Director, Partner Innovation & Strategy (Japan) (Tokyo-Based)

Get to Know Our Team: 

Strategic Partnerships is a team of creative entrepreneurs that develops solutions for Agoda’s and other Booking Holdings brands’ non-accommodation partners, driving both top and bottom-line growth. We design tailored business and product solutions with our partners to generate measurable value. Our team members are empowered and supported to grow their markets and accounts, developing win-win relationships and leveraging Agoda’s and Booking Holdings’ unique travel product portfolio and tech solutions. By utilizing our strong brand and resources, we build new channels to increase the visibility of Agoda and other group companies, introduce more travelers to our great products and services, and deliver significant profits to the overall business. 

The Opportunity: 

As Director, Strategic Partnerships for Japan, you will lead and drive profitability growth through a wide array of third parties and distribution channels (e.g., Airlines, OTAs, Travel Companies, Financial Institutions, Loyalty Programs, and E-commerce). You will initiate changes that impact our commercial performance and play a key role in shaping Agoda’s presence and success in the Japanese market. 

You will bring strong leadership, commercial acumen, operational and project management expertise, high-level sales and consulting skills, and technical savviness. You will develop, motivate, mentor, and coach both subordinates and cross-functional teams. 

This position is based in Japan (Tokyo). 

In This Role, You’ll Get To: 

• Define, communicate, and execute the growth strategy for the partnership business in Japan, in alignment with department and company visions. 

• Drive business development initiatives and grow existing partnerships through innovation, executing our regional partnership growth strategy with key partners. 

• Lead cross-functional projects to deliver top-line and bottom-line growth, working on C-level priorities with regular oversight from the C-suite. 

• Deliver on country commercial and profitability targets through robust performance management, enhancing profitability and driving competitive advantage. 

• Lead, coach, and develop a multifunctional team through upskilling and coaching. 

• Establish and maintain robust relationships at senior levels with key partners, influencing partnership expansions and identifying significant opportunities. 

• Identify growth opportunities by leading cross-functional initiatives, including product, marketing, finance, and other critical functions, to explore new partnership models. 

• Successfully influence and manage senior internal stakeholders, both upwards and cross-functionally, to set and drive common objectives and achieve business impact. 

• Coordinate with senior leadership on strategic planning, objectives, and resource allocation to ensure the competitiveness of Agoda’s and other Booking Holdings group companies’ partnership products and services in the Japanese market. 

• Effectively communicate business updates to senior leadership through Quarterly Business Reviews, Strategic Deep Dives, and other ad hoc requests. 

What You’ll Need to Succeed: 

• More than 15 years of professional experience. 

• 5-7+ years’ experience in leading, coaching, and developing teams, with a proven success record in rapidly changing environments. 

• General management experience in the online industry, with project management and consulting experience. 

• Strategic thinker with strong numerical and analytical skills. 

• Fluent in English and Japanese, with strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative attitude. 

• Professional “get it done” attitude and work ethic. 

• Resourceful, energetic, and self-driven personality. 

• Ability to move fast, adapt well to, and be energized by change. 

• Relevant account management and business development experience highly valued. 

• Experience in, or strong connections with, online travel or e-commerce preferred. 

• MBA from a well-known institution preferred. 

• International experience strongly preferred. 

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