Research Analyst

This Research Analyst position supports the MIMIR expert research business, which connects expert knowledge with important client decisions. Clients include large operating companies in manufacturing, trading, advertising, and IT, particularly their corporate planning, new business, and research and development departments. MIMIR operates the NewsPicks Expert platform and Speeda Expert Research services, including expert interviews and FLASH Opinion surveys.

The role clarifies a client’s background, current situation, objectives, key questions, and priorities. The analyst determines which people should be consulted and what should be asked, then proposes suitable MIMIR services such as interviews, surveys, and lectures. Research involves finding potential experts from industry, occupational, and technical perspectives and presenting several candidates with the reasons each expert is particularly suited to answer the question.

Responsibilities also include arranging and operating projects through completion, including scheduling, distributing the agenda for the day of an interview, collecting survey comments, and delivering the results. The analyst proposes additional questions or follow-up work based on client needs, such as interviews following a survey. The role also contributes to improving processes, templates, and operating procedures, and shares reusable knowledge with the team.

Example projects cover understanding the overall market and competitive advantages or risks for a new service, obtaining primary information about local business practices, regulations, and purchasing decisions for overseas expansion, and learning from practitioners about structures, implementation barriers, and pitfalls in digital transformation initiatives.

Applicants must be interested in MIMIR’s business and the issue it addresses, have at least two years of professional experience, experience with solution-oriented proposals or coordination, and basic IT literacy for organizing information, preparing documents, and using business tools. Experience in customer success, corporate sales, planning, project management, or similar work may be relevant. Experience proposing the value of intangible products or services and coordinating with internal and external B2B stakeholders is sought. Communication with executives or managers is welcomed.

Preferred experience includes research, recruiting, matching, or similar search and arrangement work; qualitative research such as industry, case, or competitive-environment research; process improvement, workflow organization, template creation, or operational standardization; and knowledge of a particular industry or technical field such as manufacturing or IT. English communication by email or telephone is also welcomed.

During the first three months, the analyst is expected to handle issue organization, service proposals, project coordination, and delivery with support from senior colleagues. Between three and six months, the expected level is independent completion from issue definition through arrangement and delivery, including proposing the client’s next questions. Over one to two years, the analyst should lead individual projects using research fundamentals and a specialist area, produce repeatable results, and anticipate needs for cross-selling. After two years, possible paths include further specialization in expert research or an internal move to field sales, customer success, or consulting.

The position is a full-time permanent role based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, with remote work available and work centered remotely. Office attendance is generally about once a month, with additional attendance for team events or two to three annual MIMIR-wide meetings. The stated schedule is eight working hours within 9:00–18:00, with some flexibility, while the employment section describes a full-flex arrangement subject to team rules. Annual compensation is listed as JPY 4.8–5.7 million, with final pay determined based on experience and ability. Benefits include transportation reimbursement up to JPY 50,000 per month, a selectable company PC, reduced-hours arrangements, paid leave of at least 10 days, condolence leave, a five-day workweek with public holidays and year-end holidays, and two seven-day long vacations each year separate from paid leave. The work location may change to the employee’s home, the head office, or another company-approved location, and duties may change to any work designated by the company.