Direct Sales Representative

About the role

Cerence is scaling its GenAI business across automotive OEMs and high-growth adjacent markets. We are seeking a Direct Sales Representative to expand and deepen strategic account relationships, own the full sales cycle with key OEM customers, and lead entry into new AI-driven segments such as AIoT, Robotics, Consumer Devices, and Smart Mobility. You will define go-to-market strategies, drive revenue growth, and act as a trusted adviser to customers making complex technology decisions in fast-evolving segments.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Account Leadership & Revenue Growth
• Own and grow sales across assigned strategic OEM accounts and enterprise customers.
• Define and execute go-to-market strategies tailored to customer needs and market dynamics.
• Drive the entire sales cycle from lead generation to contract negotiation and close.
• Executive Engagement & Customer Advocacy
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and Executive teams.
• Serve as the primary customer champion for Cerence's GenAI solutions
• Act as the voice of the customer back into internal teams, influencing product priorities and roadmap consideration.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Sales Engineers, Professional Services, Marketing, and Product teams to build compelling proposals and accelerate customer engagements.
• Align internal resources to customer priorities and support scalable delivery execution.
• Market Expansion & New Verticals
• Identify business opportunities beyond automotive, including AIoT, Robotics, Consumer AI, and other adjacent markets.
• Develop strategies for entry into new segments and cultivate early customer relationships.
• Represent Cerence at industry events, conferences, and workshops to strengthen market presence.
• What You Bring
• Experience & Background
• 7+ years of enterprise sales or strategic account management experience, ideally within automotive or technology-driven B2B environments.
• Proven track record in owning revenue targets and driving business growth with large OEM or enterprise accounts.
• Experience in non-automotive sectors (AIoT, robotics, consumer devices) is a strong advantage.
• Skills & Capabilities
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
• Excellent communication and executive-level presentation skills High proficiency in oral and written communication/presentation skills in both Japanese and English.
• Ability to build credibility quickly with technical and business stakeholders.
• Personal Attributes
• Self-motivated, result-oriented, and comfortable operating in high-ambiguity environments.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to innovate and influence.
• Strong relationship builder with a collaborative approach to internal and external stakeholders.
• EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
• All prospective and current Employees need to remain vigilant when it comes to executing security policies in the workplace. This includes:
• Following workplace security protocols and training programs to familiarize with the ways to maintain a safe workplace.
• Following security procedures to report any suspicious activity.
• Having respect for corporate security procedures to allow those procedures to be effective.
• Adhering to company's compliance and regulations.
• Encouraging to follow a zero tolerance for workplace violence.
• Basic knowledge of in

Additional Information

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