Head of Flights Strategy & Operations, Japan

The Opportunity 

This role is based in Tokyo, with regional exposure and travel to Bangkok. 

Agoda entered the Flights business in 2019, and today we are scaling aggressively to establish ourselves as one of the leading Flights OTA in APAC. Japan is one of our most strategic growth markets, and we are expanding our commercial leadership team to capture this opportunity. 

As the Sr. Manager / Associate Director for Flights in Japan, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Agoda’s market presence, driving partner strategy, and building the foundations for long-term success. This is a high-impact, highly visible role at the intersection of commercial negotiations, strategic partnerships, and cross-functional leadership. 

You’ll operate with end-to-end ownership of the Japanese market: identifying and closing new partnerships, optimizing performance with existing partners, and ensuring Agoda delivers unmatched value to travelers and suppliers alike. While this is an individual contributor role, you will function as Agoda’s commercial face in-market, working directly with C-level executives of our partners, supported by global teams across Product, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and more. 

This is a rare opportunity to join a start-up within a global leader, with the autonomy to move fast, take bold bets, and directly shape Agoda’s Flights success story. 

What You’ll Do 

• Set the strategy: define and execute market strategies for Japan, balancing growth, profitability, and long-term competitive positioning. 

• Lead commercial negotiations: Own pricing, availability, and commercial terms with airline partners to maximize Agoda’s competitiveness. 

• Be the market voice: Act as the go-to expert on Japanese aviation and online travel, sharing insights with internal teams and shaping Agoda’s product and growth strategy. 

• Deliver partner success: Build deep, trusted executive-level relationships with suppliers, driving joint initiatives that enhance distribution, revenue, and customer experience. 

• Drive execution excellence: Ensure partners’ day-to-day needs are met by collaborating with Agoda’s regional supply teams, operations, and product specialists. 

• Analyze and optimize: Use data and insights to drive decision-making, identify opportunities, test solutions, and iterate quickly. 

• Innovate at scale: Conceptualize and launch new commercial models, distribution initiatives, and customer-facing features that unlock growth. 

What You’ll Bring 

• 6+ years of experience in the Flights / OTA / airline industry with strong exposure to commercial negotiations, distribution, and market strategy (experience in Japan highly preferred). 

• Proven track record of delivering growth through partnerships, negotiations, and strategy execution. 

• Commercial acumen with the ability to balance short-term results and long-term market building. 

• Strong executive presence and communication skills in both English and Japanese; able to manage complex conversations at senior levels. 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with hands-on execution capabilities and comfort operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environments. 

• Analytical rigor; demonstrated ability to use data to shape decisions and influence stakeholders. 

• Experience developing and executing end-to-end business plans that cut across commercial, operational, legal, and marketing dimensions.