Head of Square Partnerships, APAC

Square is seeking a Head of Square Partnerships, APAC to define and lead the strategic partnerships vision across Australia and Japan. This leader will build and scale partnerships that accelerate Square Seller acquisition, product adoption, ecosystem expansion, and long-term business growth throughout the region. Partners span referral networks, distributors, financial institutions, technology platforms, service providers, commerce ecosystems, and other strategic partners where there is mutual value through lead generation, co-selling, co-marketing, product enablement, and selective product integrations. This is one of Square's most senior partnerships leadership roles, operating at the intersection of business development, growth, product, and go-to-market strategy. You will own the APAC partnerships strategy, lead a high-performing regional organization, influence product and commercial direction, and represent Square externally with senior executives across the region. This role is based in Australia and leads partnerships across both Australia and Japan. Regular travel throughout APAC, including Japan, and to the United States is expected to build executive relationships, support strategic partners, and collaborate closely with Sales, Account Management, Marketing, Product, Strategy and executive leadership. Key Responsibilities • Regional Strategy & Vision Define and execute the long-term partnerships strategy for Australia and Japan, aligning investment priorities with Square's regional growth strategy, product roadmap, and commercial objectives. Identify emerging ecosystem opportunities that strengthen Square's competitive position and accelerate sustainable business growth. • Strategic Partner Development Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and scale high-impact partnerships across key industries and ecosystems. Build a diversified portfolio of partners that expands Square's distribution, enhances our product capabilities, and creates differentiated value for sellers. • Executive Relationship Management Develop trusted relationships with C-level executives and senior decision-makers across strategic partners. Lead complex commercial negotiations and structure partnerships that deliver long-term value for Square, our partners, and our sellers. • Business Growth & Commercial Accountability Own measurable partnership outcomes across seller acquisition, pipeline generation, revenue growth, product adoption, ecosystem expansion, and strategic market development. Establish clear business objectives and ensure partnerships deliver meaningful commercial impact. • Partnership Activation & Scale Lead the successful launch and scaling of strategic partnerships through coordinated go-to-market execution, co-selling, co-marketing, product enablement, partner success programs, and selective product integrations. Drive ongoing optimization through executive business reviews and operational rigor. • Cross-Functional Leadership Partner closely with Sales, Account Management, Strategy, Marketing, Product, Engineering, Finance, Legal, Operations, Compliance, and regional leadership to prioritize investments, influence product roadmaps, remove execution barriers, and maximize partnership impact. • Portfolio Strategy & Performance Continuously evaluate the regional partnership portfolio, balancing strategic investments with measurable business outcomes. Allocate resources toward the highest-impact opportunities while evolving strategy based on market trends, competitive dynamics, customer needs, and business performance. • Organizational Leadership Build, lead, and develop a world-class partnerships organization across Australia and Japan. Develop exceptional talent, coach future leaders, establish operating rhythms, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and customer obsession. • Executive Influence Serve as the senior partnerships leader for APAC, representing the region with Square and Block executives. Provide strategic recommendations informed by market insights, competitive intelligence, and partner feedback while influencing global partnerships, product, and go-to-market strategy. Qualifications • 15+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, growth, product partnerships, or related leadership roles, including 8+ years leading senior teams and organizations. • Proven track record of developing and scaling regional or global partnership strategies that drive measurable business outcomes. • Extensive experience negotiating complex commercial agreements that drive mutual growth, and managing executive-level strategic relationships. • Demonstrated success influencing senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority. • Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience evaluating partnership investments, structuring business models, and managing portfolio performance. • Experience leading and developing geographically distributed teams while fostering strong collaboration across markets and functions. • Experience partnering closely with Product, Engineering and Strategy to influence product strategy, integrations, and ecosystem development. • SaaS, fintech, payments, commerce, or financial services experience strongly preferred. • Deep understanding of both the Australian business landscape required; experience working across Japan or broader APAC markets strongly preferred. • Based in Australia (Sydney preferred), with the ability to travel regularly throughout APAC, including Japan, and to the United States to support executive engagement, strategic partner development, and cross-functional collaboration. What You'll Bring • A strategic, commercial mindset with the ability to translate long-term vision into measurable business outcomes. • Exceptional executive presence and relationship-building skills, with a track record of influencing senior leaders both internally and externally