S

Sika

Specialty chemicals for bonding, sealing, damping

Import Team Leader

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/14/2026
No salary listed
Mid
Tokyo, Japan
In Person
Operations & LogisticsLogistics & Transportation

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 3 years of practical experience in import operations, including importing raw materials or products and coordinating with overseas suppliers, customs brokers, customs authorities, or freight forwarders.
  • Experience with international transactions and import operations involving overseas group companies and/or third-party suppliers.
  • Ability to communicate with overseas offices and suppliers in English by email, Teams, or similar tools.
  • Experience coordinating import operations with customs brokers, customs authorities, and freight forwarders.
  • Practical experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, particularly managing and aggregating data in Excel.
  • Knowledge of Incoterms, HS codes, tariffs, country of origin, import customs clearance, and international transportation.
  • Ability to communicate and coordinate in English and Japanese with overseas Sika offices, third parties, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and internal departments.
  • Ability to identify import-operation problems such as delays, damage, quantity discrepancies, and document deficiencies, and work with stakeholders to resolve them.
  • Ability to manage multiple import cases, prioritize based on deadlines and business impact, accurately manage import documents and data, and follow laws and internal rules.
  • Ability to take responsibility for assigned work, coordinate with stakeholders, and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
Responsibilities
  • Handle import operations for raw materials and products, including third-party products, from Sika intercompany entities and third-party suppliers.
  • Coordinate orders, shipment quantities, delivery dates, and shipping schedules with overseas shipping locations and suppliers.
  • Manage the import process from customs clearance and international transportation through arrival and domestic delivery in coordination with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
  • Respond to customs inquiries concerning company products and related imported goods, and support post-clearance customs audits.
  • Coordinate with internal procurement, supply and demand planning, production, quality, sales, and warehouse teams to help ensure required delivery dates and stable supply.
  • Work with relevant parties to resolve import delays, quantity discrepancies, damage, incorrect shipments, and quality problems promptly.
  • Manage import performance, inventory status, and delivery dates, and share relevant information with stakeholders in a timely manner.
  • Carry out improvement activities to increase import-operation efficiency, standardization, and service levels.
  • Place and follow up on purchase orders, confirm order confirmations, and manage shipment progress and delivery dates.
  • Expedite delayed shipments and escalate issues to relevant stakeholders.
  • Coordinate sea freight, air freight, and international courier transportation based on delivery deadlines, cost, and urgency.
  • Review and manage import and shipping documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and air waybills.
  • Coordinate customs clearance, shipping and arrival schedules, and domestic delivery with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
  • Confirm product information, HS codes, country of origin, and prices required for import declarations, coordinating with relevant stakeholders.
  • Verify import-related costs, including customs duties, import consumption tax, freight, and storage charges.
  • Coordinate receipt and domestic delivery of arriving cargo to minimize stock shortages and production impacts.
  • Coordinate with overseas shipping locations and suppliers to resolve transportation problems, quantity discrepancies, damage, and quality issues.
  • Review import-related invoices and incidental expenses, and reconcile them with internal departments.
  • Aggregate and manage import performance, lead-time, cost, and inventory data, and prepare reports as needed.
  • Create and update import-operation standard operating procedures, workflows, and checklists.
  • Comply with internal policies and applicable laws, and consult or escalate to relevant departments as needed.
  • Gradually take responsibility for managing work progress and priorities and supporting team members, with the aim of leading the import team in the future.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience importing raw materials or products in chemicals, building materials, manufacturing, or similar industries.
  • Experience handling goods subject to special transportation or customs requirements, such as dangerous goods or chemicals.
  • Experience using ERP or SAP for purchasing, import, or inventory operations.
  • Experience improving and standardizing import operations or creating standard operating procedures.
  • Experience leading a team, coaching junior colleagues, and allocating and tracking work.

About the company

S

Sika

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Website

Sika is a global specialty chemicals producer that creates systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection used in the building sector and other industries. Its offerings include adhesives, sealants, damping materials, reinforcement solutions, and protective coatings that join materials, seal joints, damp vibrations, add strength, and protect surfaces through engineered chemical formulations. The company stands out through its wide geographic presence (103 countries and hundreds of factories) and a decentralized structure that lets regional teams tailor solutions to local needs, along with a strong emphasis on sustainability and practical product performance. Sika aims to help transform construction and transportation toward greater environmental sustainability by delivering reliable, specialized chemical systems that improve build quality, efficiency, durability, and overall performance.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Baar, Switzerland

Founded

1910

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Sika raised 2026 local-currency growth guidance to 3%-6% after stronger market-share gains.
  • June 2026's Belgium plant expands admixtures capacity and shortens Benelux delivery times.
  • AI and e-commerce lifted platform revenue 2%, while Fast Forward targets CHF 150-200 million through 2028.

What critics are saying

  • China construction weakness and FX noise pressured first-half 2026 reported sales and margins.
  • The €1 billion hybrid bond adds financing complexity ahead of bolt-on acquisitions.
  • Rivals in adhesives and admixtures can commoditize volumes, eroding Sika's pricing power fast.

What makes Sika unique

  • Sika's 103-country footprint and 400 factories lock in local service and distribution depth.
  • Fast Forward reached 70% of its cost target, proving disciplined operational execution.
  • Its adhesives, sealants, and admixtures span construction and industrial applications, broadening demand exposure.

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Benefits

  • Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

3%

1 year growth

20%

2 year growth

21%
cash.ch
Oct 12th, 2026
Sika appoints Till Leisner as communications and IR chief.

