Business Development Lead
1. About Us
NanoFrontier is a research-driven startup that provides end-to-end solutions from design to mass production and quality assurance for materials in energy, environment, and pharmaceutical fields, centered around nanoparticle generation technology through reprecipitation method developed over many years at Tohoku University. We also provide nanoparticle manufacturing services and technology licensing, rapidly advancing joint research and PoC with manufacturers and academic institutions in Sendai (main base) and Tokyo (collaboration base).
2. Role & Responsibilities
To maintain stable revenue, we need to optimize the allocation of materials, contract manufacturing, and licensing for each project and build systems to accelerate from PoC to contract execution. This position will be responsible for PoC design (objectives, KPIs, team structure, conditions), standardization of pricing tables and SLAs, and goal setting. We are looking for someone who can unite internal and external stakeholders, organize processes, and build a business development organization.
What You’ll Gain
- Develop products and technologies that customers need, with commercialization in mind
- Design initial customer co-creation with your own hands
- Create contract schemes and pricing models from 0 to 1
- Fast decision-making in a small organization
3. Key Responsibilities
- Design quarterly targets for SQL/PoC/orders by priority industry and target accounts
- Manage progress from prospects to negotiations to PoC to orders using CRM, visualize and improve issues and delays weekly
- Standardize PoC design document templates (objectives/KPIs/schedule/costs/team structure), ensure reproducibility of sales processes
- Collaborate with management on pricing, contract terms, and sample provision standards, streamline review and approval processes
- Coordinate marketing, sales, CS, and technical departments, oversee from requirements definition to proposal and execution
- Conduct hiring, development, 1-on-1s, exhibition and PoC cost budget management and effectiveness measurement
4. Requirements, Skills & Experience
Required
- Alignment with NanoFrontier’s business and mission
- 5+ years in business development or corporate sales in B2B (chemicals, materials, equipment, semiconductors, etc.)
- Experience leading technical projects from PoC to contract (SOW) independently (including evaluation metrics, compensation, IP, NDA)
- Pipeline management and KPI operations using CRM (HubSpot, etc.)
- Japanese (native/business level), English (reading, writing, email/document creation)
Preferred
- Experience promoting industry-academia collaboration and joint research / grant management (NEDO/JST, etc.)
- Basic knowledge of chemical regulations, SDS, import/export management
- Exhibition operations, lead generation strategies, marketing collaboration experience
- International customer support, contract negotiation
What We’re Looking For
- Someone who can quickly translate uncertain assumptions into PoC specifications
- Logically document changes and move forward by involving stakeholders
- Can speak in numbers (gross profit, conversion rate, cycle time)
5. Location & Work Style
- Location: Tokyo (domestic and international business trips: exhibitions, universities, customers)
- Work style: Hybrid (2-3 days in office expected per week)
- Work hours: Full flex (core hours 10:00-16:00)
6. Benefits & Welfare
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Holidays & Leave | ・Complete 5-day workweek ・Annual paid leave ・Year-end and New Year holidays |
| Insurance | Complete social insurance coverage |
| Housing | Company housing system available |
| PC & IT Tools | PC provided. ChatGPT usage covered by company. Other necessary IT tools available through consultation and application |
| Health Support | Massage and gym usage support |
| Meal Support | Tohoku University cafeteria meal card provided (under adjustment) |
| Career Development | Support for qualifications, technical books, exam costs, etc. |
| Grant Incentives | Incentive design for grant acquisition |
| Relocation Support | For relocation from Tokyo to Sendai: Up to 1 million yen relocation bonus through Sendai City relocation support program For relocation from other regions: Under adjustment |
7. Selection Process
- Casual interview: 30-60 minutes
- Technical interview & discussion: 60+ minutes
- Offer interview & final decision
※ Results for each selection process will be provided within 3 business days. Steps may be omitted based on candidate circumstances.
8. Company Information
- Company Name: NanoFrontier Inc. (Headquarters: 2F Urban Net Sendai Central Building, 4-4-19 Central, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi Prefecture)
- Corporate Philosophy: “Toward a society where all resources circulate smoothly and are utilized in optimal forms”
- Business Areas:
- (1) Research, development, manufacturing, and sales of reagents and functional materials using organic nanoparticle technology
- (2) Contract manufacturing of organic nanoparticles and provision of related technologies
- (3) Technology licensing and technical consulting in the field of organic nanoparticle technology
- (4) All businesses incidental to the above
- https://nanofrontier.jp/
9. How to Apply
Please apply through our recruitment page application form.