Position Summary:
The Trade Marketing Manager is responsible for leading Trade Marketing strategy and execution across both Hard Goods and Soft Goods categories, driving brand visibility, consumer engagement, and sell-through performance across Wholesale and Retail channels in Japan.
This role serves as the key link between Marketing and Sales, ensuring that product, brand, and channel strategies are effectively translated into compelling consumer experiences and retail execution. Working closely with Product Marketing, Sales, Brand Marketing, Retail, and E-commerce teams, the Trade Marketing Manager develops and implements integrated trade marketing initiatives that support business objectives and strengthen TaylorMade's market leadership.
In addition, this position is responsible for building organizational capability within the Trade Marketing function by developing talent, improving processes, and establishing best practices that contribute to long-term business growth.
In summary, the Trade Marketing Manager is responsible for transforming category and brand strategies into winning retail and wholesale execution, driving consumer engagement, sell-through performance, and long-term commercial growth across the Hard Goods and Soft Goods businesses in Japan.
Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities:
1. Trade Marketing Strategy Development & Execution
- Develop and lead Trade Marketing strategies for both Hard Goods and Soft Goods categories, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives, product strategies, and channel priorities.
- Collaborate closely with Product Marketing, Sales, and Brand Marketing teams to create annual Trade Marketing plans that enhance consumer engagement, strengthen retail partnerships, and drive sustainable business growth. Adapt global initiatives to meet local market needs while developing Japan-specific activation programs that improve commercial effectiveness.
2. Retail & Wholesale Execution Leadership
- Lead retail and wholesale activation strategies across all customer touchpoints to ensure a consistent and premium TaylorMade brand experience.
- Drive initiatives including visual merchandising, in-store communication, promotional campaigns, retail displays, point-of-sale materials, and customer-specific activation programs to increase brand visibility and maximize sell-through performance. Partner with key accounts and retail stakeholders to establish best-in-class retail execution standards throughout the market.
3. Category Growth & Commercial Performance
- Support business growth by identifying opportunities through market analysis, sales performance reviews, competitive benchmarking, and consumer insights.
- Partner with Sales teams to improve both sell-in and sell-through performance through effective promotional planning, retail activation, and channel-specific marketing initiatives. Drive cross-category programs and consumer engagement opportunities that support overall TaylorMade business growth, including opportunities across Hard Goods, Soft Goods, and Ball categories.
4. Marketing Asset Development & Project Management
- Oversee the development and execution of Trade Marketing assets, including promotional materials, visual merchandising tools, point-of-sale communication, event materials, and retail marketing programs.
- Manage external agencies, production partners, and vendors to ensure all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with brand standards. Maintain strong project management discipline while driving operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
5. Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead and develop the Trade Marketing team by providing coaching, performance management, and professional development opportunities.
- Build organizational capability by establishing best practices, improving ways of working, and fostering collaboration across Marketing and Sales functions. Develop future Trade Marketing talent and contribute to succession planning within the organization.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements:
- Strong understanding of Trade Marketing, Retail Marketing, Sales Promotion, Category Management, and Commercial Marketing principles.
- Proven ability to develop and execute integrated marketing programs across multiple categories and sales channels.
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with experience using market data and business insights to support decision-making.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.
- Business-level English communication skills are preferred.
Education, Work Experience, and Professional Certifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Trade Marketing, Retail Marketing, Sales Promotion, Category Management, Sales, or related commercial functions.
- Experience managing multiple product categories and sales channels is preferred.
- Experience within sporting goods, golf, apparel, retail, lifestyle, or consumer goods industries is highly desirable.
- Previous experience managing people, budgets, and key customer relationships is preferred.
Work Environment / Physical Requirements:
- This position operates primarily in a standard office environment and requires regular use of computers, communication tools, and business applications.
- Domestic travel may be required to support customer meetings, retail visits, sales events, product launches, trade shows, and internal business meetings. The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively across functions is essential.
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TaylorMade Golf Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.
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