Area Manager / Senior Area Manager, Strategic Accounts - Japan

About the role

Agoda is actively searching for a strategic leader to define, build, and execute our growth strategy specifically for the Japanese market. You will be entrusted with owning and scaling operations for our most significant partners in this region, ensuring alignment with global objectives. This role requires you to mentor and develop local teams, driving them to consistently meet ambitious performance targets and key milestones. You will manage high-level account relationships, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on execution to maximize value. A core part of your responsibility will involve analyzing market dynamics and industry shifts to safeguard our competitive positioning in Japan. You will build and maintain deep relationships with senior stakeholders and C-level executives to unlock new partnership opportunities. Finally, you will represent Agoda at key industry functions, acting as a primary point of contact for our most strategic initiatives in the region.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Create and execute comprehensive plans to scale Agoda operations and market share within Japan.
• Lead, coach, and develop local teams to ensure consistent achievement of ambitious business objectives and targets.
• Manage productivity metrics and competitive positioning to safeguard relationships with top-tier partners.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with senior stakeholders and C-level executives to expand strategic partnerships.
• Direct complex, company-wide initiatives that involve coordinating multiple cross-functional teams and departments.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership to shape and refine long-term strategic planning for the Japanese market.
• Analyze local market trends, competitor movements, and industry shifts to maintain a sustainable competitive edge.
• Represent Agoda at professional industry conferences, forums, and functions to elevate our brand presence.
• Own the end-to-end relationship strategy for key accounts, ensuring alignment between client needs and Agoda's capabilities.
• Drive data-informed discussions by synthesizing performance metrics to guide strategic decision-making processes.
• Identify new business opportunities and growth levers within existing partner ecosystems in Japan.
• Serve as the primary internal advocate for strategic partner priorities and operational requirements.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated forecasting models to predict performance and manage expectations.
• Champion a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within your assigned portfolio.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of professional experience within multinational organizations, demonstrating a track record of operating at scale.
• At least 3 years of experience in team leadership, coaching, and talent development within fast-paced, dynamic settings.
• A solid background in business development, general management, or account management disciplines.
• High level of proficiency in both English and Japanese, encompassing speaking, writing, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and numerical capabilities, with a high attention to detail and comfort working with complex data sets.
• Ability to present complex proposals clearly and persuasively to both internal and external stakeholders.
• A self-motivated, resourceful, and professional work ethic that thrives with minimal direct supervision.
• Adaptability to change and the ability to function effectively in ambiguous and dynamic environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing P&L responsibilities or budget ownership is essential.
• Proven ability to build and influence teams across different functions and seniority levels.
• Willingness to adhere to Agoda's hiring process guidelines and timelines as outlined in official resources.
• Commitment to Agoda's principles of equal opportunity and merit-based evaluation in all professional interactions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate vision, strategy, and performance outcomes.
• Capacity to juggle multiple priorities and manage competing deadlines in a high-stakes environment.

Nice to have

• A management consulting background with experience in client-facing advisory roles.
• Direct experience in the e-commerce or online business sectors, with a focus on marketplace models.
• Prior experience working within the travel or hospitality industry, while not required, is considered advantageous.
• Familiarity with Agoda's product suite and the broader online travel ecosystem.
• Experience in building and maintaining long-term C-level executive relationships.
• Knowledge of Japanese business culture and etiquette, which can facilitate smoother interactions.
• A proven history of mentoring junior professionals and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience utilizing advanced data analytics tools to drive business performance and insights.

Practical notes

• Travel industry experience is not required.
• Please review the Agoda hiring process guidelines at careersatagoda.com/interview before applying.
• Agoda is an equal opportunity employer and evaluates all candidates based on merit and qualifications.