Senior Ingredient Trader​/Business Development Manager - Japanese bilingual

Job Title:

Senior Ingredient Trader / Business Development Manager (K-Beauty, J-Beauty, Pharmaceutical & Personal Care Ingredients)

Location: Shelton, CT

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2 days/week in the office)

Travel: Approximately 20–35% (Domestic & International)

Compensation: Competitive Base Salary + Performance Incentive + Comprehensive Benefits

A global trading company is seeking an experienced Senior Ingredient Trader / Business Development Manager to drive business growth in the cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, OTC, and specialty raw materials markets. This role focuses on sourcing innovative ingredients from overseas suppliers and developing profitable business opportunities within the U.S. market.

• Source specialty ingredients and raw materials from overseas suppliers, particularly in Korea, Japan, Asia, Europe, and other international markets.
• Identify new business opportunities in K-Beauty, J-Beauty, cosmetic innovation, personal care, pharmaceutical, OTC, and specialty ingredient markets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with international manufacturers, traders, and suppliers.
• Manage the complete international trading cycle, including sourcing, qualification, pricing, negotiation, importation, inventory planning, and customer development.
• Develop and grow business with U.S. manufacturers, formulators, contract manufacturers, distributors, brand owners, procurement teams, and R&D organizations.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, Incoterms, contracts, freight responsibilities, and commercial agreements with suppliers and customers.
• Coordinate import logistics, customs documentation, shipping terms, lead times, landed-cost calculations, and inventory management.
• Monitor global market trends, pricing, supply and demand, regulatory developments, and competitive activity.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of new suppliers, customers, products, and revenue opportunities.
• Prepare sales forecasts, budgets, market analyses, and performance reports.
• Represent the company at domestic and international industry trade shows and exhibitions.

• 8+ years of experience in B2B sales, international trading, sourcing, technical sales, account management, or business development within specialty chemicals, cosmetic ingredients, pharmaceutical ingredients, or related industries (15+ years preferred).
• Proven experience sourcing raw materials internationally and selling into the U.S. market.
• Strong knowledge of international trade, import/export processes, Incoterms, freight logistics, customs documentation, inventory planning, pricing, and margin management.
• Demonstrated success in developing new business and expanding customer relationships.
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements with both suppliers and customers.
• Knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, personal care ingredients, pharmaceutical raw materials, APIs, excipients, intermediates, OTC ingredients, botanicals, peptides, surfactants, fragrances, or related specialty chemicals.
• Existing industry relationships within cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or specialty chemical markets are a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, International Business, Sales/Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).

• Japanese and/or Korean language skills are highly preferred for supplier communication, sourcing, business development, and participation in international trade shows.
• Additional language skills (Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, etc.) are considered an advantage.
• Experience working with customs brokers, freight forwarders, international payment terms, quality documentation (COA, SDS, USP/NF, INCI, cGMP), and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing international business across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, or Latin America.