 supplier for factory automation components. You'd be joining a high-trust, high-visibility partnership — and your job is to grow it from the inside. Impact In This Role This isn't a typical sales or procurement position. You'll be embedded full-time inside Panasonic Energy's cylindrical lithium-ion cell manufacturing operation at Tesla's Gigafactory 1 in Sparks, NV — the on-site face of MISUMI Americas' most important customer relationship on the West Coast. Every day, you'll manage procurement needs, keep a smart vending operation running so production workers always have what they need, and actively look for ways to expand what MISUMI Americas can do for this customer. You'll respond to quotes, track shipments, maintain inventory data, and bring forward proposals that deepen the partnership. Our team operates as a small, close-knit unit within the larger facility. That means real autonomy, consistent customer relationships, and clear ownership over your work. Areas of Responsibility Own the customer relationship on-site Be the primary point of contact for day-to-day procurement and supply needs at PENA Respond to quote requests and order inquiries with speed and professionalism via phone and email Manage product shipments to ensure on-time or early delivery against committed dates Proactively communicate shipping schedules and stay ahead of issues before they reach the customer Grow the partnership Research and anticipate customer demand — identify needs before they become requests Draft new service offerings and deliver proposals directly to the customer Collaborate with other EV-related teams on potential vending machine expansion opportunities Create materials that support partnership growth and strengthen the MISUMI Americas–PENA relationship Run a smooth vending operation Monitor inventory levels and ensure accurate, timely replenishment Coordinate product additions and rearrangements based on customer requests Maintain the inventory database and produce usage reports as requested Document operations and train new team members as the operation scales Develop and track KPIs for vending machine performance and service quality Keep data and communication sharp Maintain accuracy across product databases, catalog content, and website information Support quality claims by coordinating between customer service and procurement teams as needed Desired Traits Communication that stands out. You write clearly and professionally, you're confident on the phone, and you represent a company well in every interaction. English fluency required. Bilingual fluency is a meaningful advantage — and it's compensated. Japanese/English or Spanish/English bilingual candidates are strongly preferred. This is reflected in pay, not just listed as a preference. Sales or account management experience. You know how to build a relationship, read what a customer actually needs, and find the next opportunity. Operational discipline. You follow through, stay organized, and don't let things fall through the cracks in a fast-paced environment. Comfortable in a manufacturing environment. This role has you on your feet, moving through an active facility, and occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs. Tech-proficient. Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word) plus comfort learning inventory and database systems. Bachelor's degree preferred — equivalent hands-on experience is genuinely considered.
