SAP TPM Market Lead

Trade Promotion Management (TPM) Market Lead, Japan

Job Purpose

A leading global consumer products organization is undertaking a significant digital transformation to strengthen its Strategic Revenue Management (SRM) capabilities and drive commercial excellence. A key component of this transformation is the deployment of next-generation Trade Promotion Management (TPM) capabilities across the business.

Reporting to the Japan SRM Lead, this role will be responsible for leading the market deployment of a Trade Promotion Management solution across Japan. The successful candidate will drive the implementation, adoption, and optimization of the TPM platform while partnering closely with cross-functional stakeholders including Sales, Finance, IT, Revenue Management, and external implementation partners.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and change management expertise to ensure successful delivery of business outcomes and value realization.

Key Responsibilities

TPM Process Ownership

• Own the end-to-end business process for the TPM ecosystem.
• Lead the design, validation, and optimization of future-state TPM processes.
• Serve as the primary business lead for TPM deployment activities across Japan.
• Define, prioritize, and manage TPM-related business requirements and product backlog items.
• Act as the subject matter expert for trade promotion processes, business rules, and commercial planning workflows.

Project Delivery

• Lead cross-functional teams through all phases of implementation, including process design, testing, training, deployment, and stabilization.
• Coordinate end-to-end TPM implementation activities, ensuring alignment with business objectives and overall program timelines.
• Manage project plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and escalation processes.
• Develop and monitor project KPIs related to timelines, budget, business case delivery, and user adoption.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Revenue Management, IT, Data & Analytics, and external implementation partners.
• Partner with regional and global teams to ensure local business requirements are effectively incorporated into the solution design.
• Build strong relationships with senior leadership and functional stakeholders to drive decision-making and project success.
• Facilitate governance forums and provide regular status updates to leadership teams.

Change Management & Adoption

• Develop and execute change management and communication plans.
• Coordinate training activities and drive user readiness across impacted teams.
• Ensure successful business adoption by managing stakeholder engagement and organizational change initiatives.
• Create communication materials and conduct workshops to support deployment objectives.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve TPM processes, trade investment effectiveness, and commercial execution.
• Support ongoing enhancement initiatives post-go-live.
• Track realization of business benefits and value creation objectives.

Scope & Impact

• Acts as the primary business point of contact for TPM deployment activities within Japan.
• Owns TPM process design, implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement activities.
• Responsible for stakeholder alignment, risk management, project governance, and successful delivery of deployment objectives.
• Works extensively with local leadership teams and regional/global stakeholders.
• Requires strong influence without authority, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to navigate a complex, matrixed organization.
• Plays a critical role in driving commercial transformation and improving trade investment productivity.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, Economics, or a related discipline.

Language Requirements

• Fluent Japanese and English communication skills are required.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Trade Promotion Management, Revenue Growth Management, Sales Operations, Commercial Excellence, Category Management, or related functions.
• Experience leading business transformation, system implementation, or process improvement initiatives.
• Experience within FMCG, Consumer Goods, Retail, or related industries is highly preferred.
• Prior change management experience is advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership teams.
• Experience leading complex projects involving multiple business functions.
• Strong communication and presentation capabilities.

Business & Technical Expertise

• Trade Promotion Management (TPM)
• Strategic Revenue Management (SRM)
• Trade Investment Management
• Commercial Planning & Execution
• Process Design & Optimization
• Project & Program Management

Analytical & Problem Solving

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to identify risks and develop practical solutions.
• Continuous improvement mindset with strong attention to detail.

Preferred Experience

• TPM platform implementation experience (e.g., Visualfabriq, SAP TPM, Promomash, CAS, Exceedra, UpClear, or similar solutions).
• Experience working in global or regional transformation programs.
• Understanding of trade spend management, customer investment planning, and commercial finance processes.

Key Success Factors

• Drive for Results
• Managing Ambiguity
• Strategic Thinking
• Stakeholder Management
• Business Acumen
• Organizational Agility
• Change Leadership
• Complex Problem Solving
• Effective Communication

Functional Expertise

• Trade Promotion Management
• Strategic Revenue Management
• Customer & Trade Investment Management
• Financial & Commercial Analysis
• Commercial Effectiveness & Execution
• Program Delivery & Governance