General Manager, Business Development

SUMITOMO CORPORATION ASIA & OCEANIA PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company specializing in trading across diverse sectors seeks a seasoned professional with extensive managerial experience for a pivotal role in driving business development across the Asia-Pacific. The candidate will be responsible for strategic planning, market analysis, and acting as a liaison with the Japanese headquarters, requiring high proficiency in Japanese and frequent travel.

Qualifications

• Over 30 years of work experience, more than 20 in managerial roles.
• Proficiency in Japanese (written and spoken) is essential.
• Experience in cross-sector industries, especially infrastructure and energy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intelligence gathering across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Prepare presentation materials in Japanese for business opportunities.
• Mentor and develop junior staff while liaising with Tokyo head office.

Skills

Market analysis

Negotiation skills

Strategic planning

Business development

Investment practices

Communication in Japanese

Job description

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Conduct intelligence activities across the Asia-Pacific region and implement targeted initiatives to drive revenue growth. This includes gathering market intelligence and identifying business needs and opportunities within various economic zones and emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, as well as exploring cross-regional prospects involving regions such as the Middle East and Africa.
• Strong market analysis skills are essential, along with the ability to engage in complex negotiations and coordinate, including collaboration with government entities.
• Strategic planning and execution demand a high level of challenge in reform-oriented areas.
• Preparation of presentation materials in Japanese for potential business opportunities for Japan headquarter.
• Serve as a liaison between the Tokyo head office and regional organisations to ensure operational alignment with company strategies.
• While the role does not carry direct evaluation authority, it involves mentoring and developing junior staff.

Requirements

• Over 30 years of work experience and more than 20 years in managerial roles is required.
• Experience working across multiple countries within the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Singapore and Japan.
• Cross-sector experience is highly preferred, particularly in industries such as infrastructure, energy, food, lifestyle, mineral resources, and transportation equipment.
• Extensive knowledge in investment, financing, taxation, and contract management.
• Strong understanding of business development and investment practices of Japanese trading houses.
• Frequent business travel is required to support new business development and maintain direct communication with the management teams of invested companies across the Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Middle East, and Africa regions. Travel may occur more than once a month and could include weekends, depending on business needs.
• High proficiency in Japanese (both written and spoken) is required to effectively communicate with Japanese-speaking counterparts in Japan headquarter, as well as the regional group and investee companies.