Business Development Manager (Manager Candidate), Manufacturing Domain

About this role

This full-time role will lead new business development for manufacturing-focused AI solutions. The position is in the Vertical Business Development Department’s AI BPO and industry-specific solutions group, reporting directly to the department head. The mission is to combine AI-agent technology with manufacturing-domain expertise to plan, develop, commercialize, and scale services that transform manufacturing business processes from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 10.

Day-to-day responsibilities include researching, analyzing, and structuring operational issues in design, procurement, production management, quality management, maintenance, and technical knowledge transfer. The role will plan and develop manufacturing-specific solutions, create business plans and monetization strategies, set and manage KPIs, build relationships with manufacturing decision-makers and partner companies, and promote strategic alliances. It will also develop and execute scale-up strategies, coordinate with sales, marketing, and product teams, open customer opportunities, drive projects, and evaluate and improve business performance. Team management of two to three business development members, project management, and reports and proposals to management are expected in the future.

The group has eight members, including teams for construction, manufacturing and physical solutions, public and local government, pharmaceuticals, and translation. This position is planned for the manufacturing and physical team, which currently has two members. The organization works directly with executives including the CEO, CTO, CMO, and sales leadership.

Applicants must have at least three years of practical experience at a manufacturing-related operating company, such as a manufacturer, manufacturing-focused e-commerce or trading company, or component or equipment supplier. Experience in IT, SaaS, or consulting is also accepted when it includes business experience serving manufacturing companies. Candidates must have independently led a B2B process from identifying customer problems through solution design and commercialization that generated revenue, including the launch of a new business, product, or market expansion of an existing service. Experience managing at least two to three people is required.

Preferred experience includes deep knowledge of manufacturing processes, an established customer or partner network in manufacturing, new-business launch or startup experience, supplier or partner-manufacturer development, supply chain management, product planning, leadership of cross-functional projects, and practical use of AI or data. Implementation experience with AI is not required. The posting names AI agents, ChatGPT, large language models, and Generative AI as the relevant technology context.

Work is office-based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with home working available after consultation with a supervisor when the employee is unwell or needs to care for family. Working hours are 10:00 to 19:00, with Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays off. Annual salary is JPY 8.0 million to JPY 13.0 million, with monthly pay of JPY 572,000 to JPY 929,000, fixed overtime pay for 45 hours, and additional overtime pay for hours beyond that amount. Salary reviews are held twice a year, bonuses are paid twice a year, and a stock option program is available.

Benefits include book-purchase assistance, refresh and club-activity allowances, a designated-station housing allowance, quarterly shuffle lunches or dinners, qualification and work-related English-learning support, refresh leave after three years of continuous employment, annual health checks, an employee stock ownership plan, social insurance, and full transportation reimbursement. The selection process is document screening followed by two interviews, with an SPI test and reference check required before the final interview. The probationary period is one month. The site is non-smoking indoors, with an outdoor smoking area.