Beverage Expert, Southeast Asia (SEA)

Asia Recruit; Rawang; On-site; MYR 20,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company in Rawang is seeking an experienced professional to manage beverage innovation and support business development across Southeast Asia. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of experience as a Bartender or Barista, strong English communication skills, and a robust network in the food and beverage industry. This role involves marketing activities, training, and collaboration within key markets, along with opportunities for travel.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years as a qualified Bartender or Barista or experience as a menu planner.
• Prior training experience preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel for work.

Responsibilities

• Manage beverage innovation and brand representation.
• Support business development in SEA by developing networks.
• Identify market trends and support product development.
• Provide feedback and weekly business reporting.

Skills

Beverage innovation

Basic barista skills

Proficient English communication

Ability to work under pressure

Strong network in F&B industry

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Specialization

FOOD OR BEVERAGE OR RESTAURANT SERVICE

Job Description

Position involves beverage innovation, support for business development in SEA, marketing activities, and reporting. The role requires collaboration with partners, training, and managing brand presence across key markets.

Responsibilities

1. 1) Beverage Innovation
   • Manage demonstration and brand presentation with showmanship.
   • Tasting / seminar / training / masterclasses and cost management (inclusive samples, ingredients, equipment tools and glassware).
   • Share trends related to the company brand for application or new innovation.
   • Conduct regular trainings for key accounts in their venues and in company importers’ corporate training centers or ours.
   • Portray a credible and reliable image in line with brand expectations.
   • Collaborate with the team to support partners in managing promotions and customer service; provide recipes development and beverage solutions, trainings to relevant channels to ensure brand presence and development in key markets and places.
   • Develop recipes for different channels and applications (food service, bar, hotel & retail, cafe).
   • Support creating syllabi for training schools under CSR initiatives, act as APAC lead and key contact, and execute trainings in this segment.
2. 2) Supporting business development in SEA
   • Develop industry network, identify customers to penetrate, and brands to partner with.
   • Initiate, develop and follow up with local sales personnel and importers to drive sales in each channel (bar, hotels, coffeeshops, and food service).
   • Support sales to meet targets through actions such as business plans and reviews, range extensions, new product listings, customer training, beverage menu development, and promotional activities.
   • Responsible for delivering and exceeding KPIs.
3. 3) Marketing
   • Identify market trends and opportunities for new product development; support NPD roll-out activations with marketing and R&D.
   • Support SEA for national & regional trade shows in respective countries.
   • Support training for visitors at company manufacturing plants and host their market visit agenda.
   • Lead and support regional trade shows organized by key accounts.
   • Coordinate promotional activities and events with advertisers, media, and sales team.
   • Develop semi-annual trend update reports with Beverage Experts for the team and importer partners.
   • Create drinks content for social media (Facebook/Instagram).
4. 4) Reporting
   • Provide feedback on market, competitors, and customers including trends, expectations, successes, and issues.
   • Weekly business reporting to the Sales Director SEA.
   • Participate in region Asia business reviews twice a year.
   • Perform any other tasks related to this position as required.

Job Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years as a qualified Bartender or Barista or experience as a menu planner for chain accounts, with prior training experience preferred.
• Basic barista skills.
• Proficient level of English in business communication and writing.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel for work.
• Microsoft Office skills to develop presentations and reports.
• Strong network in the F&B industry.
• Willing to work in Rawang, Selangor.