Account Manager, FMCG

Account Manager, FMCG - Japanese Speaking This role is perfect for someone who thrives on building brands internationally and is passionate about driving growth in the Japanese market. Job Respnosibilities Act as the primary commercial contact for all local partners within the Japanese market, ensuring seamless communication and support at every stage of the partnership. Lead the day-to-day execution of country-specific strategies by providing operational guidance on branding, assortment planning, distribution expansion, pricing structures, marketing activations, Away-from-Home projects, retail discussions, and negotiations. Develop practical tools and sales organisers to empower partner sales and key account teams, enabling them to maximise their effectiveness in the field. Participate actively in trade meetings and negotiations to represent the brand's interests while fostering positive relationships with stakeholders throughout Japan. Meet regularly with sales and merchandising teams across Japan to provide training, share best practices, listen to feedback, address questions, and inspire continued enthusiasm for the brand. Spend significant time engaging directly with distributor and partners both remotely from Hong Kong and through frequent travel to Japan to build strong collaborative relationships. Collaborate daily with the Customer Service team in Hong Kong regarding order planning, S&OP inputs, payment follow-ups, and other operational matters critical to business success. Map the entire Japanese retail ecosystem-including e-commerce platforms, modern trade channels, convenience stores (CVS), traditional outlets-and develop deep market insights to inform strategic decisions. Define market opportunities by channel and region; set priorities; establish specific route-to-market plans; determine optimal product range architecture; and collaborate with Revenue Growth & Marketing teams on price/volume mix per channel. Co-create Joint Business Plans with local partners by setting clear KPIs and growth levers while sharing best practices across markets to identify new business opportunities. Requirements: Extensive knowledge of the Japanese retail and distribution landscape gained through 10-15 years' experience working within FMCG environments focused on retailers or distributors in Japan. Master's degree in Economics, Sales, Marketing or related field demonstrating advanced academic grounding relevant to this role. Willingness to travel frequently between Hong Kong and Japan as well as occasionally within the wider region to maintain close connections with partners. Entrepreneurial mindset combined with a genuine passion for building international brands through collaborative efforts. Strong analytical skills paired with meticulous attention to detail; prior experience using Nielsen, IRI or Kantar data is highly advantageous. Results-oriented approach underpinned by proactive planning abilities that ensure objectives are consistently met or exceeded. Excellent interpersonal communication skills allowing you to work dependably both independently and collaboratively across multicultural teams. High intercultural intelligence coupled with empathy for diverse cultures and lifestyles-essential for effective cross-border collaboration. Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel & PowerPoint) is required; familiarity with SAP systems would be considered an asset. Experience in e-commerce operations or digital media campaigns is desirable; fluency in both English and Japanese is essential while additional regional languages are a plus. #J-18808-Ljbffr