Regional Sales Director (Selfcare Unit)

KOWA PHARMACEUTICAL ASIA PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 230,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

KOWA PHARMACEUTICAL ASIA PTE. LTD. seeks a Regional Sales Director (Selfcare) to lead commercial development and strategic expansion across ASEAN. The role includes country management, distributor strategy, and supply chain oversight, reporting to the COO of the Singapore subsidiary.

The position requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and fluency in English, Mandarin, and Japanese for regional and Japan HQ coordination. Willingness to travel within ASEAN is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• At least 10–15 years in pharma/OTC/consumer healthcare with regional exposure in ASEAN.
• Strong regional experience in distributor management and country-level commercial operations.
• Financial acumen with budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management; supply chain awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the regional commercial strategy for Selfcare across ASEAN.
• Fulfill country manager functions in assigned markets including sales performance and market development.
• Oversee subsidiary Singapore sales operations and distributor networks.
• Drive market-entry and entity establishment projects and select strategic partners.
• Develop and execute product launch plans for Selfcare and OTC products across markets.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual business reviews for leadership and HQ.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or above

Job description

This Regional Sales Director (Selfcare Unit) is responsible for leading the commercial development and strategic expansion of the Selfcare business across ASEAN. The role carries accountability for country management of assigned markets, regional business development, distributor strategy and management, selected market-entry or entity establishment projects, and supply chain oversight. The position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer of the Singapore subsidiary. It requires strong leadership through influence across internal stakeholders, distributors, country organizations, and Japan headquarters.

Key Responsibilities :

• Commercial Strategy : Lead and execute the regional commercial strategy for the Selfcare business across ASEAN in alignment with corporate and regional objectives.
• Country Management :Fulfill Country Manager functions in assigned markets, including sales performance, business operations, launch execution, distributor management, and market development.
• Subsidiary Supervision :Provide oversight, supervision, and guidance to Singapore sales subsidiary.
• Market Entry & Expansion : Drive business development initiatives across assigned markets including identification, evaluation, negotiation, appointment, and management of new distributors and strategic partners. Lead market-entry and entity establishment projects (business case development, commercial feasibility assessment, operational planning, and implementation).
• Product Launches : Develop and execute launch strategies for new Selfcare and OTC products, ensuring readiness across commercial, operational, and supply aspects. Supervision and support of a subsidiary company which is a sales company based in Singapore.
• Distribution Optimization :Build and optimize distributor networks, set and monitor KPIs, and ensure effective performance management and business alignment.
• Reporting : Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual business reviews to the Chief Operating Officer and Japan headquarters.
• P&L& Financial Management : Take ownership of Profit & Loss performance for assigned markets and commercial initiatives. Own commercial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for assigned markets and strategic projects.
• Risk Mitigation : Coordinate closely with internal functions including finance, regulatory, legal, supply chain, quality, and corporate management to ensure compliant and effective execution.
• Oversee supply chain-related matters for assigned markets, including demand planning, inventory management, logistics coordination, and issue resolution.
• Support review and negotiation of commercial contracts and work with legal and compliance teams to manage business risks appropriately.
• HQ Bridge : Act as a key liaison between ASEAN operations and Japan headquarters, translating strategic priorities into executable plans and ensuring timely management reporting.
• Contribute to governance, strategic decision-making, and risk management matters as a director of the Singapore entity.
• Cross-Function Collaboration : Lead complex cross-functional and cross-border stakeholder management in a dynamic and multicultural business environment.
• Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, financial, and supply risks to support sustainable business growth.
• Strategic Support : Undertake additional strategic assignments as directed by the Chief Operating Officer.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Education : Minimum Bachelor's degree or above.
• Industry Experience : At least 10-15 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical, OTC, consumer healthcare, or healthcare industry.
• Regional Expertise : Strong regional experience in ASEAN, with proven success in business development, distributor management, and country-level commercial operations.
• Financial& Supply Chain Acumen : Demonstrated experience in market entry projects, includingdistributor model design, new business set-up, or entity establishment support. Strong financial acumen with hands‑on experience in budgeting, forecasting, and Profit &Loss management. Sound knowledge of supply chain planning and regional operational coordination.
• Stakeholder& Leadership Skills : Excellent negotiation, reporting, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to work independently and influence cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.
• Language Proficiency :
• English : Business-level fluency (written & spoken) for regional communication and reporting.
• Japanese : Business-level fluency (written & spoken) for close coordination with Japan headquarters, management reporting, and review of Japanese business materials.
• Mandarin : Business-level fluency (written & spoken) for communication and negotiation with relevant Chinese-speaking business counterparties.
• Travel : Willingness and ability to travel frequently within ASEAN.

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