Sika appoints Till Leisner as communications and IR chief. Sika has appointed Till Leisner as its new head of corporate communications and investor relations. He will take up the position on November 1, 2026, and succeeds Dominik Slappnig, who is stepping down after 16 years at the construction chemicals and adhesives manufacturer. October 12, 2026 09:08 Leisner will be based at the headquarters in Baar and report directly to CEO Thomas Hasler, Sika announced on Monday after the close of trading. He has almost 20 years of experience in investor relations, corporate communications and finance. Most recently, he worked at DKSH as head of investor and media relations as well as sustainability. The departing Slappnig has been with Sika since 2010 and, according to CEO Hasler, has significantly helped shape the company's brand and reputation.

fuw.ch
Oct 9th, 2026
Sika acquires Azpects in Great Britain.

Sika acquires Azpects in Great Britain. Acquisition: Sika acquires Azpects in Great Britain. The group produces, among other things, polymeric paving joint mortar. Financial details of the acquisition are not known. Updated 3 hours ago Sika acquires the British Azpects Group and thereby expands its landscaping business. Azpects manufactures polymeric paving joint mortars and complementary products for patios, paths and driveways. With the acquisition, the company aims to leverage cross-selling opportunities and expand its sales channels in Great Britain, according to a statement on Friday. Sika also expects benefits in production and logistics. The group did not provide any information on the purchase price. It was one of several smaller acquisitions per year that are part of Sika's strategy, a spokesperson said in response to an inquiry by the AWP news agency. Azpects was founded in 2009 in Ipswich, a town in eastern England. According to its business report, the company generated revenue of £16.5 million in the financial year ended June 30, 2025 and employed 38 people. Stock alert. From ABB to Züblin - receive an email immediately when a new article about the company of your choice appears.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 9th, 2026
SIKA ACQUIRES AZPECTS IN THE UK, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN AN INNOVATIVE GROWTH SEGMENT

SIKA ACQUIRES AZPECTS IN THE UK, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN AN INNOVATIVE GROWTH SEGMENT Sika has acquired Azpects Group, a leading UK manufacturer of polymeric sands for the landscaping sector. The acquisition strengthens Sika's position in this fast-growing segment and creates attractive cross-selling opportunities through highly complementary product portfolios and distribution channels. In addition, the acquisition will deliver substantial manufacturing and logistics benefits. Azpects is

GlobeNewswire
Oct 9th, 2026
SIKA acquires AZPECTS in THE UK, strengthening its position in an innovative growth segment.

SIKA acquires AZPECTS in THE UK, strengthening its position in an innovative growth segment. October 09, 2026 01:00 ET | Source: Sika AG Sika has acquired Azpects Group, a leading UK manufacturer of polymeric sands for the landscaping sector. The acquisition strengthens Sika's position in this fast-growing segment and creates attractive cross-selling opportunities through highly complementary product portfolios and distribution channels. In addition, the acquisition will deliver substantial manufacturing and logistics benefits. Azpects is a highly profitable, rapidly growing business with a leading position in the landscaping sector. The company manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of easy-to-use polymeric paving joint compounds and complementary landscaping products for the construction and maintenance of patios, pathways, and driveways. Azpects serves a broad and loyal customer base through established trade distribution channels that reach landscaping contractors across the UK. KEY BENEFITS OF THE AZPECTS ACQUISITION * Cross-selling Opportunities: Azpects' strong position in landscaping solutions sold through trade channels is highly complementary to Sika's broader product portfolio and extensive distribution network across the UK. The combined business will offer a wider range of products through more channels and further strengthen Sika's position as a key supplier to major building materials distributors. * Manufacturing and Logistics Efficiencies: Azpects' manufacturing facility provides opportunities to grow and optimize Sika's UK production footprint. The combination is expected to generate significant cost synergies in both manufacturing and logistics. * Platform for Growth: The landscaping market continues to shift from traditional sand and cement products toward innovative polymeric jointing compounds, creating attractive long-term growth opportunities. Azpects' broad product portfolio, strong brand and established customer relationships provide an excellent platform to support future growth in this attractive market segment. Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager EMEA: "With our well-established distribution network, we can bring Azpects' innovative product range into new channels and customer segments. Azpects portfolio provides an important addition to our existing offering and further strengthens our position as a key supplier to our customers. The great cross-selling opportunities and efficiency gains will support continued growth and profitability of Sika UK. We warmly welcome the Azpects team to our Sika family and look forward to a successful future together." SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 102 countries around the world, produces in over 400 factories, and develops innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation industries toward greater environmental compatibility. More than 33,000 employees generated CHF 11.20 billion in sales in 2025. CONTACT Dominik Slappnig Corporate Communications and Investor Relations +41 58 436 68 21 [email protected] The media release can be downloaded from the following link: Media Release

fuw.ch
Oct 2nd, 2026
Sika CEO at Investor Day: "AI helps us know what we know"

Sika CEO at Investor Day: "AI helps us know what we know" Subscription Sika CEO at Investor Day "AI helps us know what we know" Sika's Fast Forward restructuring program is showing results. AI is also expected to help speed up the market launch of new products. Published today at 10:36 a.m. * Sika's Fast Forward restructuring program has already achieved 70% of its cost-reduction target. * After the closure of plants, China is increasingly becoming an export hub for the Asia/Pacific region. * According to Sika, AI integration into the e-commerce platform increases revenue on the platform by 2%.