Legal-Marketing & Business Development Manager

Position Summary

The Marketing & Business Development Manager is responsible for leading Yama Sushi Marketplace's brand strategy, integrated marketing, business innovation, and growth initiatives to drive brand awareness, guest engagement, loyalty, and revenue. Reporting to executive leadership, this role oversees the Marketing, Customer Experience, and Catering functions, ensuring cohesive brand storytelling and experiences across digital, in-store, and customer touchpoints.

The Manager collaborates cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, and other business teams to translate Yama's brand vision and business objectives into actionable strategies and measurable results. Leveraging consumer insights, competitive intelligence, cultural and culinary trends, and business performance, this role identifies and develops growth opportunities across menu and LTO innovation, new store openings, strategic partnerships, corporate catering, and new revenue streams, including branded merchandise, e-commerce, and packaged consumer products.

Balancing long-term brand building with short-term commercial growth, the Manager is responsible for developing scalable strategies, strengthening business relationships, leading cross-functional initiatives, and driving innovation that supports Yama's continued expansion and growth. Brand Strategy, Marketing & Innovation
Develop and execute integrated brand and marketing strategies that drive awareness, guest traffic, transactions, and loyalty across digital, social, in-store, PR, events, and partnerships.

Ensure cohesive brand positioning, storytelling, and guest experiences across all locations and channels. Analyze consumer trends, competitive insights, and business performance to identify opportunities for new products, LTOs, promotions, and guest experiences. Partner with Culinary, Operations, and leadership to develop and launch new menu offerings, including go-to-market strategy and performance evaluation. Lead marketing strategies for new store openings and develop scalable local marketing programs that drive awareness, trial, and repeat visits.

Business Development, Partnerships & Revenue Growth
Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, including branded merchandise, e-commerce, packaged products, and other business initiatives. Drive catering growth through corporate account development, lead generation, conversion, and recurring business opportunities. Build and maintain strategic relationships with corporate clients, community organizations, and brand partners. Develop brand collaborations, community programs, and experiential activations that strengthen brand relevance and drive incremental revenue.

Oversee guest experience initiatives that improve customer satisfaction, engagement, loyalty, and retention. Team Leadership & Business Performance
Lead and develop team members across Marketing, Customer Experience, and Catering, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities, and KPIs. Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, Purchasing, and leadership to bring strategic initiatives to market. Build scalable processes, marketing calendars, workflows, and playbooks to support new store openings and business growth.

Monitor marketing effectiveness, product launches, catering performance, and partnership ROI to identify opportunities for improvement. Translate business objectives into actionable strategies and provide leadership with performance insights and recommendations.

Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift
4-6 years of experience in marketing, event management, hospitality, business development, or a related field
~ College degree in a related field
~ Experience developing corporate, community, vendor, or strategic partnerships.
~ Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines
~ Ability to analyze campaign and event performance and translate results into actionable recommendations
~ Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required for events
Weekend Availability for events/catering as needed
Japanese language skills (written and spoken) to support content creation
Strong writing and editing skills in English
Familiarity with Japanese culture and brands
Familiarity with social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging trends)
Experience with CRM tools
Experience with design/editing software (Canva, Capcut, Adobe Creative Cloud – Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
Passion for food, culture, and community engagement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, per applicable laws. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities that are reasonably related to the role, based on operational needs and in alignment with the scope of the position. Yama Sushi Marketplace is your neighborhood Japanese sushi market, proudly serving the community for over 40 years. We’re best known for our premium grab-and-go sushi, consistently ranked among the best in Los Angeles.

But we’re more than just a sushi spot—we’re a window to Japan. From LA’s largest selection of sake to rare Japanese snacks, artisanal sauces, and specialty items sourced directly from Japan, we bring the authentic tastes and spirit of Japan to your everyday life.