Senior Business Development Manager, Japan

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Department: B2B Revenue

Report to: Managing Director, Japan

About Us

ELSA is a global leader in AI-powered English communication training, dedicated to transforming how people learn and speak English with confidence. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, we operate across the U.S., Vietnam, Portugal, Indonesia, Brazil and Japan.

Powered by proprietary speech-recognition technology and generative AI, ELSA delivers real-time, hyper-personalized feedback to help learners improve pronunciation, fluency, and overall communication effectiveness. With over 50 million learners and 1 billion hours of anonymized speech data, ELSAs depth of language training intelligence is unmatched in the industry.

Our B2B flagship platforms ELSA Enterprise and ELSA Schools empower organizations and educational institutions to elevate communication capabilities and unlock personal and professional opportunities for their people. We design engaging, bite-sized learning experiences that adapt to each learner's goals and context, ensuring measurable improvement and lasting confidence.

Our vision is to become the global standard for real-time English communication training, enabling 1.5 billion language learners worldwide to speak clearly, be understood, and share their stories with the world.

Backed by world-class investors including Googles Gradient Ventures, Monks Hill Ventures, and SOSV, ELSA has been recognized among the top global AI innovators:

Forbes Top 4 Companies Using AI to Transform the World

Research Sniper Top 5 Best AI Apps

ASU+GSV EdTech 150

CB Insights Top 100 AI Companies

Join us in shaping the future of language learning and empowering millions to unlock opportunity through confident communication.

Role Summary We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven (Senior) Business Development Manager (Individual Contributor) to spearhead our expansion into the Enterprise market for our cutting-edge AI English speaking and learning solutions. As a Business Development member in our team youll have the opportunity to foster your career path with the growth of a startup from Silicon Valley. Our product has the tremendous potential to transform the Japanese domestic entity to a globally opened, collaborative and competitive one with improving employees English skills and changing their mindset. Our startup culture will bring you chance and challenge, you will never have a boring day with ELSA. Key Responsibilities

Develop a robust pipeline of opportunities with potential B2B clients

Present our company to potential clients

Identify client needs and suggest appropriate solutions

Collaborate with product team and customer success team to deliver customized product solutions and satisfactory services

Build long-term trusting relationships with clients

Proactively seek new business opportunities in the market to contribute to short-term, medium-term, long term growth.

Build and optimize in-house best practices for business development

Report weekly/monthly/quarterly results

What You Will Have

Minimum qualifications

Bachelors degree in Business, Economics, or a related field. MBA is a plus

5+ years experience with track record in Business Development or similar roles

Proven ability to develop and deliver engaging sales presentations

Excellent communication and negotiation skills, networking skills

English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing (TOEIC 800+ or equivalent)

Preferred qualifications

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to understand client needs and propose effective solutions

Work experience at the high-growth international companies

Work experience with HR customers

Work experience with large enterprise companies

Engaging experience with high level stakeholders

Why you'll love working here

Competitive compensation with hot bonus per month.

Working hour: 9AM-6PM Monday to Friday. Hybrid working.

15 days of annual leave and 5 days of sick leave.

ELSA Premium account.

Fun energetic team; international and collaborative culture.

Experience the true spirit of a fast growing and well funded Silicon Valley startup.