Portfolio & Strategy Manager (Travel Retail) (KOWLOON, HK) Full Time

The role works closely with the Portfolio & Strategy Lead Manager Asia TR to support the strategic direction of assigned brands in Global Travel Retail and across North Asia Travel Retail geographies. The position ensures brand strategies address relevant traveler segments and remain aligned with HQ Brand Groups’ guidelines. The role is responsible for defining the directional Combustibles and RRP portfolio strategy for North Asia markets, with the objective of improving profitability, increasing Global Travel Retail volume and share, and strengthening competitiveness. This includes identifying portfolio white spots and recommending, evaluating, and discussing portfolio and pricing initiatives.

The position leads the management of new product and new brand launches (Combustibles and RRP) across assigned Travel Retail geographies, overseeing the full lifecycle from development to commercialization. This is done in close coordination with HQ Brand Groups, GTR Consumer and Trade Marketing, R&D, GSC, and Travel Retail market operations. The role is also accountable for ensuring accurate and timely maintenance of all relevant SKUs in forecasting systems.

In addition, the role supports the development of trade, consumer, channel, and distribution strategies; contributes to pricing strategy management; participates in defining investment resource allocation; and sets and measures overall portfolio and brand contribution for assigned geographies. The role collaborates closely with HQ Brand Groups, GTR Consumer and Trade Marketing, and Travel Retail market operations to coordinate and drive the development and execution of Marketing and Sales strategic plans.

As a Portfolio & Strategy Manager, you will:

• Be responsible for setting the global direction for product categories, portfolio and pricing strategy of all JTI brands for respective region/markets. Translate strategic GTR goals into new products (RMC / OTP / RRP) and new brand/brand style launches with consumer centricity as well as portfolio optimization. Close collaboration with relevant stakeholders (Domestic markets, TR Sales, Marketing, SI) in order to analyze industry trends and consumer preferences in respective markets, define white spots for brand introductions/ new launches / line expensions. Ownership of NPD/ DER process to drive portfolio related projects from the ideation till the end, injecting all strategic info and thinking based on nationality classification, domestic market trends as well as global directions.
• Work in close collaboration with the respective TR Sales and Marketing Activation groups as well as managers of Brand Equity, Finance Team and Strategic Insights in order to ensure alignment and integration of activities. Continue to use and improve the “Execution Excellence” procedures already in place.
• Manage the development of the product and brand portfolio, pricing, trade and distribution strategies for assigned brands based on HQ Brand Group guidelines, best practices and market dynamics in order to maximize portfolio/brand performance and ROI. Support assortment and pricing analysis for the assigned geographies and brands. Monitor performance and make the necessary portfolio corrective actions where required.
• Develop and coordinate the assigned new product and new brand/brand style launch plans with brand groups, brand equity, R&D and GSC to ensure timely launch. Responsible for coordinating packaging and product development with R&D and NPD GBS. Budget, evaluate and track OTCs for relevant projects. Manage BAP/MEMO and product/ packaging development process related to the product and brand portfolio for assigned geographies and brands. Maintain newly created P-SKUs and SKUs as well as existing SKUs of the relevant brands within GTR forecasting systems ensuring portfolio correctness for each customer. Act as GTR PLM Expert. Coordinate activities related to PLM and ensure NPD process smoothness. Support NTM/FG Write-off tracking and monitoring.
• Contribute to the implementation of brand portfolio, consumer and trade strategy for the A&SP. Assist in coordinating the development of M&S annual and strategic plan with different M&S Groups in the assigned TR geographies to contribute to the final GTR A&SP.
• Work closely with JTI HQ relevant Brand Groups in order to ensure full alignement between GTR Brand Strategies and HQ BG Strategies. Work closely with GTR Corporate Affairs, to monitor and analyze regulatory trends for the assigned Travel Retail geographies and develop strategies & contingencies that help the company to be prepared and to adapt to local regulatory changes. 

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in FMCG marketing; sales experience is an added advantage
• Experience in both global and regional (in‑market) roles is desirable, with demonstrated cross‑cultural exposure
• Strong experience in Brand and Portfolio Management, with solid consumer marketing knowledge and the ability to translate insights into effective strategies
• Proven experience in new product development and product launches, from concept through commercialization
• Ability to generate and apply strategic and commercial insights to support sound business decision‑making
• Strong capability in pricing strategy development, including pricing scenarios and financial analysis
• University degree required, preferably in Marketing; MBA or equivalent educational background is an advantage
• Fluent in English (required); Japanese proficiency is an asset