Rapha Japan - Operations & Wholesale Manager

Rapha creates the finest cycling clothing and accessories in the world. Designed without compromise for the most discerning rider, Rapha products blend optimum performance, the finest fabrics and modern style. At Rapha, it’s our purpose to inspire the world to live by bike. But why? What does riding bring to our lives? It’s different for everyone but all of us at Rapha believe that life is better by bike. All of us believe that it’s never just a ride and it’s never just a job!

The Rapha Japan - Operations & Wholesale Manager is responsible for all business activities within Japan. You will report directly to the Regional Managing Director. The duties of the Rapha Japan - Operations & Wholesale Manager include:

The role and your skills:

Owns the performance and Japanese P&L commitments, across physical channels (CLUBHOUSE, EVENTS and WHOLESALE) and shares local insight to improve our e-commerce experience.

WHOLESALE

• Owns the wholesale approach for the market of how much wholesale should play within the total revenue mix
• Works collaboratively with central partners to ensure wholesale partnership expectations are met on time
• Lead for opening accounts of multiple scales and the negotiation of commercial planning.
• Collaborates with wholesale partners for activation strategies and long term revenue opportunities.

CLUBHOUSE

• Applies traditional retail experience and expertise to oversee our retail store teams (Clubhouses).
• Manages Clubhouse operating principles from a distance while knowing when and how to get close to ensure a premium experience for customers.
• Uses their skilled eye for compelling visual merch standards that match our central brand standards while remaining locally relevant.
• Is attentive to retail development opportunities within the Region for future physical retail opportunities such as pop-ups, brand activations or relocations.

WEB

• Confident feeding into the product planning processes to help influence the right mix of current and future product for the market
• Works effectively with the global CRM team and to drive traffic/engagement from existing customer base.
• Shares insights and local expertise to improve the local version of Rapha.cc and its relevancy.
• Act as ‘local agitator’, making sure that all local needs and requirements are elevated to global teams.

Responsible for driving Rapha’s strategic vision and direction to address our 3 business pillars of content, commerce and community;

• Define core priorities of where-to-play and how-to-win in the Market.
• Build brand resonance for existing and new customers through meaningful activations across the Region.
• Drive customer acquisition and retention strategies.
• Leads year long program of events, ride strategy and activities across Regional Clubhouses.

Do you have the following?

COMMUNITY BUILDING SKILLS

•  An authentic and personable nature that builds best-in-class relationships with key press, influencers and brand partners 
• Expertise in the most relevant social media platforms for Rapha customers in that country and how to leverage them in an authentic and commercial way.
• Knowledge in local demands to lay out priorities relevant investments in brand building relationships such as grass-root activations, ambassadors, sponsored athletes or events.
• Ensures the RCC is at the centre of our key markets within the Region and connected to the rest of the global community

PEOPLE SKILLS

• A legacy of building strong people pipelines suitable for a global business.
•  A generous leader who takes time to nurture junior talent as well as developing their future successor.
• A natural coach and mentor to their direct reports and members of the global business
• Experienced in working for a purpose driven brand and authentically representing its product and culture internally and externally.
• Relentless in leading through a company's culture and values and being the ultimate example for all country and region

WORKING AT RAPHA

We are continuously looking into ways to invest in our employees and build a better working culture and environment. Here are just some of the internal benefits we offer. 

• Flexible working hours 
• Enhanced parental leave
• Monthly department social events and quarterly office social away days
• We offer a flexible riding benefit to allow you to go out riding on a Wednesday morning with colleagues or learn to cycle to cycling through our Getting Started Scheme. 
• We offer all our employees a 50% apparel discount and a discount for family and friends 
• An annual clothing allowance 
• Free membership to the Rapha Cycling Club