AP Technical Business Development Lead

IBM
IBM

IT, Sales & Business Development

Tokyo, Japan

Posted on Jun 29, 2026
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Introduction

At IBM Research, we are the innovation engine of IBM. Exploring what’s next in computing and shaping the technologies the world will rely on tomorrow. From advancing AI and hybrid cloud to pioneering practical quantum computing, we anticipate challenges and unlock new opportunities for clients, partners, and society. Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high-performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You’ll collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Quantum Technology Business Development Executive, you will be responsible for the Quantum relationship with one or more strategic or important named IBM business partners, or acquisition candidates. You will recruit, enable, and build on-going trusted relationships with these business partners for adoption of IBM Technology and its corresponding brand services.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Develop Trusted Relationships: Develop extensive executive and senior management relationships with key decision makers and influencers, and facilitate relationships between partner executives and corresponding IBMers.

• Identify Opportunities: Identify opportunities for Technology adoption and own those opportunities until transitioned to another more relevant team for development and execution.

• Negotiate Agreements: Facilitate and/or conduct complex negotiations resulting in legal agreements or other types of commitments, such as membership in a business partner's technology alliance program.

• Drive Business Growth: Drive long-term commitment to IBM technology through adoption and commitment, with a focus on different kinds of partner revenue (sell through, sell with, and sell to).

• Collaborate with Teams: Work collaboratively with other teams across IBM and with other partners and outside consultants as appropriate.

Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred education
Doctorate Degree
Required technical and professional expertise

• Deep Expertise in Technology Partnerships: Proven track record of developing and managing strategic partnerships with technology companies, including negotiation of complex agreements and driving business growth through adoption and commitment.

• Extensive Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of multiple industries, including market trends, competitor landscape, and emerging technologies, to inform partnership strategies and identify opportunities for IBM Technology adoption.

• Business Deal Structuring: Experience with structuring and negotiating business deals, including licensing agreements, joint development partnerships, and acquisitions, with a focus on driving long-term value for IBM.

• Executive Relationship Building: Established ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with executive-level decision makers and influencers at partner companies, as well as facilitating relationships between partner executives and IBM leaders.

• Strategic Planning: Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans to drive business growth and adoption of IBM Technology, including identifying opportunities, prioritizing initiatives, and allocating resources effectively.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Deeper Skills in Business Deal Structure: Experience with business deal structure and relationships, including licensing agreements, joint development partnerships, and acquisitions, to drive long-term value for IBM.

• Technology and Implementation/Integration: Strong background in technology and implementation/integration to inform partnership strategies and identify opportunities for IBM Technology adoption.

• Financial and Market Analysis: Expertise in financial and market analysis, acquisition analysis, acquisition due diligence, development, and acquisition integration to support strategic partnerships and business growth.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

For additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.

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