Food Merchandising Manager #13010

Japanese Food Trading company seeks a Food Merchandising Manager (Japanese Bilingual Preferred) – Torrance, CA

Department: Merchandising / Sales & Marketing
Reports to: Vice President / General Manager
Location: Torrance, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM/ On-site
Salary: $75,000–$85,000 DOE
The salary offered will depend on several factors such as relevant skills, experience, education, and any applicable certifications.
Benefits: Medical, Dental, PTO, Sick Leave, CalSavers, Performance-based bonus opportunity

Position Summary
The Merchandising Manager is responsible for developing and managing food products and suppliers for international business operations, including coordination with headquarters located in Japan. This role identifies new product and business opportunities across North America and the Americas, evaluates and proposes new suppliers, and oversees supplier relationships and product supply.

The position also focuses on expanding sales and profitability for both existing and new products while serving as a key liaison between the U.S. office, overseas headquarters, suppliers, customers, and logistics partners. Additional responsibilities include managing product-related claims, shipment schedules, budgets, forecasts, and providing supervision and training to team members.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Product Development & Merchandising
Identify, research, and develop new food products, brands, suppliers, and business opportunities across North and South America.
Evaluate and propose new products based on market trends, customer needs, pricing, quality, and profitability.
Develop strategies to increase sales and profitability of assigned products.
Coordinate product samples, specifications, quotations, presentations, and product launches.
Monitor market trends and competitive activities within the food and beverage industry.

2. Supplier Management
Identify, evaluate, and build 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.

3. Claims & Quality Management
Manage product quality issues, customer complaints, shortages, damages, and other claims.
Coordinate investigations and corrective actions with suppliers, customers, logistics partners, and overseas headquarters.
Track claims through resolution and maintain proper documentation.

4. Shipment & Business Management
Monitor and manage purchase orders, production schedules, shipment timelines, and delivery status.
Coordinate with suppliers, freight forwarders, warehouses, and internal teams to ensure timely shipments.
Prepare and monitor budgets, forecasts, and actual results for assigned products and business activities.
Analyze sales, purchasing costs, margins, and other financial data; report significant variances to management.

5. U.S. Business & Customer Support
Support sales and business development activities for U.S.-based customers and partners.
Coordinate product information, quotations, samples, customer meetings, presentations, and trade shows.
Contribute to expanding U.S. business and identifying new opportunities.

6. Team Supervision & Training
Supervise and support assigned team members in daily tasks.
Provide training and coaching to enhance product knowledge, business skills, and job performance.
Assign and prioritize work to ensure business objectives are met.
Provide feedback to management regarding team performance and development needs.

7. Business Travel & Headquarters Coordination
Travel domestically and internationally for supplier visits, customer meetings, trade shows, product development, and negotiations.
Support business trips by executives and representatives from overseas headquarters.
Serve as a key liaison between the U.S. office and headquarters.

Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree
3+ years of experience in merchandising, purchasing, sourcing, sales, food trading, consumer products, or related fields
Experience in food, beverage, consumer products, or trading industries
Strong negotiation, communication, analytical, and project management skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Able to commute to the office.
Work authorization in the U.S.
Visa Sponsorship: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Preferred
Experience working with Japanese companies or Japan-based headquarters
Japanese language proficiency
Experience in international trade, import/export, logistics, or supplier management

Key Competencies
Product development & market analysis
Sales & profit growth
Supplier relationship management
Negotiation & commercial judgment
Team leadership & training
Project & financial management
Problem solving & decision making
Cross-cultural communication
Organization & attention to detail

Working Conditions
Full-time, on-site position
Regular schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work based on business needs
Periodic domestic and international travel required