Trade Marketing Manager

Location Tokyo
Discipline Marketing, Sales
Job type Permanent
Salary Negotiable
Reference 59089
Position: Trade Marketing Manager

Company: Confidential Global Beverage Brand
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Employment Type: Full-time

Overview

A global consumer brand is seeking a Trade Marketing Manager to lead trade marketing and consumer activation initiatives across the Asia region. This role is responsible for ensuring that promotional campaigns, trade programs, sampling activities, and premium/apparel initiatives align with both business objectives and global brand guidelines while minimizing operational and compliance risks.

The position plays a key role in driving high-impact in-store campaigns across major channels including CVS, supermarkets, vending machines, and eCommerce, while collaborating closely with APAC stakeholders and regional marketing operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own and manage end-to-end trade marketing processes including:

    • Promotional campaigns

    • Trade activation programs

    • Sampling initiatives

    • Premium and apparel import management

  • Lead approximately 50 annual retail campaigns across key channels including:

    • Convenience stores (CVS)

    • Supermarkets

    • Vending machines

    • eCommerce platforms

  • Develop and execute engaging brand activations aligned with business goals and global brand guidelines

  • Review and analyze local promotional and trade initiatives to ensure alignment with:

    • Brand standards

    • Business priorities

    • Operational requirements

  • Identify potential risks associated with local marketing activities and coordinate solutions with internal stakeholders

  • Independently develop and manage detailed project timelines and milestone tracking to ensure on-time execution

  • Collaborate closely with APAC Marketing Operations teams to identify workflow challenges and improve operational efficiency with headquarters

  • Act as a central coordination point among internal and external stakeholders to provide solutions and risk mitigation strategies

  • Ensure compliance with relevant promotional and advertising regulations, including prize and labeling regulations

  • Support financial planning and contribute to departmental business planning initiatives

Responsibilities & Impact

  • Drive business targets that significantly impact departmental performance

  • Manage medium-to-high complexity projects and cross-functional initiatives

  • Lead projects requiring collaboration across multiple departments and stakeholders

  • Operate autonomously while handling both ongoing operations and newly assigned initiatives

  • Analyze data, assess changing business conditions, and propose actionable solutions

  • Build alignment with stakeholders and facilitate collaboration to advance new initiatives

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred in:

    • Business Administration

    • Marketing

    • Communications

    • Related fields

  • 3–5 years of experience in:

    • Marketing

    • Trade Marketing

    • FMCG industry environments

  • Strong project management and ownership capabilities

  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills:

    • PowerPoint

    • Excel

    • Word

  • Experience managing complex promotional campaigns and activation projects

  • Strong understanding of retail and consumer marketing dynamics

  • Knowledge of promotional compliance and related regulations preferred

Key Competencies

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills

  • Ability to perform effectively under pressure in fast-paced environments

  • High level of accountability and ownership

  • Adaptability and flexibility in evolving business environments

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

  • Decision-making ability with sound business judgment

  • Innovative and proactive mindset

  • Relationship-building and stakeholder management skills

  • Strategic thinking and execution capability