Category Strategy Manager (Rakuten Ichiba) - Project Management Office, EC Consulting Department (C&M)

Job Description: Department Overview EC Consulting Department is a frontline division that acts as a partner to merchants on “Rakuten Ichiba,” providing comprehensive support - from strategic planning to product development - to help them maximize sales. It is an environment where you can directly experience Rakuten’s mission of “empowerment.” Within this department, Project Management Office drives Rakuten Ichiba’s business growth by planning and executing cross-functional promotions, leading mid- to long-term strategic projects, facilitating the use of data for merchants, and developing tools to support consulting proposals. Going beyond mere management and support, it plays a strategic role as a proactive PMO - involved in both decision-making and execution - to accelerate the growth of Rakuten Ichiba. Position: Why We Hire As Rakuten Ichiba continues to grow and diversify its business, category-specific management has become essential. Project Management Office is seeking team members who can take ownership and act swiftly and effectively in response to these diverse challenges and opportunities. Attractive Features - Comprehensive Business Execution Skills: You’ll be involved in every stage of category and marketing strategies - from planning to execution - allowing you to hone the broad range of skills and comprehensive problem-solving abilities necessary to drive business forward through hands-on experience. - “0→1” Value Creation: Going beyond mere strategy formulation, you’ll be responsible for the entire process - from bringing your own ideas to life to delivering results - allowing you to directly experience your contribution to the business. - On-the-Job Training to Support Your Growth: We welcome applicants with no prior project management experience. You’ll be able to gradually acquire practical skills such as WBS creation, KPI management, strategy formulation, and data analysis. Position Details This position will drive growth in specific categories on Rakuten Ichiba, such as home appliances and fashion. You will lead everything from market analysis to strategy formulation and execution, taking on the challenge of scaling a large-scale business. Main Responsibilities - Strategy Formulation: Formulating short-, medium-, and long-term merchandising (MD) and growth strategies for your assigned categories, setting KPIs, and executing growth initiatives - Problem Solving: Identifying structural issues within categories and driving fundamental improvements - Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Leading projects involving multiple departments, including Sales, Marketing, Development, and Customer Service - Execution Support: Building operational frameworks and improving business processes to implement strategies on the ground Specific Project Examples - Developing selection criteria for featured products and planning listing conditions for major Rakuten Ichiba sales events - Formulating strategies to strengthen merchandising and leading cross-departmental execution processes Work Environment Organization Structure - Number of members: Approximately 10 members, excluding managers - Age range: The majority are around 30 years old - Ratio of new graduates to mid-career hires: 3:2 Backgrounds of Mid-Career Hires Former business unit heads at major e-commerce companies, sales professionals with experience at major telecommunications carriers Examples of Career Paths for Successful Mid-Career Hires - Joined as a business development specialist in the Category Business Division and advanced to manage two business units - Joined as a sales representative and advanced to a management role leveraging expertise in data analysis Mandatory Qualifications: - Experience in corporate account management, project management, or procurement - Experience leading cross-functional projects to achieve objectives while engaging stakeholders - Experience structuring business challenges and developing medium- to long-term action plans to resolve them Desired Qualifications: - Experience in developing business strategies and sales plans for e-commerce platforms, manufacturers, or retailers - Experience supporting clients in developing business strategies and implementing operational reforms at consulting firms or similar organizations - Experience in establishing business analysis processes using big data and conducting such analyses Other Information: Additional information on Location Rakuten Crimson House 1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Additional information on English Qualification TOEIC Score exceeding 800 (or similar level of English ability) or a University Degree earned in an English-speaking country. Proof of qualifications will be required by the time of the job offer. If no evidence is available to prove the qualifications denoted above, taking an IP test, organized by Rakuten, during selection process is required. Rakuten Group, Inc. Homepage Link - Benefits:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/benefit/(opens in new window) - Recruitment Information:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/information/(opens in new window) * Employment type is detailed - Rakuten Culture:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/culture/ #business #strategyplanning #BusinessDevelopment #commerce #RakutenIchiba In Japanese, Rakuten stands for ‘optimism.’ It means we believe in the future. It’s an understanding that, with the right mind-set, we can make the future better by what we do today. So we challenge ourselves to evolve, innovate and experiment, to create a better, brighter future for everyone. 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