Sales Executive (Bilingual Japanese/English)

Sales Executive (Bilingual Japanese / English)

Position Type: Full-Time Location: Atlanta, GA Area (Hybrid Office / Field Sales Approx. 70% Regional Travel)

We are seeking an energetic, results-driven Bilingual Sales Executive to drive business growth and expand our client footprint across the designated Southeast region. In this role, you will combine field sales, account management, and market expansion efforts to service restaurants, food wholesalers, and specialty distributors. Operating as a key brand ambassador, you will spend approximately 70% of your time in the field visiting existing clients, conducting product tastings/demonstrations, and prospecting new business. Professional fluency in both English and Japanese is required to build trust, maintain cultural rapport, and effectively liaise across regional accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve monthly and annual sales quotas designated by sales leadership through proactive territory management and business development.
• Build, nurture, and maintain long-term relationships with potential and existing clients across assigned regional territories.
• Prospect new business opportunities through targeted networking, industry referrals, market research, and cold calls.
• Visit customer sites regularly to provide hands-on support, educate clients on product benefits, and introduce new food and beverage offerings.
• Collaborate closely with internal purchasing, warehouse, and logistics teams to ensure accurate order processing and timely product distribution.
• Coordinate urgent or specialized product deliveries directly with clients to meet high-priority operational needs.
• Partner with the accounting department to monitor accounts receivable and assist with collecting past-due payments when necessary.
• Input, update, and manage customer sales orders accurately within the corporate ERP system.
• Resolve product-related inquiries, troubleshoot customer complaints, and escalate complex issues to management in a timely manner.
• Safely operate and maintain the assigned company vehicle in strict compliance with corporate fleet guidelines.
• Participate in weekly sales team strategy meetings, semiannual inventory audits, and designated after-hours corporate events.

Qualifications & Required Skills

• Language Proficiency: Business-level fluency (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in both English and Japanese is required. This position will frequently communicate with English and Japanese speaking stakeholders.
• Experience: 2+ years of successful sales experience in the food and beverage industry, with a strong preference for experience within the Japanese food sector or Japanese restaurant operations.
• Licensing: Valid drivers license with a clean driving record and comfort traveling regionally up to 70% of the time.
• Education: High School Diploma required; Associates or Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Technical & Math Skills: Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with enterprise ERP software (such as S2K or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central) is a plus. Solid understanding of business mathematics (markups, discounts, weight/unit conversions).
• Industry Knowledge: Strong interest in or hands-on knowledge of Japanese culinary culture, specialty food products, and Japanese liquors is highly preferred.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Field & Travel: Ability to sit and drive for extended periods, traveling within and outside the Atlanta area to visit restaurants, distributors, and warehouses.
• Physical Ability: Capability to talk, hear, walk, stand, reach, bend, kneel, and regularly lift/move packages weighing up to 25 pounds (and up to 50 pounds occasionally).
• Work Environment: Split between a standard office environment and active field/food production environments where noise levels can range from normal to loud.