Head of Advertising Product Management , Ad & Media Company (A&M)
Rakuten · Tokyo, Japan · 1d ago
Job Description:
Business Overview
Rakuten Group offers more than 70 services domestically and internationally. By organically linking these services around the Rakuten membership program, the company has created a unique "Rakuten Ecosystem" that stands apart from competitors.
Since its founding in 1997, the company has grown its business around three core pillars - its shopping mall business "Rakuten Ichiba" and its credit card business "Rakuten Card" at the center - successfully launching a new telecom business "Rakuten Mobile," and by fiscal 2024 group revenue has grown to 2.3 trillion yen.
Department Overview
As the fourth pillar of key business areas driving future group growth, the Ad & Media Company is expected to expand and grow the advertising business.
In addition to our established businesses - Internet advertising "Rakuten Marketing/LinkShare", marketing research "Rakuten Insight", and marketing solutions "Rakuten Data Marketing"- we have a vision to create new business models and become the indispensable marketing partner for client companies by leveraging all advertising operations across more than 70 services and maximizing assets such as "Rakuten Members," "Rakuten Points," "brand strength," and "member data," using synergies within the "Rakuten ecosystem.
Position:
Why We Hire
Over 100 million IDs and purchase records accumulated within the "Rakuten ecosystem" built by the Rakuten Group. We have not yet been able to fully leverage this overwhelming asset.
Now, we aim to redefine this massive asset in the realm of advertising and elevate it into the group's "fourth pillar" that drives growth. We are seeking a leader who can lead this uncharted challenge.
To do so, we need the expertise of people with extensive industry track records and connections, and we are looking for those who find fulfillment in driving businesses on the front lines of management and are willing to contribute.
<Appeal>
1. Achieving discontinuous growth through Advertising × “Rakuten’s assets × AI”
You will have the opportunity to build an unprecedented business model using Japan’s unique assets - over 100 million IDs and purchase data, plus AI technology.
2. Expanding a “well-connected” career as a professional
For those with deep industry knowledge and connections, it’s possible to take on a leadership role driving Rakuten’s “fourth pillar” in an environment close to top management.
Including desired role, phase, and impact, able to elevate one’s career to the next level
Position Details
As Head of Advertising Product Management at Rakuten Marketing
Platform, you will be responsible for everything from product strategy to development, growth, and monetization.
The scope of this position is not limited to defining requirements for individual products or managing development projects.
While assessing market conditions, advertiser and marketer needs, competing platforms, AdTech/MarTech technology trends, and changes in the privacy environment, you will define which product areas Rakuten should build long-term competitive advantages in.
You will then combine Rakuten Group assets - commerce, data, media, fintech, mobile, points, and more - to realize advertising and marketing solutions that only Rakuten can deliver.
You will also build the product portfolio using the best methods, not limited to in-house development but including alliances and leveraging external products with domestic and international AdTech/MarTech companies, media, platform providers, and technology partners.
This includes using external approaches as appropriate to construct the optimal product portfolio.
It is also an important role to connect market needs gathered from sales and client organizations, customer and marketing insights obtained from Relational Marketing Intelligence, and the technical capabilities of engineering and data teams, and implement them into the market as Products.
Furthermore, you will continuously evaluate each product’s revenue, profitability, usage, and competitiveness to decide “what to grow,” “what new to build,” “what to consolidate or retire,” and “what to acquire through external partnerships.”
While making those decisions, you will maximize the overall value of the product portfolio.
As a member of the management team for the Marketing Solutions business,
you are expected to lead business growth and build competitive advantage with Product at the core.
<Main Responsibilities>
・Oversight of the entire advertising and marketing product lineup centered on Rakuten Marketing Platform
・Formulation of mid- to long-term product vision and product strategy
・Development of portfolio strategy and roadmap for advertising and marketing products definition
・Identifying new product opportunities based on market, competitors, customer needs, and technology trends
・Planning and development of new advertising and marketing products leveraging the Rakuten ecosystem and first-party dataPlanning and development of marketing products
・Launching and commercializing new products from 0→1
・Growth strategies, competitiveness enhancement, and profitability improvement for existing products
・Designing and monitoring Product-Market Fit and product KPIs
・Designing investment priorities and allocation of management resources by product
・Integration, reorganization, and common platform development of the product portfolio
・Advancing advertising and marketing products using AI and machine learning
・Building strategic alliances and partnerships with domestic and international AdTech/MarTech companies
・Formulating product and technology strategies from the perspective of Build / Buy / Partner
・Product integrations with external platforms, media, and data partners
・Designing new monetization models and business models
・Formulating GTM (Go-to-Market) strategies in collaboration with sales and client organizations
・Leading cross-functional product development across data, engineering, design, sales, and marketing organizations
・Building and maturing the product management organization
・Developing senior Product Managers and next-generation product leaders
・Participation in business operations and key decision-making as a member of the management team for the Marketing Solutions business.
Work Environment
<Organizational Structure>
※As of September 2026
・ Headcount: 690
・ Average age: mid-30s
・ New graduates vs mid-career hires: 30% new graduates / 70% mid-career
<Main Stakeholder Background>
* Many alumni from large foreign multinational companies
・McKinsey
・BCG
・A.T. Kearney
・Bain & Company
・Meta
・Google
・Amazon
A large number of alumni
Mandatory Qualifications:
Candidates with any of the following experiences or qualities
<Experience>
・Practical experience in a responsible role at a corporate business, consulting firm, or advertising/marketing industry
・Ability to discern core issues from complex situations and think multidimensionally about solutions
・Communication and project management skills to build smooth relationships with diverse stakeholders (executive management, division heads, on-site staff, etc.) and achieve consensus
・Ability to accurately verbalize and visualize abstract concepts/insights
<Other>
・A strong interest in leveraging the diverse assets of the Rakuten Group to create new value and businesses
Desired Qualifications:
Candidates with any of the following experiences or qualities
・Experience driving business growth as a head of business, head of product, or head of sales
・Experience leading strategy development for executive teams and large-scale business transformations at consulting firms or similar organizations
・Experience leading strategy planning through execution and validation for businesses on the order of tens of billions of yen
・Deep hands-on expertise in advertising, digital marketing, and marketing research
・Experience managing a business with awareness of the P/L (profit and loss statement) and developing medium- to long-term business plans and budgets
・Experience promoting data-driven decision-making using data analysis (SQL/Excel, etc.)
・Experience negotiating with overseas stakeholders in English and driving global projects
Other Information:
Additional information on Location
Rakuten Crimson House
1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Additional information on English Qualification
English Requirement: Yes
*Examples include TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
*Details will be provided if you proceed to the selection stage.
If you do not have a score or a certificate, we will arrange for you to take the TOEIC IP test administered by our company during the selection process.
Rakuten Group, Inc. Homepage Link
・Benefits:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/benefit/
Recruitment Information:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/information/ * Employment type is detailed
・Rakuten Culture:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/culture/
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