Account Executive - Direct & Channel Sales - Japan

About the Role

As an Account Executive in Japan, you’ll be at the intersection of strategy and execution — owning both direct enterprise engagement and scaling our channel partnerships. You'll work closely with resellers and distributors to drive growth and enable them to champion Canva. This is a hybrid role that requires both client-facing excellence and channel activation mastery.

What you’ll do (responsibilities)

• You’ll lead end-to-end enterprise sales engagements in Japan, from prospecting through to closing, focusing on industries aligned with Canva’s B2B priorities.

• You’ll onboard, enable, and manage channel partners (distributors and resellers), ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to position Canva effectively.

• You’ll collaborate closely with Marketing, Product, and Customer Success teams to localise and align sales strategies with Japanese business culture and buyer expectations.

• You’ll tailor Canva’s value proposition to meet unique client needs—bridging product capabilities with customer pain points.

• You’ll manage a robust pipeline and maintain accurate forecasting in CRM tools to drive accountability and transparency.

• You’ll host partner and enterprise workshops, trainings, and roadshows to drive adoption and engagement.

• You’ll collaborate with partners and the Customer Success team to deliver exceptional, end-to-end customer experiences.

• You’ll act as a trusted advisor in the Japanese market—providing customer insights that shape Canva’s product roadmap and go-to-market strategy.

What we're looking for

• 5+ years of proven success in B2B SaaS sales, consistently exceeding quota in fast-paced, high-growth environments

• Fluent in Japanese and professional efficiency in English, with outstanding verbal and written communication skills in Japanese

• Experience selling to enterprise customers—ideally across marketing, design, or IT stakeholder groups

• Strong track record in both direct sales and channel enablement, including onboarding and activating distributors/resellers

• Self-starter with a growth mindset—curious, proactive, welcoming feedback and always learning

• Comfortable building and managing a full sales cycle from prospecting to close

• Strategic thinker who tailors Canva’s value proposition to customer needs and drives urgency

• Natural relationship-builder who can rapidly grow and influence a network of decision-makers

• Passionate about disrupting traditional solutions and bringing Canva’s mission to Japanese enterprises

• Brings energy, tenacity, and ownership to every deal—acts as a market-maker, not just a quota-taker