Japanese Bev Specialist or Purchasing Agent NY/NJ

ZipRecruiter; Secaucus (NJ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Japanese Beverage Specialist to join their dynamic team. This role involves engaging with distributors, growing market share, and promoting brand recognition within the alcoholic beverages sector. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the industry, a knack for building relationships, and a commitment to driving sales growth. With approximately 100 days of travel and full benefits offered, this position provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Japanese beverages while contributing to the company's success.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401K

Life Insurance

Annual Bonuses

Travel Opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the alcoholic beverage industry required.
• Technological fluency, including Microsoft Office, expected.

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary point of contact for all aspects of business with assigned accounts.
• Develops assigned markets by growing market share within each distributor portfolio.
• Plans & executes events to increase beverage sales.

Skills

Sales Management

Market Analysis

Communication Skills

Customer Relationship Management

Knowledge of Alcoholic Beverages

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or Related Field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

We're Hiring for both Japanese Bev Specialist & Purchasing Agent (JAPANESE REQUIRED)

This position works under their supervisor as an important part of the Japanese Beverage Specialist Team. The appropriate candidate will be passionate & knowledgeable about the alcoholic beverages industry and/or Japanese sake, shochu, craft beers & spirits. They will maintain a comprehensive catalog of knowledge on the company's brands, item details & market positioning, including key market trends & competitor brands. The candidate will be a motivated, ambitious self-starter, an effective communicator, fastidious with follow-up, tenacious, & mindful of the thoughts & needs of their customers & coworkers. They are tasked with year-over-year sales growth in total revenue, GP, total cases & PODs for the company's alcoholic beverages category, as well as helping to promote company & brand recognition among clients & consumers. Approximately 100 days of travel & market work outside of the home office. Starting salary based on individual's experience & expertise, with opportunities for annual incentives, bonuses & advancement. Full benefits for employee/dependents offered at no additional cost, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Life Insurance. Various optional add-ons.

Responsibilities:

1. Serves as primary point of contact for all aspects of business with assigned accounts & regions. Supports assigned distributors & their key accounts to reach sales goals.
2. Develops assigned markets by growing market share within each distributor portfolio & seeking new business opportunities both independently & through distributor partnerships.
3. Plans & executes events, promotions, & education opportunities to increase beverage sales inside & outside of direct responsibility.
4. Conducts sales meetings with distributor sales teams, using appropriate tools to educate, communicate product details, and launch incentive programs.
5. Builds relationships within distributors with key personnel such as brand managers, pricing coordinators, KAMs, DMs, and product specialists.
6. Works closely with distributor brand managers & specialists to grow the portfolio with new placements, manage pricing & promotional periods, and develop effective incentive programs.
7. Develops relationships with key accounts & regional chains to develop portfolio placements through personalized attention.
8. Attends distributor trade shows to represent the product lineup.
9. Collaborates with distributor sales reps for account meetings & work-withs.
10. Manages price programming & focus periods to ensure aligned consumer prices & increased sales.
11. Coordinates with chain account managers for product presentations during new product rollouts.
12. Identifies opportunities for private label development & execution.
13. Conducts marketing & brand education programs for distributor staff.
14. Hosts pairing dinners & tasting events with key distributor accounts.
15. Manages special order requests & allocations for limited/seasonal items.
16. Ensures timely invoice collection & investigates delinquencies.
17. Reviews distributor invoices for discrepancies & manages bill backs to producers.
18. Creates educational content for internal meetings.
19. Maintains & improves relationships with producers & creates success plans for their products in the market.
20. Monitors portfolio growth/stagnation & assists the purchasing department in portfolio management.
21. Submits monthly activity & expense reports by deadlines.
22. Manages assigned budget & assesses ROI for various expenses.
23. Maintains & improves sales materials such as shelf talkers, tech sheets, POS, etc.

Qualifications:

• Significant experience in the alcoholic beverage industry required. Prior supplier/regional manager experience is a plus.
• Experience in distributor management & sales expected but not mandatory for the right candidate.
• Technological fluency, including Microsoft Office, expected.
• No Japanese skills required, but interest & knowledge of Japanese culture, cuisine, and/or related topics are a plus.