Keywords Studios is seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Business Development Manager to proactively identify, develop, and acquire new business opportunities for its Art Studio division in the Japanese market. This role focuses on new customer acquisition, establishing initial contact, building sales pipelines, qualifying leads, and closing new project contracts with publishers, developers, and IP owners not currently utilizing Keywords' art services. The manager will collaborate with global art production teams to define and propose customized solutions, playing a crucial role in the growth strategy for Keywords' Art Studio in Japan.

Must Have

• Proactively identify and develop new customer candidates for outsourced art services in the Japanese game/entertainment industry
• Build a stable pipeline of qualified prospects through strategic outreach and market research
• Conduct initial meetings and presentations, representing Keywords' Art Studio capabilities
• Uncover specific and potential art production needs, development roadmaps, and budget constraints
• Collaborate with global art production teams to create compelling proposals, SOWs, and cost estimates
• Lead negotiations to secure new contracts, meeting client requirements and company commercial goals
• Develop and execute proactive strategies for new customer acquisition with leadership teams
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in CRM system (Salesforce)
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activities, and new game/IP announcements in Japan
• Business level Japanese and advanced English proficiency
• 3-5+ years of 'hunter-type' business development, sales, or new customer acquisition experience in Japan's B2B service industry
• Deep understanding of Japanese business culture and client expectations
• Proven ability to communicate, present, and influence effectively
• Excellent listening, negotiation, and closing skills
• Self-motivated and committed to achieving new business goals
• Solid knowledge of art production and tools (Maya, Blender, Unity/Unreal)
• Natural relationship builder with integrity, reliability, and maturity
• Ability to manage multiple prospect pipelines simultaneously with strict attention to detail

Good to Have

• Sales experience in outsourced services, technology, or creative/art services for the gaming industry (strongly preferred)

Perks & Benefits

• Opportunity to represent a globally recognized leader in game art services
• Competitive compensation package including performance-based incentives
• Opportunity to collaborate with major and exciting game development companies in Japan
• Collaborative and growth-oriented global corporate culture

About Keywords Studios

Keywords Studios is a global leader in providing creative and technical services to the video game industry. With over 13,000 professionals in more than 70 studios across 25+ countries, we operate across three core service lines that support the entire game lifecycle.

Service Lines:

• Create — Game Development, Art Production, Audio Production
• Globalize — Voice and Text Localization, Localization QA, Functional Testing
• Engage — Marketing, LiveOps, Community, User Acquisition

In Japan, Keywords Studios offers all Create, Globalize, and Engage services, supporting major publishers, developers, agencies, and IP owners through domestic and international teams. With Tokyo-based development studio Wizcorp, and established localization, QA, player support, and marketing operations, we serve the largest and most influential companies in Japan's game and entertainment industry.

Japan is one of the world's most strategically important and culturally influential markets for interactive entertainment. We are strengthening our Japanese sales team to secure projects involving the world's top-tier IPs from our Japanese partners.

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Business Development Manager to proactively identify, develop, and acquire new business opportunities for Keywords' Art Studio division in the Japanese market.

This position focuses on new customer acquisition, establishing initial contact, building sales pipelines, qualifying leads, and closing new project contracts with publishers, developers, and IP owners not currently utilizing Keywords' art services.

Business-level Japanese and advanced English proficiency, along with a deep understanding of the Japanese game industry and business practices, are required. You will be able to confidently explain art production services and collaborate with internal stakeholders to define and propose customized solutions. This position is crucial for executing Keywords' Art Studio division's growth strategy in one of the world's most strategically important markets.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and develop new customer candidates in the Japanese game and entertainment industry who require outsourced art services (concept art, 3D modeling, animation, UI/UX, etc.)
• Build a stable pipeline of qualified prospects through relationship building and strategic outreach (cold calls, email campaigns, networking, industry events, social media) and market research
• Conduct initial meetings and presentations with prospects, acting as the primary representative to showcase Keywords' Art Studio capabilities and portfolio
• Conduct skillful research and questioning to uncover prospects' specific and potential art production needs, development roadmaps, and budget constraints
• Work closely with global art production teams (PMs, Art Directors, Leads) based in India, China, USA, etc., to create compelling proposals, Statements of Work (SOWs), and cost estimates for new projects
• Lead negotiations to secure new contracts, focusing on achieving optimal terms that satisfy both client requirements and Keywords Studios' commercial objectives
• Collaborate with the Japanese leadership team and Keywords' Art Studio executives to formulate and execute proactive strategies for new customer acquisition, actively supporting overall growth targets
• Actively participate in marketing and brand-building activities, especially those focused on new customer outreach (e.g., attending Tokyo Game Show, networking events) to build the Keywords brand
• Seamlessly hand over newly acquired customers and initial projects to dedicated account management/production teams, ensuring a smooth and positive onboarding experience
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all prospecting activities, new opportunities, sales stages, and forecasts using the company's CRM system (e.g., Salesforce)
• Stay constantly informed about industry trends, competitor movements, and new game/IP announcements in Japan to identify strategic acquisition targets
• Domestic and international travel may be required for client visits or accompanying clients to studios in India, China, or the USA, as needed

Qualifications

Application Requirements / Required Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• Business level Japanese and advanced English proficiency
• Practical experience (3-5 years or more) in a 'hunter-type' business development, sales, or new customer acquisition role in the B2B service industry in Japan
• Sales experience in outsourced services, technology, or creative/art services for the gaming industry (strongly preferred)
• Deep understanding of Japanese business culture and the expectations of Japanese clients regarding communication, quality, and delivery
• Proven ability to communicate, present, and influence effectively across all organizational levels
• Excellent listening, negotiation, and closing skills
• Self-motivated, thrives in a highly results-oriented environment, and strongly committed to achieving new business goals
• Solid knowledge of art production and knowledge of tools and pipelines required for project execution (Maya, Blender, Unity/Unreal, asset production workflows), capable of confident dialogue with art decision-makers
• A natural relationship builder with integrity, reliability, and maturity
• Proven ability to manage multiple prospect pipelines simultaneously, with strict attention to detail and consistent outreach quality

Other Information

What We Offer

• Opportunity to represent a globally recognized leader in game art services
• Competitive compensation package including performance-based incentives
• Opportunity to collaborate with major and exciting game development companies in Japan
• Collaborative and growth-oriented global corporate culture

Role Information: JP

Studio: Keywords Studios

Location: Asia Pacific, Japan, Tokyo

Area of Work: Business Development

Service: Create

Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: Remote

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