Regional Trade & Marketing Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Development and matchmaking for buyers

• Identify, assess, and nurture relationships with importers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, and food ingredient purchasers within the Target Markets

• Create and maintain a buyer/partner database containing contact information, engagement history, and viability evaluations, updated on a monthly basis

• Organize individual buyer meetings for Virginia companies during inbound and outbound trade missions, including buyer recruitment, scheduling, agendas, and logistics

• Perform due diligence on potential buyers and provide guidance to Virginia companies on distribution, warehousing, and payment methods

• Trade promotion and event management

• Recommend and facilitate participation in regional food and agribusiness trade exhibitions: conduct pre-show research (pricing, import regulations, competitor analysis), send targeted buyer invitations, arrange pre-scheduled appointments, provide on-site exhibitor support, and conduct post-show lead qualification and follow-up

• Plan and implement a minimum of one outbound trade mission to the region and one inbound buyer mission to Virginia each year

• Develop and execute promotional initiatives: in-store promotions, retail and foodservice campaigns, digital and social media marketing, and promotional materials

• Accompany buyer delegations to Virginia and travel to the U.S. for meetings as needed

• Market intelligence and advisory services

• Monitor and report on market conditions, tariff and non-tariff barriers, import regulations, labeling and ingredient specifications, and competitor activities impacting Virginia products

• Provide a monthly market intelligence report containing actionable insights

• Maintain regular communication with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service posts and USDA Cooperator organizations in the region

• Reporting and performance tracking

• Submit weekly activity reports (client interactions, buyer outreach, outcomes) and event-specific reports with performance metrics

• Monitor progress against annual program goals: 25 recorded sales/marketing presentations, one outbound mission, one inbound mission, and four documented new sales accounts

• Continuously document export success stories

• Copy VDACS on all communications with Virginia companies and uphold transparent, responsive communication with VDACS staff in Richmond

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 8 years of experience in the trade of agricultural commodities, food, beverage, seafood and aquaculture products, and/or forest products in Asia — including import/distribution, export promotion, trade representation, or marketing

• Proven history of generating export sales or finalizing trade agreements, with specific, referenceable examples

• An established network of food and agribusiness buyers, importers, and distributors in at least three of the Target Markets, including at least one of Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan (the region's highest-value import markets)

• Practical experience in organizing trade show participation, trade missions, and/or B2B matchmaking programs

• Familiarity with food import regulations, labeling requirements, and distribution channels in key regional markets

• Full professional proficiency in English (weekly written reports are required); professional proficiency in at least one regional language (e.g., Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia/Malay, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin)

• Must be based in SEA or APAC; ability to travel frequently within the region and occasionally to the United States

• Must reside in the region for the duration of the engagement; absences from the Target Markets exceeding 30 consecutive days require advance notification and a designated alternate point of contact.

🏝️ Benefits

• International Development Group (IDG) is dedicated to alleviating poverty globally through sustainable and inclusive economic development.

• IDG has collaborated with USAID and other international donors across more than 80 countries.