Construction Business Development Manager

About this role

JAPAN AI is an AI startup established in April 2023 as a group company of Geniee. It develops AI products and services for Japanese businesses and conducts research involving large language models, ChatGPT, and generative AI. This role focuses on creating and commercializing solutions for the construction industry, where the company is developing a new business beyond a fixed SaaS model.

The manager candidate will lead the launch and growth of construction-focused solutions. Responsibilities include investigating and structuring operational issues in design, estimating, construction management, quality and safety management, documentation, maintenance, and skills transfer; planning, developing, and commercializing solutions; preparing business plans and monetization strategies; and setting and tracking KPIs. The role also involves building relationships with key people and partner companies such as general contractors, subcontractors, specialty construction companies, and building-materials or equipment manufacturers, as well as advancing strategic alliances.

After launch, the role will plan and execute scaling from the initial business through later growth stages, work with sales, marketing, and product teams, develop customers, advance opportunities, and assess and improve business performance. Team management and development for two to three business development members, project management, and reports or proposals to executives are expected to become part of the role in the future.

The position belongs to the Vertical Business Development Department’s AI BPO and Industry-Specific Solutions Group. The group has eight members, including teams for construction, manufacturing and physical operations, public-sector and local-government work, pharmaceuticals, and translation. The construction team currently has one member. The role works directly under the department head and coordinates directly with executives including the CEO, CTO, CMO, and sales leader.

Required qualifications are at least three years of practical experience at a construction-related operating company, or in IT, SaaS, or consulting. Candidates from IT, SaaS, or consulting must have business experience serving the construction industry. Candidates must also have independently driven a B2B initiative from identifying customer problems through solution design, commercialization, and revenue creation, including through an extension of an existing service, and must have management experience with at least two to three people.

Preferred qualifications include deep knowledge of construction workflows, an established customer or partner network in the industry, experience launching a new business or founding a company, experience in construction DX or construction technology such as construction-management SaaS, BIM/CIM, or matching platforms, construction-management or architect qualifications or field experience, leadership of projects involving multiple departments, and practical experience using AI or data. Implementation experience is not required. The role also calls for customer-focused persistence, data-based logical thinking, stakeholder collaboration, strategic planning, execution, negotiation, and adaptability to new technologies and business models.

This is a full-time position based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Standard work is office-based; working from home may be possible after consulting 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 ¥8.0 million to ¥13.0 million, with monthly pay listed at ¥572,000 to ¥929,000. The package includes a fixed overtime allowance for 45 hours, with additional overtime paid separately, salary review opportunities twice a year, bonuses twice a year, and a stock-option program.

Benefits include book-purchase assistance, refresh and club-activity allowances, a qualifying rent allowance, quarterly lunch or dinner support, qualification and work-related English-learning support, refresh leave after three years of continuous service, annual health checks, an employee stock ownership plan, social insurance, and full transportation reimbursement. The probationary period is one month. The premises are smoke-free, with an outdoor smoking area. The scope of duties and work location may change within the company’s designated scope; secondment arrangements follow the host organization’s rules.