Partner Marketing Manager (Japan)

About The RoleFluency in Japanese and English required.About ShopifyShopify is a leading global commerce company that provides trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage retail businesses of any size. Our platform and services are engineered for reliability, empowering merchants to deliver exceptional shopping experiences for consumers worldwide.Trusted by brands such as Allbirds, Gymshark, PepsiCo, and Staples, Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries. We have redefined commerce by raising the standard for how businesses manage, market, and sell their products and services. As the most innovative platform in the market, Shopify continues to grow rapidly, constantly seeking new ways to drive impact and disrupt the industry.About The RoleAs a Partner Marketer for Japan, you will be responsible for driving new customer acquisition and accelerating conversion through Shopify’s extensive partner network. You will design and execute high-impact marketing levers that empower partners to generate demand, increase brand awareness, and deliver strong commercial results across D2C, B2B, retail, and cross-border segments in the Japanese market.You’ll activate and enable partners to consistently acquire new business, generate qualified leads, and turn opportunities into closed deals, contributing to Shopify’s services revenue and market share. Working closely with internal teams (Direct Marketing, Sales, and Partnerships), external agencies, and a diverse portfolio of partners, ensuring localization and optimization for the Japanese audience.What Success Looks LikeSuccess in this role is driven by strong partner marketing expertise, effective prioritization of high-impact initiatives, and excellent communication skills to influence both partners and internal stakeholders. By collaborating strategically, you will create scalable, sustainable marketing programs that accelerate productivity and drive meaningful growth for Shopify and its partners in Japan.Specifically, success means:Launching co-marketing campaigns or programs that generate a consistent flow of qualified leads and new opportunities through the partner networkIncreasing the number of partners effectively using MDF, with a clear understanding of its strategic purpose and expected outcomesGrowing the marketing-attributable pipeline and expanding Shopify’s reach in key market segments through impactful campaignsCreating and promoting case studies and success stories that elevate partner visibility and support Shopify’s brand growth in JapanUplifting partners’ marketing capabilities through enablement, training, and advisory supportProviding actionable, data-driven reporting on the results and ROI of marketing initiatives to both partners and internal stakeholdersResponsibilitiesPartner Co-Marketing Strategy: Plan, design, and manage scalable, partner-first marketing programs and campaigns with Shopify’s Japan partner network, driving new customer acquisition, qualified pipeline generation, and market share growth. Leverage Joint Business Planning (JBP) with key partners to set shared priorities and execute coordinated strategies that accelerate acquisition and expand market presence.Campaign Execution: Develop and execute integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns (digital, paid media, webinars, PR, content syndication, field and virtual events) in close collaboration with partners, leveraging partner-owned channels for increased reach and market validation.Lead Generation & Market Impact: Generate qualified leads as the primary focus by implementing always-on and seasonal marketing campaigns through the partner network. These initiatives should also produce a strong halo effect of increasing Shopify’s brand awareness and providing market validation within Japan.Partner Portfolio Management & Advisory: Own and manage a portfolio of strategic partners, developing an engagement structure and marketing strategy that aligns with Shopify’s business outcomes. Ruthlessly prioritize partners for maximum impact and tailor engagement plans to fit their business potential and readiness. Act as a marketing coach and advisor, influencing partners to build and mature their in-house marketing capabilities and develop effective marketing practices that drive shared success.Localization & Cultural Adaptation: Ensure all campaigns, assets, and events are appropriately localized for the Japanese market, including language, channel preference, customer messaging, and cultural nuances.Partner Enablement: Create toolkits and materials for onboarding, training, and marketing activation. Drive effective use of MDF to support partner campaigns, and educate partners on best practices to maximize engagement and results.Internal & External Collaboration: Work closely and cross-functionally with internal teams (Partnerships, Direct Marketing, Sales) and external agencies and partners to ensure seamless execution and alignment with business objectives.Agency/Stakeholder Management: Manage external marketing agencies as needed, overseeing campaign delivery, content creation, and quality assurance.Storytelling & Content Marketing: Develop case studies and content that highlight the joint value of Shopify and partners, promote success stories, and support demand generation. Ensure content aligns with regional marketing themes and resonates with key audiences in Japan.Performance Analytics: Track and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, lead generation, ROI, and impact metrics. Report insights and optimize future levers and programs for greater commercial success.Budget & Project Management: Manage the regional partner marketing budget, forecast costs, maintain performance tracking, and ensure timely, on-budget campaign delivery.Communication: Ensure timely and relevant updates and communications to partners regarding program, campaign, and product enhancements.Marketing Requests & Opportunity Identification: Respond to partner marketing requests, prioritize your workload, and proactively identify additional opportunities for growth and impact.Presentations & Reporting: Produce and deliver presentations, campaign reports, and strategic recommendations to internal stakeholders and partner audiences.Requirements Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience developing and executing co-marketing or channel marketing campaigns with partners or agencies in Japan, ideally in ecommerce, tech, or SaaS environments.Demonstrated ability to create and manage integrated multi-channel campaigns (digital, paid, events, webinars, PR, content), including leveraging partner-owned channels.Proven track record of delivering partner-driven demand generation, pipeline growth, and revenue outcomes.Experience owning a portfolio of partners or clients—setting priorities, engagement strategies, and advising or coaching partners to elevate their marketing capabilities.Native-level proficiency in Japanese and deep familiarity with Japan’s business culture, marketing channels, and customer preferences.Ability to adapt and localize campaigns, content, and events for Japanese audiences.Experience in developing partner enablement materials, onboarding, and managing Market Development Funds (MDF)—from allocation to ROI tracking.Skilled at managing agency relationships and large projects, with strong organizational ability to handle multiple concurrent initiatives and deadlines.Analytical mindset with expertise in campaign measurement, data analysis, reporting, and marketing budget management.Excellent communicator in Japanese and English, with confidence presenting to internal teams, partners, and leadership.Strong collaborator across functions—working seamlessly with Sales, Partnerships, Direct Marketing, and external stakeholders.Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to prioritize and adapt quickly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.Comfortable with remote collaboration, and willing to travel for meetings and partner events as needed.Nice to Have Experience in a high-growth, global tech or SaaS companyStrong network within Japan’s agency, SI, or tech partner ecosystemFamiliarity with Shopify or similar commerce/SaaS platformsAbout ShopifyOpportunity is not evenly distributed. Shopify puts independence within reach for anyone with a dream to start a business. We propel entrepreneurs and enterprises to scale the heights of their potential. Since 2006, we’ve grown to over 8,300 employees and generated over $1 trillion in sales for millions of merchants in 175 countries.This is life-defining work that directly impacts people’s lives as much as it transforms your own. This is putting the power of the few in the hands of the many, is a future with more voices rather than fewer, and is creating more choices instead of an elite option.About YouMoving at our pace brings a lot of change, complexity, and ambiguity—and a little bit of chaos. Shopifolk thrive on that and are comfortable being uncomfortable. That means Shopify is not the right place for everyone.Before you apply, consider if you can:Care deeply about what you do and about making commerce better for everyoneExcel by seeking professional and personal hypergrowthKeep up with an unrelenting pace (the week, not the quarter)Be resilient and resourceful in face of ambiguity and thrive on (rather than endure) changeBring critical thought and opinionUse AI tools reflexively as part of your fundamental workflowEmbrace differences and disagreement to get shit done and move forwardWork digital-first for your daily work