Partner Sales Leader

As the Partner Sales Leader for Japan, you will lead the development and execution of Partner Plans to maximize Nokia's business performance, driving significant growth through strategic partner development and management. This role is responsible for expanding Nokia's market presence through a robust ecosystem of partners and creating new business opportunities across targeted customer segments and industries.

We are looking for a highly motivated, commercially astute, and entrepreneurial professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes ownership, and can independently drive initiatives from strategy through execution. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, builds strong relationships quickly, and is energized by delivering measurable business results.

You will play a critical role in translating Nokia's global partner strategy into actionable growth plans for the Japanese market while accelerating revenue, market share, and customer engagement through partners.

We are particularly interested in ambitious, high-performing professionals who combine strong business acumen with an entrepreneurial mindset. This role suits someone who enjoys building new opportunities, influencing stakeholders, challenging the status quo, and driving results in a fast-moving environment. We value adaptability, curiosity, ownership, and the ability to learn quickly as much as traditional industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Channel Development:

• Ensures incremental revenue generation. Achieves business financial objectives with strategic partners including alliances, distributors, resellers, system integrators, service providers, and industry partners. Defines partner strategy and drives execution through effective planning and performance management. Owns accountability for partner results.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive partner growth strategy for the Japanese market aligned with Nokia's business priorities.
• Identify market opportunities, customer needs, and growth areas where partnerships can accelerate business outcomes.
• Build and expand a high-performing partner ecosystem that increases market coverage, customer access, and revenue generation.
• Translate strategic priorities into practical action plans and measurable outcomes.

• Partner Recruitment and Onboarding:

• Proactively identify, evaluate, and recruit high-potential partners that can extend Nokia's market reach and support growth ambitions.
• Assess partner capabilities, strategic fit, and business potential to ensure long-term value creation.
• Lead partnership negotiations and establish mutually beneficial business relationships.
• Drive partner onboarding and enablement activities to ensure rapid productivity and alignment with business objectives.

• Partner Relationship Management:

• Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with executive stakeholders, business leaders, and sales teams within partner organizations.
• Define partner strategy, business plans, growth initiatives, and joint execution priorities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for strategic partners, fostering collaboration, alignment, and long-term engagement.
• Understand partner business models, challenges, and growth ambitions to identify new opportunities for mutual success.
• Drive partner development, capability building, and business maturity to increase effectiveness and market impact.

• Joint Business Planning & Performance Management:

• Develop and execute joint business plans with partners focused on revenue growth, customer acquisition, and market expansion.
• Establish clear performance metrics and accountability frameworks.
• Monitor business outcomes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions where required.
• Conduct regular business reviews to evaluate progress, strengthen partnerships, and drive continuous growth.

• Compliance and Operations:

• Ensure all partner-related activities comply with Nokia policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards.
• Manage incentive programs, investment initiatives, and performance-based activities that motivate partner engagement and drive business outcomes.
• Maintain operational excellence across partner programs, reporting, and governance processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in partner sales, business development, channel management, strategic alliances, or related commercial leadership roles.
• Proven track record of building, growing, and managing successful partner ecosystems within Japan.
• Strong understanding of the Japanese business environment, customer landscape, and go-to-market models.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, influence stakeholders, and drive business growth through partnerships.
• Experience operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability, taking ownership of strategy, execution, and results.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate market opportunities into measurable business outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills in both Japanese (native level) and English (fluent).
• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives, customers, partners, and internal leadership.
• Analytical mindset with strong business judgment and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and resilient personality with a strong bias for action and execution.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving business environment.
• Self-starter with high energy, curiosity, learning agility, and a growth mindset.
• Willingness to travel within Japan and occasionally internationally as required.