Product Category Specialist | Major Food Trading Company

A Japanese major food trading company located in Santa Fe Springs, California is looking for a Product Category Specialist.

<Job Summary>
The Product Category Specialist is responsible for coordinating, developing, and evaluating product lines for the Product Management Department (PMD). The Product Category Specialist will be accountable for the purchasing of food products and supplies as needed for the Company. This position will report to the Manager and will have daily contact with Sales personnel, Managers, Branch Managers, Manufacturers, and Vendors. The Product Category Specialist will be responsible for purchases/ expediting of products, and inventory, supporting negotiations of contracts, and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

<Job Functions>
・Ensure that each customer, client, and vendor receives outstanding customer service by providing a friendly environment which includes greeting and assisting every customer, maintaining outstanding product knowledge, and all other components of customer service.
・Responsible for coordination, transfer, and appropriate translation of all technical documentation required to support the Company product line among branches around the world.
・Maintain document control for specification sheets/ manufacture processing sheets, including storing, verifying obtain and maintaining from makers.
・Monitor and maintain vendor account management, including, but not limited to, claiming merchandise expenses, invoicing, and payment confirmation.
・Obtain specification sheet of each product from vendors, and check for leaks and errors of content.
・Obtain guarantee letter for each product from vendors, check for leaks and errors of content, and submit to customers via the Sales Department
・Create and report sales performance data to specific vendors
・Retrieve data from the Business Intelligence (BI) database if necessary.
・Coordinates the distribution of internal and external marketing literature.
・Completes sales-related and marketing administrative projects, including running marketing and sales reports and conducting company research.
・Learn and work with various digital marketing software programs and implement marketing plans that include digital and print content as needed.
・Assists in writing and editing sales and marketing materials, such as articles, presentations, white papers, and collateral.
・Perform other related duties as required.

<Requirements>
・Japanese and English bilingual
・Basic computer skills
・Experience in related business operations
・Strong communication skills with internal and external stakeholders
・Ability to organize and efficiently manage multiple tasks
・Ability to flexibly support sales and marketing-related activities
・Ability to handle market research, document preparation, data management, and related tasks

【Keywords】
・Product Category Management
・Procurement
・Vendor Negotiation