Head of Business Planning & Strategy - Ad & Media Company (A&M)

Job Description:

Business Overview

Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services in Japan and around the world. By organically connecting these services through a membership-based ecosystem centered on Rakuten members, we have built the unique and unparalleled “Rakuten Ecosystem.”
 
Since our founding in 1997, we have continuously expanded our business, with our core businesses including the online marketplace “Rakuten Ichiba” and the credit card business “Rakuten Card.” We have also successfully launched and grown our telecommunications business, “Rakuten Mobile,” establishing three key business pillars. Driven by these businesses, Rakuten Group has grown to achieve consolidated revenue of approximately JPY 2.3 trillion in fiscal year 2024.

Department Overview

The Ad & Media Company is positioned as Rakuten Group’s fourth key business pillar and is expected to play an important role in driving the Group’s future growth through the expansion and development of its advertising business.
 
Building on our established businesses - including the internet advertising business “Rakuten Marketing / LinkShare,” the marketing research business “Rakuten Insight,” and the marketing solutions business “Rakuten Data Marketing” - we aim to further leverage advertising opportunities across Rakuten Group’s more than 70 services.
 
Our vision is to create new business models by maximizing the value of Rakuten’s unique assets, including Rakuten members, Rakuten Points, strong brand recognition, and extensive member data, while generating synergies across the Rakuten Ecosystem. Through these strengths, we strive to become an unparalleled marketing partner that delivers unique value to our clients.

Position:

Why We Hire

Through the Rakuten Ecosystem, Rakuten Group has accumulated more than 100 million member IDs and a vast amount of purchasing data. Yet, we believe the full potential of these unparalleled assets has not yet been realized.
 
Our next challenge is to redefine and unlock the value of these powerful assets through advertising, transforming the business into Rakuten Group’s “fourth pillar” and a key driver of future growth. We are looking for leaders who can take the lead in this unprecedented challenge.
 
To achieve this ambition, we need the expertise, extensive industry experience, and strong professional networks of accomplished leaders. We are seeking individuals who are motivated by the opportunity to drive business growth at the forefront of management and make a significant contribution to Rakuten Group’s next stage of growth.

1. Drive Transformational Growth through Advertising × Rakuten’s Unique Assets × AI
You will have the opportunity to create unprecedented business models by leveraging a combination of assets that is truly unique in Japan: more than 100 million member IDs, extensive purchasing data, and advanced AI technologies. This is an opportunity to unlock new growth opportunities and drive transformational growth for Rakuten Group.
 
2. Elevate Your Career and Expand Your Professional Influence
For professionals with extensive industry expertise and strong networks, this role offers a unique opportunity to play a central role in building and driving Rakuten Group’s “fourth pillar,” working in close proximity to senior management.
 
With significant scale, impact, and opportunities to take on new challenges as the business evolves, this position provides a platform to further expand your professional influence and take your career to the next level.

Position Details

As the Head of Business Planning and Corporate Strategy for the advertising and marketing business at the core of the Ad & Media Company, you will work closely with the Business Head and functional leaders to formulate the overall business strategy and drive management initiatives across the organization.
 
The scope of this role extends far beyond traditional business management responsibilities such as budgeting and performance management.
 
You will take a holistic view of the market environment, competitive landscape, customer needs, competitiveness of our services and products, revenue structure, and organizational capabilities to define where the business should pursue future growth, where investments should be made, and what management and organizational structure should be established to achieve our ambitions.
 
Working closely with leaders across Sales, Product, Marketing, Operations, and other functions, you will translate strategy into concrete initiatives, KPIs, and organizational actions, and drive them through execution.
 
As a key strategic partner to the Business Head, you will not only address day-to-day management challenges but also lead the long-term transformation of the business and identify and develop new opportunities for growth.
 

・Develop mid- to long-term business strategies and annual business plans
・Identify key management and business challenges based on market trends, competitive dynamics, customer needs, product competitiveness, and revenue structure
・Design and optimize the overall business portfolio and service/product portfolio
・Develop growth and monetization strategies by customer segment, product, and channel
・Define key KPIs across revenue, profit, investment, and workforce, and design the optimal allocation of management resources
・Set key management agendas and drive effective decision-making processes
・Work closely with functional leaders to execute strategies, monitor progress, and resolve critical business issues
・Plan and lead transformation initiatives across business models, organizational structures, and operational processes
・Identify, evaluate, and pursue growth opportunities, including new businesses, new services, and strategic alliances
・Evaluate inorganic growth opportunities, including M&A
・Design and enhance key management forums and executive decision-making processes
・Provide business analysis, strategic recommendations, and decision-making support to the Business Head and senior management
・Lead critical cross-functional initiatives spanning Sales, Product, Marketing, and other organizations
・Develop the next generation of business leaders and strategy/planning talent
・Participate in business management and key strategic decisions as a member of the Ad & Media Company’s management team

Work Environment

As of September 2026
・Number of Employees: 690
・Average Age: Mid-30s
・Employee Composition: 30% new graduates / 70% mid-career hires

Many of our key stakeholders have professional experience at leading global companies, including:
Our organization brings together many professionals with diverse backgrounds and experience at leading global consulting and technology companies.

Mandatory Qualifications:

Candidates should possess one or more of the following experience and qualities:
 

・Professional experience in a position of significant responsibility within a business corporation, consulting firm, or the advertising/marketing industry
・Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify fundamental issues in complex situations and develop solutions from multiple perspectives
・Excellent communication and project management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders - including senior executives, business leaders, and frontline teams - and drive alignment and consensus
・Ability to clearly articulate and visualize abstract concepts and insights
 

・Strong interest in leveraging Rakuten Group’s diverse assets to create new value and develop new businesses

Desired Qualifications:

Candidates should possess one or more of the following experience and qualifications:
 
・Proven experience driving business growth as a business leader, product leader, or sales leader
・Experience leading strategy development for senior management and/or large-scale business transformation initiatives at a consulting firm or similar organization
・Experience leading businesses with revenues in the tens of billions of yen, from strategic planning through execution and performance evaluation
・Deep practical expertise in advertising, digital marketing, and/or marketing research
・Experience managing businesses with a strong focus on P&L performance, as well as developing mid- to long-term business plans and budgets
・Experience leveraging data analysis tools such as SQL and Excel to drive data-driven decision-making
・Experience negotiating and collaborating with international

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Futako Tamagawa Rise Office
2-21-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

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/

#business #strategyplanning #serviceplanner #adandmarketing