Director of Sales - Japan

About the Role Zilliz is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Director of Sales to spearhead our expansion in Japan. As a pivotal member of our growing team, you will lead a group of Enterprise Account Executives and Solutions Architect dedicated to driving new business for our cutting-edge vector database technology. You will be responsible for overseeing and motivating the sales team, implementing strategic sales plans, developing new business, expanding existing accounts, and delivering accurate sales forecasts and reports. Your success will be measured by achieving the team's overall quota, new logo acquisition, and growing Zilliz usage in the Japanese market. This role is a crucial part of our APAC sales expansion, and we are looking for leaders who excel at what they do. What You Will Do:

• Team Building & Leadership: Recruit, build, and mentor a high-performing team of Enterprise Account Executives. Your leadership will be crucial in helping your team develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the competitive Japanese market.
• Strategic Planning: Craft and implement strategic territory plans, team structures, and sales quotas that align with Zilliz’s growth objectives in Japan. You’ll ensure your team is equipped to maximize market penetration and revenue generation.
• Revenue Management: Provide accurate revenue forecasts and develop strategic go-to-market plans that reflect Zilliz’s mission to dominate the vector database space in Japan. Your insights will drive our regional success.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with our product, engineering, and customer success teams to ensure a seamless customer journey from initial engagement through to long-term success, tailored specifically for the needs of the Japanese market.
• Value Communication: Be the face of Zilliz in Japan, delivering compelling presentations and proposals that clearly articulate the unique value of our vector database solutions. Your ability to communicate our vision will be key to winning new business.
• Sales Growth: Lead and inspire your team to achieve and exceed growth targets across both Tech Startup and Enterprise customer segments in Japan, positioning Zilliz as the go-to provider for next-generation data solutions.
• Cultural Leadership: Foster a culture of innovation, customer-centricity, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Your leadership will set the tone for a high-energy, results-driven team.
• Customer Relationships: Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key customers and partners, ensuring Zilliz’s long-term success in Japan.
• Talent Acquisition: Leverage your industry network to attract and hire top-tier sales talent. You’ll be instrumental in building a world-class sales team that can drive Zilliz’s vision forward.
• Continuous Learning: Promote a culture of continuous learning within your team, ensuring a deep understanding of Zilliz’s technical product details, vector databases, and future product roadmap.
• Strategic Growth Plans: Develop and execute a comprehensive growth and investment strategy for Japan within the first 90 days, aligning with Zilliz’s broader APAC objectives and ensuring a sustainable, high-growth trajectory.
• Partnership Development: Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with Regional System Integrators to expand Zilliz’s footprint and accelerate adoption of our vector database technology in Japan. What We Are Looking For:
• A proven leader with over 10 years of experience in high-growth enterprise software sales, particularly within the Big Data, Cloud, or SaaS industries. Experience with data management solutions, including vector databases, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading sales teams in Japan, with a strong track record of exceeding sales quotas and driving business growth.
• Expertise in sales methodologies such as MEDDPIC, with a passion for coaching and developing top-tier sales talent.
• Strong understanding of value-based sales, particularly in engaging C-suite and IT stakeholders. Experience in promoting cutting-edge technologies like vector databases is a plus.
• Ability to articulate and evangelize Zilliz’s vision, aligning it with customer outcomes and driving adoption in the Japanese market.
• Consistent history of exceeding sales targets in high-growth, technology-driven environments.
• Knowledge in building and leveraging partner ecosystems to enhance market reach and drive strategic growth in Japan.
• Experience in implementing consumption and commitment-based sales models, with a focus on delivering predictable and scalable revenue.
• Written and verbal fluency in Japanese and English