Trade Marketing Manager

About the company

This premium spirits and luxury consumer products business brings its brands to customers through hospitality, retail and experiences across Japan and wider Asian markets. Its work combines high-quality products with thoughtful brand presentation, from hotel bars and fine-dining venues to department stores and specialist retailers.

The culture is collaborative and internationally minded, with trade marketing working closely alongside sales, brand experience, logistics, finance and distribution partners. The business values professionalism, considered execution and strong relationships with customers and industry partners. For someone who enjoys translating brand ambitions into memorable experiences, this is an opportunity to shape how premium products are discovered and enjoyed in a dynamic regional market.

What the job entails

Based in Tokyo, the Trade Marketing Manager will lead trade marketing across Japan’s on-trade and retail channels, while supporting distributor-led sales promotion in other Asian markets. Reporting to the Sales Director, you will turn brand priorities into annual trade plans, clear KPIs and effective budgets, then oversee their delivery and evaluation.

You will develop activations with hotels, fine-dining venues, bars, department stores and liquor retailers, including menu listings, promotions, visibility programmes, staff education and limited-edition launches. You will adapt global campaigns for the Japanese market and set standards for point-of-sale materials and perfect serves. The role also encompasses tastings, pairing events, ambassador coordination and on-site brand experiences. Working across internal teams and local partners, you will analyse distribution, sell-out and competitor activity, assess return on investment, improve reporting and support the development of team members. Travel and occasional evening or weekend events are part of the role.

Key requirements

• At least five years’ experience in sales, trade marketing, event marketing or a related field.
• Native-level Japanese and business-level or higher English.
• Experience managing and developing team members.
• Experience building annual trade plans and managing budgets.
• A track record of taking on-trade and retail promotions or events from concept through to delivery.
• Confidence analysing sales and sell-out data and using insights to improve activity.
• Strong coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across internal teams, distributors and local partners.
• Professionalism suited to luxury brands, with flexibility to travel in Japan and internationally and attend occasional evening or weekend events.
• Timely communication and accurate recording of activities.
• Interest in premium spirits or luxury consumer products, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Salesforce or similar tools.
• Experience in beverage alcohol, luxury, hospitality or FMCG marketing, multi-country programmes, bartender networks, department-store events or point-of-sale production would be advantageous.