Description

Are you passionate about promoting world-class food and beverage products on a global stage? Do you thrive at the intersection of international trade, marketing, and strategic partnerships? Business Sweden is now looking for a Project Manager to lead the Try Swedish food platform in Japan and South Korea, working to elevate the presence of Swedish food and beverage (F&B) in these dynamic and discerning markets.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to spearhead Sweden's export promotion efforts in two of Asia's most exciting consumer markets. Based in Tokyo, you will be responsible for driving visibility, awareness, and commercial success for Swedish F&B brands in both Japan and South Korea, in alignment with Business Sweden's mission and the Try Swedish strategy.

You will work closely with the Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Sweden in Seoul, as well as with Swedish companies, local distributors, retailers, food service partners, and consumers - covering the full value chain from producer to end customer.

Your main responsibilities

• Strategically promote Swedish F&B products in Japan and South Korea to increase brand awareness and market share.
• Develop and execute targeted marketing plans, events, and campaigns that resonate with local audiences and reflect Swedish values of quality, sustainability, and innovation.
• Build long-term relationships with distributors, retailers, local producers, chefs, importers, and food service stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Swedish F&B companies to identify opportunities for growth, market entry, and positioning in Japan and Korea.
• Monitor market trends, consumer behavior, and regulatory developments to generate actionable insights and ensure Sweden's competitive positioning.
• Report on performance and impact, sharing progress, best practices, and areas for improvement with stakeholders in Sweden and the APAC region.

The position is based in Tokyo, Japan, with occasional travel to Sweden and South Korea.
You will be part of Business Sweden's Asia-Pacific (APAC) team, working in close coordination with colleagues across the region and in Sweden.

Core competencies and collaborative skills

• Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, professionalism, and accountability in delivering high-quality results across multiple projects and markets.
• Approach tasks with a structured mindset, attention to detail, and a positive, can-do attitude - even in cross-cultural or unfamiliar environments.
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, external stakeholders, and government partners in Sweden, Japan, and South Korea to drive shared goals.
• Build trust-based relationships through transparent communication, cultural sensitivity, and responsiveness.
• Adapt quickly to evolving market conditions and project needs, demonstrating agility and a problem-solving mindset.
• Take initiative to share ideas and insights, while actively listening to others and appreciating diverse perspectives and cultural nuances.
• Represent Swedish values such as sustainability, innovation, and quality in all stakeholder interactions.

Formal requirements

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, International Trade, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably within export promotion, international business development, food & beverage, or marketing consultancy.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder, cross-border projects, ideally in or with East Asian markets.
• Proven ability to develop and execute marketing strategies, organize promotional activities, and manage client-facing engagements.
• Strong skills in PowerPoint and Excel for presentations, reporting, and market analysis.
• High proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Proficiency in Japanese or Korean is a strong advantage.
• Swedish or Japanese citizenship required.

Application

Please submit your CV and cover letter in English as soon as possible as we will be screening applications on a rolling basis, and closing this job ad when a candidate has been recruited. Your application will be handled confidentially.