Channel manager

About this Position This role is responsible for steering and driving the execution of the regional sales and channel excellence roadmap in Japan. You will translate global and regional frameworks into local action, ensuring strong channel discipline, sustainable growth, and strategic alignment across stakeholders.

As a key contributor to sales excellence, you will lead channel strategy development, accelerate digital growth, and drive continuous improvement across distribution and agent performance.

What You´ll Do

• Channel Strategy & Execution Excellence: Drive regional implementation of channel frameworks, policies, and growth strategies. Identify underexploited channel opportunities and ensure disciplined execution aligned with channel development targets. Continuously evaluate and optimize existing and potential channel partners.
• Sales Excellence & Strategic Projects: Lead and support strategic sales excellence initiatives (e.g., ACE and other regional programs). Critically review the effectiveness of product launches, promotions, and commercial activities to ensure continuous improvement in targeting and execution.
• Digital & eCommerce Acceleration: Drive the implementation of global and regional eCommerce strategies in Japan, integrating digital platforms with traditional sales channels to maximize reach and revenue impact.
• Market & Pricing Alignment: Work closely with the pricing team to ensure regional price alignment and competitiveness. Maintain a strong understanding of market developments, competitor dynamics, and product knowledge to inform commercial decisions.
• Stakeholder & Distribution Management: Align with global and regional sales/channel excellence teams on roll-outs and shared distributor strategies. Sponsor or manage key distribution accounts as required and collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective execution.
• Team Leadership & Market Engagement: Lead team, providing direction, coaching, and performance oversight. Travel regularly within the market to maintain close engagement with agents and customers and strengthen business partnerships.

What makes you a good fit Must have

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
• Native Japanese, fluent in English for global communication
• 7–10 years of experience in channel management, sales excellence, or business development
• Strong strategic, analytical, and structured thinking capabilities
• Experience driving regional initiatives within a multinational environment preferred
• Leadership potential with team management experience

Nice to have

• Experience in a global company
• Chinese language skills (beneficial for regional collaboration)
• Exposure to consumer business and e-commerce channels
• Multi-category pricing and go-to-market experience

Some perks of joining Henkel

• Flexible work scheme with flexible hours, hybrid work model, and work from anywhere policy for up to 30 days per year
• Diverse national and international growth opportunities
• Global wellbeing standards with health and preventive care programs
• Gender-neutral parental leave for a minimum of 8 weeks
• Employee Share Plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares
• Retirement Pension Plan (Corporate DC and CB composition)
• Sick Leave
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Supplementary Workers' Accident Insurance

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Become part of the team and bring your uniqueness to us! We welcome all applications across different genders, origins, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, disabilities, and generations.