Director Supplier Relations APAC at Twilio | CPaaS in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
A High-Impact Director Role in a Growing CPaaS Giant
This is a Director-level position at Twilio, one of the world's leading Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) companies. Leading APAC supplier relations at this scale puts you at the intersection of commercial strategy, regulatory complexity, and engineering — a rare combination that builds highly transferable skills.
Compensation Context
Twilio does not disclose salary, but Director-level telecom/supply chain roles at US-headquartered tech companies in Australia typically range from AUD 200,000–280,000 total comp, and in Japan from JPY 18M–25M annually including bonuses. Twilio is known for equity grants, which can be significant at this level.
Skills You'll Build
- Cross-border carrier negotiation and CPaaS supply chain strategy — highly sought after as A2P messaging and RCS adoption grow.
- APAC regulatory expertise (sender ID registries, anti-spam frameworks) — increasingly valuable as governments tighten telecom rules.
- Data-driven route optimization and COGS management at enterprise scale.
- Executive-level cross-functional leadership (Sales, Product, Legal, Ops).
Culture & Growth Signals
Twilio is a post-hypergrowth public company that has undergone significant restructuring since 2022. This means more operational discipline and less startup chaos — a green flag for senior professionals who want stability with scale. The remote-first culture and emphasis on "Twilio Magic" values suggest genuine investment in employee experience.
Red Flag to Watch: The 20–25% travel requirement is substantial for a Director role and should be factored into work-life balance expectations.
Who We Are
At Twilio, we're shaping the future of communications, all from the comfort of our homes. We deliver innovative solutions to hundreds of thousands of businesses and empower millions of developers worldwide to craft personalized customer experiences.
Our dedication to remote-first work, and strong culture of connection and global inclusion means that no matter your location, you're part of a vibrant team with diverse experiences making a global impact each day. As we continue to revolutionize how the world interacts, we're acquiring new skills and experiences that make work feel truly rewarding. Your career at Twilio is in your hands.
Hiring and How We Work
We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions!
While we are a remote-first company, you may be asked to report in person on an ad-hoc basis for team gatherings, functional off-sites, or customer meetings.
See Yourself at Twilio
Join the team as Twilio's next Director, Supplier Relations APAC.
About the Job
Twilio is seeking an experienced Director, Supplier Relations to execute our supply strategy, manage regional vendor and carrier partnerships, and lead a team of supplier relations specialists across Asia-Pacific (APAC). In this role, you will translate regional connectivity strategy into operational execution, optimizing COGS, route quality, and direct supplier partnerships. Working closely with cross-functional partners in Sales, Product, Legal, and Operations, you will ensure Twilio's infrastructure reliably aligns with rapid enterprise growth across diverse APAC markets.
Responsibilities
- Team Leadership & Development: Direct, mentor, and manage a team of supplier relations specialists and analysts, fostering operational excellence and regional alignment across APAC.
- Supplier Procurement & Negotiations: Lead commercial negotiations with regional telecommunications carriers, messaging aggregators, and OTT suppliers to secure competitive unit economics (COGS) and expand direct connectivity.
- GTM & Product Alignment: Partner with APAC Sales and Product teams to analyze market demand, forecast capacity needs, and support localized go-to-market strategies for key growth countries.
- Route Quality & Analytics: Continuously monitor supplier performance, route latency, delivery success rates, and margins, using data-driven insights to optimize traffic allocation.
- Regulatory & Compliance Execution: Operationalize regional telecommunications mandates, local sender ID registries, and anti-spam regulations across APAC markets in coordination with Legal and Regulatory teams.
- Operational Escalations: Serve as the primary escalation point for supplier SLA breaches, network disruptions, and service degradations to maintain high platform uptime.
Qualifications
Twilio values diverse experiences from all kinds of industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. If your career is just starting or hasn't followed a traditional path, don't let that stop you from considering Twilio. We are always looking for people who will bring something new to the table!
Required:
- Minimum of 7 years in the telecommunications or CPaaS industry, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior supplier/carrier management role.
- Deep understanding of APAC telecommunications ecosystems, messaging aggregators, and regional market dynamics.
- Proven track record of negotiating commercial supplier agreements and driving unit economics (COGS) optimization.
- Experience collaborating with Sales, Product, and Operations to translate revenue demand into supplier capacity.
- Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging performance metrics and data tools for route optimization.
Desired:
- Professional fluency in English and an additional APAC language (e.g., Japanese, Mandarin, or Bahasa).
- Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Business, or a related field.
- Technical understanding of core communications protocols and standards (e.g., SMPP, SIP, REST APIs, A2P/P2P messaging).
Location
This role will be remote, based in key APAC locations (Australia or Japan).
Travel
We prioritize connection and opportunities to build relationships with our customers and each other. For this role, approximately 20%–25% regional travel is anticipated for supplier engagements and internal team alignment.
What We Offer
Working at Twilio offers many benefits, including competitive pay, generous time off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location.
Twilio Thinks Big. Do You?
We like to solve problems, take initiative, pitch in when needed, and are always up for trying new things. That's why we seek out colleagues who embody our values — something we call Twilio Magic. Additionally, we empower employees to build positive change in their communities by supporting their volunteering and donation efforts.
If you're ready to unleash your full potential, do your best work, and be the best version of yourself, apply now! If this role isn't what you're looking for, please consider other open positions.
Stay Alert to Recruitment Fraud
We care about your safety. Scammers sometimes impersonate Twilio recruiters through fake job postings, emails, websites, or messages. Please ensure you are engaging with an official @twilio.com email address. We will never ask for payment, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or banking information during the recruiting process. We do not make job offers without a formal interview process or conduct interviews exclusively through text-based messaging apps.
Twilio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Additionally, Twilio participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
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