Marketing & Business Development Manager

Position Summary:

The Marketing & Business Development Manager is responsible for leading Yama Sushi Marketplace's brand strategy, integrated marketing, business innovation, and growth initiatives to drive brand awareness, guest engagement, loyalty, and revenue.

Reporting to executive leadership, this role oversees the Marketing, Customer Experience, and Catering functions, ensuring cohesive brand storytelling and experiences across digital, in-store, and customer touchpoints. The Manager collaborates cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, and other business teams to translate Yama's brand vision and business objectives into actionable strategies and measurable results.

Leveraging consumer insights, competitive intelligence, cultural and culinary trends, and business performance, this role identifies and develops growth opportunities across menu and LTO innovation, new store openings, strategic partnerships, corporate catering, and new revenue streams, including branded merchandise, e-commerce, and packaged consumer products.

Balancing long-term brand building with short-term commercial growth, the Manager is responsible for developing scalable strategies, strengthening business relationships, leading cross-functional initiatives, and driving innovation that supports Yama's continued expansion and growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Brand Strategy, Marketing & Innovation

• Develop and execute integrated brand and marketing strategies that drive awareness, guest traffic, transactions, and loyalty across digital, social, in-store, PR, events, and partnerships.
• Ensure cohesive brand positioning, storytelling, and guest experiences across all locations and channels.
• Analyze consumer trends, competitive insights, and business performance to identify opportunities for new products, LTOs, promotions, and guest experiences.
• Partner with Culinary, Operations, and leadership to develop and launch new menu offerings, including go-to-market strategy and performance evaluation.
• Lead marketing strategies for new store openings and develop scalable local marketing programs that drive awareness, trial, and repeat visits.

Business Development, Partnerships & Revenue Growth

• Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, including branded merchandise, e-commerce, packaged products, and other business initiatives.
• Drive catering growth through corporate account development, lead generation, conversion, and recurring business opportunities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with corporate clients, community organizations, and brand partners.
• Develop brand collaborations, community programs, and experiential activations that strengthen brand relevance and drive incremental revenue.
• Oversee guest experience initiatives that improve customer satisfaction, engagement, loyalty, and retention.

Team Leadership & Business Performance

• Lead and develop team members across Marketing, Customer Experience, and Catering, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities, and KPIs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, Purchasing, and leadership to bring strategic initiatives to market.
• Build scalable processes, marketing calendars, workflows, and playbooks to support new store openings and business growth.
• Monitor marketing effectiveness, product launches, catering performance, and partnership ROI to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Translate business objectives into actionable strategies and provide leadership with performance insights and recommendations.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally
• Ability to bend, reach, and perform repetitive motions as needed 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, physically active environment as needed

Qualifications: 

• 4-6 years of experience in marketing, event management, hospitality, business development, or a related field
• College degree in a related field
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience developing corporate, community, vendor, or strategic partnerships.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines
• Ability to analyze campaign and event performance and translate results into actionable recommendations
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required for events

Expected Work Hours:

• 40 hours a week
• Weekend Availability for events/catering as needed

Pluses (but not required):

• Japanese language skills (written and spoken) to support content creation
• Strong writing and editing skills in English
• Familiarity with Japanese culture and brands
• Familiarity with social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging trends)
• Experience with CRM tools
• Experience with design/editing software (Canva, Capcut, Adobe Creative Cloud – Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for food, culture, and community engagement.

Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, per applicable laws.

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities that are reasonably related to the role, based on operational needs and in alignment with the scope of the position.

Yama Sushi Marketplace is your neighborhood Japanese sushi market, proudly serving the community for over 40 years. We now have three locations across San Gabriel, West LA, and Koreatown. We’re best known for our premium grab-and-go sushi, consistently ranked among the best in Los Angeles. But we’re more than just a sushi spot—we’re a window to Japan. From LA’s largest selection of sake to rare Japanese snacks, artisanal sauces, and specialty items sourced directly from Japan, we bring the authentic tastes and spirit of Japan to your everyday life.