Sales Manager Kansai

Key Responsibilities

1. Field Sales Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Field Sales Representatives to achieve sales and execution objectives.
• Plan and optimize customer coverage, visit schedules, and territory management.
• Develop high-priority outlets and improve execution standards across the territory.
• Build team capability through regular coaching, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators, including sales performance, new account acquisition, distribution, and execution quality.
• Communicate business priorities and ensure effective implementation across the sales team.
• Execute national and regional sales initiatives and promotional campaigns.
• Ensure consistent execution of brand strategies and merchandising standards within priority accounts.
• Develop and manage annual, quarterly, and monthly sales, volume, and profitability targets.

2. Key Account Management

• Build and strengthen relationships with strategic on-trade customers.
• Lead commercial negotiations with major restaurant groups, hospitality businesses, and premium beverage outlets.
• Develop tailored customer business plans and promotional programs to drive mutual growth.
• Manage pricing, commercial agreements, promotional activities, and contract negotiations.
• Identify new business opportunities and expand distribution within key accounts.

3. Business Planning & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing, Trade Marketing, and other internal stakeholders to maximize customer execution and commercial effectiveness.
• Support the implementation of promotional programs, product launches, and customer activation initiatives.
• Provide market insights, customer feedback, and competitive intelligence to support business planning.

4. Governance & Financial Management

• Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and commercial governance standards.
• Manage regional sales budgets, customer investments, and travel & entertainment expenses effectively.
• Monitor return on investment for promotional activities and customer programs.
• Drive sustainable and profitable growth across the assigned territory while maintaining strong commercial discipline.

Experience
- The role requires at least 3 years of experience in spirits sales and distributor management
- Solid experience within the Japan market is a must.
- FMCG background, on / off premise, outlet management is a must

Skills
- Strong business acumen
- Excellent analytical, result-driven, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Effective communication and negotiation skills.
- Detail-oriented and persuasive.
- Good presentation/selling skills
- IT proficiency (computer literate)
- Japanese is a must: English is nice to have.