Key Account Manager & Strategy Lead│Japan Market Consulting

【About WPIC】

WPIC Marketing + Technologies is a leading APAC e-commerce and technology consultancy helping global brands succeed across Asia. With over 400 employees across 9 cities worldwide, WPIC provides end-to-end market entry, e-commerce, logistics, marketing, and technology solutions for brands expanding into Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Learn more: https://www.wpic.co

Position Overview

The Key Account Manager & Strategy Lead (Japan) is responsible for managing a portfolio of international brands entering and growing within the Japanese market. This role combines strategic account leadership, e-commerce consulting, and commercial ownership.

As the primary point of contact for clients, the successful candidate serves as the bridge between clients and WPIC's e-commerce, marketing, logistics, technology, and operations teams, driving long-term account growth and revenue expansion.

【Key Responsibilities】

Client & Account Management

• Act as the main strategic advisor and day-to-day contact for your accounts — covering onboarding, communications, and program planning.
• Lead recurring client meetings (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual), business reviews, and strategic planning sessions.
• Manage client expectations, project scope, deliverables, and timelines through to completion.
• Build strong relationships with client decision-makers and understand their business goals.
• Build processes to streamline recurring work and improve account efficiency.
• Gather client feedback and share it with internal teams to drive improvement.

E-Commerce Strategy & Market Intelligence

• Develop and execute e-commerce growth strategies across Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Shopify, and other relevant channels.
• Support market-entry and go-to-market planning for international brands entering Japan.
• Provide strategic guidance on assortment planning, pricing, promotions, merchandising, and channel development.
• Grow engagements by introducing clients to WPIC's wider services.
• Research market trends, consumer preferences, and competitors in Japan's e-commerce market.

Commercial & Financial Ownership

• Own portfolio performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.
• Monitor and analyze KPIs — sales, ROAS, profitability, and operational metrics — and turn the analysis into recommendations that improve client performance.
• Find upsell, cross-sell, and new-business opportunities within existing accounts, and work with internal teams to hit revenue targets.
• Support annual planning and revenue growth initiatives; assist the sales team with business development activities as requested.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Coordinate internal teams across E-Commerce, Marketing, Logistics, Operations, and Technology — driving accountability and alignment to deliver client objectives on time.
• Guide and oversee junior team members (e.g., Coordinators) — delegating tasks, reviewing quality, and supporting their development.
• Promote collaboration and best-practice sharing across teams; coordinate with other Key Account Managers and Strategy Leads as needed.

【Required Qualifications】

• Native-level Japanese, or business-level Japanese at N2 or higher — required for client and internal team communication.
• Fluent / professional English — most clients communicate in English only.
• 5+ years of experience in e-commerce, marketplace management, account management, consulting, or digital commerce.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Shopify, or similar platforms.
• Experience managing client relationships in a professional services, agency, consulting, or brand environment.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting business and financial data.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasting, and P&L performance.
• Proactive self-starter with strong drive — able to push both clients and internal teams toward outcomes and operate independently in ambiguous situations. Passive or reactive working styles are not a fit for this role.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills, verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency with AI productivity tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to accelerate research, analysis, and content creation.

【Preferred Qualifications】

• Experience supporting international brands entering Japan and/or cross-border e-commerce operations (import/export, customs, taxation, IOR/MOR, etc.).
• Knowledge of digital advertising platforms (Amazon Ads, Rakuten RPP/TDA, Meta Ads, Google Ads).
• Hands-on experience with data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker Studio, Plotly Dash, Power BI).
• Experience leading cross-functional or geographically distributed teams.
• Aptitude for digital tool adoption and process building to enhance team efficiency.
• Fluency in Mandarin and/or Korean is an asset.

【Ideal Candidate Profile】

• Hungry to Learn — Sees a fast-paced, ever-changing environment as a source of opportunity rather than uncertainty, and actively seeks out new knowledge and challenges.
• Proactive and Self-Driven — Comfortable raising issues early, taking initiative, and driving decisions forward rather than waiting for direction.
• Strong Communicator — Confident in leading client conversations and building relationships in both English and Japanese.
• Analytical and Data-Oriented — Comfortable with P&L management and making data-driven business decisions.
• Passionate About Japan’s E-Commerce Ecosystem — Has a strong interest in Japan’s e-commerce landscape and in helping global brands successfully enter and grow in the Japanese market.

【Why Join WPIC】

• You will have the opportunity to directly support the growth of global brands and international companies entering the Japanese market through Japan's leading e-commerce channels, including Amazon Japan, Rakuten, and Shopify.
• Own strategic initiatives with significant autonomy and measurable impact.
• Collaborate with experienced, international teams across multiple markets.
• Accelerate your career through a clear pathway into senior account leadership and general management.
• Develop a broad range of skills and expertise spanning marketing strategy through e-commerce operations.

【Work Conditions】

• Employment Type：Full-time, permanent
• Probation Period：6 months (fixed-term employment contract during probation period)
• Location：Tokyo, Japan (23 wards) — office-based with hybrid flexibility depending on business needs
• Working Hours：9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Flexible working hours system)
• Holidays：Saturdays & Sundays, Japanese National Holidays, Year-End/New Year Holidays, Labour Day (May 1), Obon holiday (one day in August)
• Salary：Negotiable based on experience and skills
• Benefits：Comprehensive social insurance (health insurance, pension, employment insurance, and workers' compensation), transportation allowance, and professional development and training opportunities.