APAC Business Development Manager – AI Data & GenAI Services

About Appen

Appen is a global leader in AI data and model training solutions, enabling the world’s most advanced AI systems through high-quality data, human-in-the-loop services, and large-scale AI operations. We partner with leading technology companies and enterprises to power generative AI, LLMs, computer vision, and intelligent automation.

We are expanding our APAC commercial team and are looking for a high-performing Business Development Manager to drive new enterprise revenue across AI Data Services and Generative AI solutions.

The Opportunity

This is a pure growth-focused, enterprise hunter role for a commercially driven sales professional who thrives on building pipeline, closing complex deals, and shaping the future of AI with global clients.

You will own the full new business lifecycle across APAC, selling high-value AI Data, LLM training, and digital operations solutions to enterprise customers.

Key Responsibilities

1. Enterprise New Business Growth

- Own and drive new logo acquisition across APAC enterprise accounts

- Build and execute a strong outbound pipeline strategy across priority industries

- Identify high-value opportunities in AI, GenAI, Trust & Safety, and Digital Transformation programs

- Win new enterprise clients through strategic, consultative engagement

2. Solution-Based Enterprise Selling

- Lead complex sales cycles from discovery through to close

- Translate customer AI/data challenges into scalable commercial solutions

- Position Appen’s offerings across AI training data & annotation, LLM fine-tuning & evaluation, Trust & safety operations, Data collection & AI model support services

- Structure commercial proposals and negotiate enterprise contracts

3. Winning Large, Strategic Deals

- Close multi-stakeholder, high-value enterprise deals

- Navigate procurement, legal, technical, and executive decision-makers

- Consistently deliver against aggressive revenue targets and growth objectives

4. Market & Industry Leadership

- Represent Appen in key APAC markets, events, and client engagements

- Stay ahead of AI, GenAI, and data industry trends

- Identify new verticals and strategic opportunities for expansion

- Build ecosystem relationships with partners and enterprise buyers

What Success Looks Like

- Strong and consistent new logo acquisition

- High-value enterprise deals closed across APAC

- Predictable pipeline generation and conversion

- Strong presence in priority enterprise accounts and AI programs

What We’re Looking For

Must-Have Experience

- 5+ years in enterprise B2B sales / business development

- Proven success selling complex, solution-based services such as AI / Data Services / Tech-enabled services, BPO / Managed Services / CX / Trust & Safety

- Strong track record of closing large enterprise deals

- Experience managing multi-stakeholder sales cycles (Procurement, Ops, CTO/CPO level)

- Ability to build pipeline independently and close new business consistently

- Strong commercial and negotiation skills

Strong Advantage If You Have

- Experience in AI, GenAI, machine learning, or data labeling industries

- Existing enterprise relationships across APAC

- Background in global outsourcing, digital operations, or tech services

- Exposure to LLM projects, AI training data, or model evaluation programs

Why Join Appen

- Be part of one of the most critical enablers of the global AI ecosystem

- Sell into the fastest-growing space: Generative AI and LLM infrastructure

- Work with global enterprise and tech leaders shaping AI innovation

- High-impact role with strong autonomy and ownership

- Opportunity to drive meaningful revenue growth across APAC markets