Food Product Development & Sourcing Manager

Pasona N A, Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pasona N A, Inc. in Torrance, CA seeks a Food Product Development & Sourcing Manager to identify and develop high-quality food products, brands, suppliers, and new business opportunities across North America and the Americas. You will connect the U.S.

office with Japan headquarters and negotiate commercial terms while managing product supply and profitability. The role requires hands-on product development, supplier negotiations, international collaboration, and leadership of cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3 years in merchandising, purchasing, sourcing, sales, food trading, or related field.
• Strong negotiation, communication, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new food products, brands, suppliers, and business opportunities across North America and the Americas.
• Evaluate and propose new products to the Japan headquarters based on market trends, pricing, quality, and profitability.
• Develop strategies to increase sales and profitability for existing and new products.
• Coordinate product samples, specifications, quotations, presentations, and launches.
• Monitor food and beverage industry trends and competitive activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers, suppliers, and partners.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, and other conditions.
• Monitor supplier performance, including quality, delivery, pricing, and responsiveness.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical

Project management

Excel

PowerPoint

English language

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

MS Office

Job description

Food Product Development & Sourcing Manager

Location: Torrance, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM

Reports to: Vice President / General Manager

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Food Product Development & Sourcing Manager to identify and develop high-quality food products, brands, suppliers, and new business opportunities across North America and the Americas.

This position will play a key role in connecting the U.S. office with the company's headquarters in Japan. The successful candidate will evaluate and propose new products, develop supplier relationships, negotiate commercial terms, manage product supply, and implement strategies to grow sales and profitability.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on professional who enjoys product development, supplier negotiations, international business, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Sourcing

• Identify and develop new food products, brands, suppliers, and business opportunities throughout North America and the Americas.
• Evaluate and propose new products to the Japan headquarters based on market trends, customer needs, pricing, quality, and profitability.
• Develop strategies to increase sales and profitability for both existing and new products.
• Coordinate product samples, specifications, quotations, presentations, and product launches.
• Monitor food and beverage industry trends and competitive activities.

Supplier Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers, suppliers, and business partners.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, and other commercial conditions.
• Monitor supplier performance, including quality, delivery, pricing, and responsiveness.
• Coordinate corrective actions and resolve supplier-related issues.

Quality and Claims Management

• Manage product quality concerns, customer complaints, shortages, damages, and other claims.
• Coordinate investigations and corrective actions with suppliers, customers, logistics providers, and the Japan headquarters.
• Track claims through resolution and maintain accurate documentation.

Supply Chain and Business Management

• Monitor purchase orders, production schedules, shipment schedules, and delivery status.
• Prepare and manage budgets, forecasts, and actual results for assigned products and business activities.
• Analyze sales, purchasing costs, margins, and other financial information.
• Report significant variances and business developments to management.

U.S. Business Development and Customer Support

• Support sales and business development activities for U.S. customers and partners.
• Coordinate product information, quotations, samples, customer meetings, presentations, and trade shows.
• Help expand the company’s U.S. business and identify new growth opportunities.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, guide, and support assigned team members.
• Provide training and coaching to strengthen product knowledge, business skills, and job performance.
• Assign and prioritize work and monitor progress toward business objectives.
• Provide management with feedback regarding team performance and development needs.

Japan Headquarters Coordination and Travel

• Serve as a key liaison between the U.S. office and Japan headquarters.
• Coordinate and support visits by executives and representatives from Japan, including supplier visits, customer meetings, and facility tours.
• Travel domestically and internationally for supplier visits, trade shows, product development, customer meetings, and business negotiations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least three years of experience in merchandising, purchasing, sourcing, sales, food trading, consumer products, or a related field.
• Strong negotiation, communication, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience in the food, beverage, consumer products, or trading industry.
• Experience working with Japanese companies or a Japan-based headquarters.
• Japanese-language proficiency.
• Experience with international trade, import/export, logistics, or supplier management.

What You Bring

• Product development and market-analysis expertise.
• A strong focus on sales and profit growth.
• Excellent supplier relationship-management skills.
• Sound negotiation and commercial judgment.
• Team leadership and employee-development capabilities.
• Strong project and financial-management skills.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Cross-cultural communication skills.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.

Working Conditions

• This is a full-time, on-site position in Torrance, California.
• Regular working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM.
• Occasional early-morning, evening, or weekend work may be required.
• Periodic domestic and international travel is required.