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Partner Director - Japan

CognitionTokyoSales
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Salary
Not listed
Job type
Full-time
Posted
17 Jun 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Cognition is seeking a Partner Director to lead its strategic ecosystem development across the Japanese market from Tokyo. This full-time sales leadership position suits an experienced commercial strategist with deep technical fluency and fluency in both Japanese and English.

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Head of Partnerships, the Partner Director will establish and scale Cognition's presence throughout Japan. This position involves driving the adoption of Devin, the world's first AI software engineer, by building alliances with leading enterprises, system integrators, cloud providers, and government-aligned organizations. The role requires working cross-functional with engineering, product, and go-to-market teams to ensure partnerships translate directly into measurable revenue and long-term market positioning.

Key Responsibilities

Formulate and own the strategic partnership roadmap for Cognition within the Japanese market.
Identify, negotiate, and close complex commercial partnership agreements that accelerate distribution and product adoption.
Design joint go-to-market motions, including co-selling, co-building, and embedded deployments with ecosystem partners.
Serve as the primary relationship owner for C-suite executives, innovation leaders, and technical stakeholders.
Relayed local market intelligence and partner feedback to product and engineering divisions to optimize use cases.
Expand regional reach by unlocking industry-specific opportunities and aligning with international leadership on broader APAC strategies.

Requirements

Demonstrated history of building and scaling strategic partnerships within enterprise software, AI, or deep tech sectors in Japan.
Extensive experience collaborating with major Japanese enterprises, system integrators, or cloud ecosystems.
Strong comprehension of Japanese corporate culture, decision-making frameworks, and executive-level engagement.
Technical fluency capable of articulating advanced AI and software engineering solutions.
Ability to structure and finalize multi-party commercial deals independently in a fast-paced environment.
Professional bilingual proficiency in both Japanese and English.

Nice to Have

Experience building a partnerships or alliances division from scratch in Japan.
Prior background working inside top-tier Japanese corporations, consultancies, or tech providers.
Previous experience in technical positions such as engineering or solutions before transitioning to commercial leadership.
Track record of driving ecosystem-led growth within high-growth SaaS or artificial intelligence organizations.

Skills and Tools

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
Enterprise Software and AI Solutions Positioning
C-Suite Stakeholder Management
Commercial Agreement Structuring and Negotiation
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Bilingual Communication in Japanese and English

About the Company

Cognition is an applied AI lab recognized as the creator of Devin, the initial AI software engineer. The team comprises elite competitive programmers, former founders, and industry alumni from cutting-edge organizations like DeepMind, Tesla, Waymo, and Palantir. The company focuses on solving complex global challenges and constructing advanced reasoning artificial intelligence for real-world scenarios.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Cognition careers page to submit an application for this opportunity.

Questions candidates ask

What is the primary location for the Partner Director role?

The position is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Who does the Partner Director - Japan report to?

The role reports directly to the Head of Partnerships.

What language proficiencies are required for this job?

Candidates must be fluent in both Japanese and English.

What product will this role help scale in the Japanese market?

The role focuses on scaling the adoption of Devin, the first AI software engineer.

What type of organizations will the Partner Director work with?

The director will engage with leading enterprises, system integrators, cloud providers, and government-aligned organizations in Japan.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Cognition careers page.

Apply on company site