The Partnerships team sits within our Sales & Success Supergroup and plays a pivotal role in expanding Canva’s reach and impact through strategic, scalable relationships. We partner with leading technology platforms, agencies, and ecosystem players to unlock new growth channels and embed Canva into the workflows of teams and organizations around the world. Our team thrives at the intersection of creativity and commerce—bringing commercial rigour, go-to-market creativity, and deep collaboration to every partnership. Together, we craft win-win strategies that amplify Canva’s mission and bring the magic of visual communication to millions more.
Job DescriptionWe are seeking a proactive and results-driven Channel Partner Manager to recruit, manage and build our partner relationships. The ideal candidate will have experience building strong channel networks, driving revenue through indirect sales, and delivering strategic value to Canva and our partners. You will play a critical role in developing and executing strategies to ensure our partners are fully enabled, engaged, and aligned with our company’s growth objectives.
What you’ll do (responsibilities)
Channel Account Management:
Serve as the primary relationship manager for our distributor SoftBank C&S and a portfolio of resellers in Japan, responsible for driving growth and performance within the reseller network.
Prospect and onboard new reseller partners to expand the reach of our products and services.
Implement a comprehensive partner enablement strategy, ensuring resellers have the training, tools, and support needed to successfully sell and support our offerings.
Create and execute business plans with SB C&S and a focussed list of resellers, setting clear goals and metrics to drive joint success.
Track reseller performance metrics and KPIs to identify areas of improvement, and work closely with partners to drive increased revenue and market share.
Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with SoftBank C&S and key stakeholders across the reseller network.
Act as the primary advocate for reseller needs within the organization, ensuring resellers have access to the necessary resources and support to succeed.
Conduct regular business reviews with resellers to assess performance, identify new opportunities, and ensure mutual growth.
Drive Channel Sales Growth
Work with resellers to increase revenue through joint activities, leveraging channel insights to inform strategies for market expansion.
Deliver training programs, certifications, and sales collateral to equip SoftBank C&S and our resellers with the knowledge and skills to effectively position and sell our solutions.
Develop sales forecasts and revenue targets for the channel, continuously monitoring progress and adapting strategies as necessary.
Manage channel incentives and rewards programs to motivate and engage resellers, driving higher performance and retention.
Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to develop co-branded campaigns, sales initiatives, and lead-generation programs tailored to reseller needs.
Be the face of Canva, engaging customers with resellers when they need sales support
What we're looking for
Someone with extensive channel management experience in the Japanese market, with a track record of driving growth with resellers and/or distributors.
Experience working with Japan’s largest software resellers, with an existing contact network
Must have experience working in a Distribution channel model. Existing relationships and experience working with SoftBank C&S is advantageous
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.
Analytical skills, with the ability to leverage data to make informed decisions and drive performance improvements.
Experience working with CRM systems (Salesforce) and other partner management platforms is preferred.
Direct customer sales experience is advantageous
Must have business grade Japanese and English communication skills (speak/write)
Skills Required
- Extensive channel management experience in the Japanese market
- Experience working with Japan's largest software resellers and an existing contact network
- Experience working in a distribution channel model
- Existing relationships and experience working with SoftBank C&S
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills
- Analytical skills and ability to leverage data to drive performance improvements
- Experience working with CRM systems (Salesforce) and other partner management platforms
- Direct customer sales experience
- Business-grade Japanese and English communication skills (spoken and written)
What We Do
Canva is an online graphic design platform with a mission to empower everyone to design anything and publish anywhere, offering a free-to-use tool for creating social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos, and more.
