Sales Manager – Data Centres
? Tokyo, Japan ? Permanent ? Thermal & Cooling Technology OEM
A global leader in thermal management and heat exchanger solutions is entering Japan's data centre market in earnest. Backed by a major international PE fund, the company has secured landmark hyperscale cooling contracts globally and is now building its Japan commercial team. This is a rare opportunity to own a market as it enters a major growth phase.
The Opportunity
Japan is the second-largest data centre market in Asia and is growing rapidly, with the Tokyo market valued at USD $4.3B in 2025 and forecast to grow 12% year-on-year. Hyperscale investment from global cloud operators is accelerating alongside the expansion of colocation platforms. Our client is strengthening its local commercial presence and seeks an experienced, bilingual sales professional to lead business development activities and grow its footprint in this high-potential market.
The Role
As Sales Manager – Data Centres (Japan), you will own the company's data centre sales budget for Japan. You will act as the commercial interface to end users, consultants, EPCs, and contractors, supporting projects from early feasibility and design through to award. Success requires strong local market knowledge, genuine relationships in the Japan data centre ecosystem, and the ability to operate within a regional matrix organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and deliver the annual data centre sales budget for Japan
- Drive new business development by identifying, targeting, and securing data centre projects across hyperscale and colocation customers
- Build and maintain strong relationships with data centre owners and operators, design consultants, EPCs, and key contractors active in Japan
- Engage early in project lifecycles to influence specifications and position the company's cooling, heat exchanger, and dry cooler solutions
- Develop and execute a Japan-specific sales strategy aligned with the company's regional and global data centre objectives
- Work closely with application engineering, solution support, and factory teams to deliver technically robust and commercially competitive proposals
- Monitor market activity, competitor positioning, and customer investment trends; provide actionable feedback to regional leadership
- Maintain disciplined pipeline management and accurate forecasting through CRM tools
- Support long-term customer partnerships by understanding expansion plans and operational requirements
- Ensure full compliance with the company's integrity and compliance standards
What You Bring
- 3+ years of front-end technical sales or business development in data centres, cooling solutions, or critical infrastructure
- Proven track record of winning new customers and delivering strong sales growth
- Solid knowledge of Japan's data centre ecosystem: hyperscale cloud operators, colo platforms, EPCs, and engineering consultants
- Technical understanding of cooling technologies, heat rejection systems, or related mechanical infrastructure; experience with heat exchangers is a strong plus
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build and develop a sales presence in a new market
- Comfortable working in a matrix organisation with cross-functional and cross-regional collaboration
- Willingness to travel within Japan and across North-East Asia
- Bilingual fluency in Japanese and English is essential
Why This Role
- Be the first dedicated data centre commercial hire for Japan – rare ownership at the start of a market build
- Work for a globally recognised OEM with proven large-scale hyperscale references and a full product suite covering air-cooled and liquid-cooled solutions
- PE-backed platform in active growth mode, with genuine investment in headcount, capacity, and market expansion
- Japan data centre market growing at double digits with a long runway ahead
- Clear path to senior commercial leadership as the business scales across North-East Asia