Partner Development Manager - Asia

Who are we?

Our mission is to scale intelligence to serve humanity. We’re training and deploying frontier models for developers and enterprises who are building AI systems to power magical experiences like content generation, semantic search, RAG, and agents. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI.

We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. We like to work hard and move fast to do what’s best for our customers.

Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are passionate about their craft. Each person is one of the best in the world at what they do. We believe that a diverse range of perspectives is a requirement for building great products.

Join us on our mission and shape the future!

Why this role?

Asia is at the forefront of a transformative wave in AI adoption, with enterprises rapidly moving from GenAI pilots to full-scale production. This once-in-a-decade market inflection point presents an unprecedented opportunity for innovation and growth. At Cohere, we’re committed to empowering businesses across Asia with cutting-edge AI solutions, and we’re seeking a Partner Development Manager to lead our strategic partnerships in this dynamic region.

As a Partner Development Manager for the Asia Enterprise Market, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping Cohere’s ecosystem of alliances, collaborating with leading enterprises, system integrators, and technology partners. Your mission will be to co-create value, expand market reach, and deliver AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of Asian businesses.

This role is ideal for a strategic thinker and relationship builder who thrives in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to align partner strategies with Cohere’s vision, driving digital transformation and innovation across the region. Asia is a key strategic market for Cohere, and your contributions will directly shape our success and position us as a leader in the Asian AI ecosystem.

If you’re passionate about driving growth, fostering collaboration, and making a meaningful impact in one of the world’s most dynamic markets, this is your opportunity to shape the future of AI in Asia.

As our Partner Development Manager - Asia, you will own the success of our partner relationships in Asia. Key responsibilities include:

Partner Strategy & Execution

• Define and execute Cohere’s partner-go-to-market plan for the Asia Enterprise Market, aligning with regional business objectives.

• Partner with the broader GTM team to identify and recruit high-impact partners across system integrators, distributors, resellers, ISVs, and cloud providers.

• Develop relationships with key stakeholders across the partner ecosystem to ensure success of the partnership.

Partner Onboarding & Enablement

• Lead partner onboarding, certification, and training programs to ensure partners are equipped to sell, deploy and manage Cohere’s solutions effectively.

• Collaborate with enablement to scale partner enablement in Asia through sales and technical workshops, empowering them to deliver value to enterprise customers.

Pipeline Generation & Co-Selling

• Own joint pipeline generation by creating co-sell motions, solution plays, and strategic joint go-to market motions that align Cohere’s capabilities with enterprise mission needs and procurement cycles.

• Collaborate with partners to identify and pursue high-value opportunities across key Asia

Business Planning & Performance Tracking

• Ensure partners are aligned with Cohere’s strategic goals and performance metrics.

• Run joint business planning sessions and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with partners, tracking sourced and influenced ARR against targets.

Partner Advocacy & Feedback

• Serve as the voice of the partner within Cohere, relaying feedback to Product, Engineering, and Legal teams

• Work with Cohere's Public Policy teams to navigate Asian government AI policies to advise partners on risk management and responsible AI best practices.

Thought Leadership & Evangelism

• Evangelize Cohere’s vision and solutions at partner and industry events, positioning Cohere as a leader in responsible GenAI for the Asian market.

• Build thought leadership through briefings, speaking engagements, and collaborative initiatives.

Why You’ll Love This Role

This is a high-impact role where you’ll shape the future of AI partnerships in Asia. You’ll work at the intersection of technology, business, and policy, driving growth while ensuring responsible AI adoption. If you’re passionate about building strategic alliances, driving innovation, and making a difference in one of the world’s most dynamic markets, this is the role for you.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ experience in partner development, channel sales, or alliance management within the tech industry, preferably in AI or cloud solutions, with a track record of enterprise ARR contribution

• Deep understanding of the Asian enterprise market and key industry verticals with exiting relationships with partners in the region

• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills, with a track record of driving partner success.

• Ability to navigate complex regulatory and compliance landscapes, including AI ethics and government policies.

• Working understanding of AI (LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic workflows)

• Experience working with major system integrators, global consultancies, and hyperscalers including joint GTM and co-sell motions.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to evangelize Cohere’s vision to partners and industry stakeholders. Proficiency in Korean and/or Japanese preferred

• Results-driven growth mindset and bias for action. You thrive in a start-up-speed environment and enjoy building and scaling partner programs

• Expect between 30 ~ 50% travel

If some of the above doesn’t line up perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply!

We value and celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive work environment for all. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.

Full-Time Employees at Cohere enjoy these Perks:

🤝 An open and inclusive culture and work environment 

🧑‍💻 Work closely with a team on the cutting edge of AI research 

🍽 Weekly lunch stipend, in-office lunches & snacks

🦷 Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget to take care of your mental health 

🐣 100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months

🎨 Personal enrichment benefits towards arts and culture, fitness and well-being, quality time, and workspace improvement

🏙 Remote-flexible, offices in Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris, as well as a co-working stipend

✈️ 6 weeks of vacation (30 working days!)