New Business Development Specialist - Ad Solutions Department , Ad & Media Company (A&M), LINKSHARE JAPAN K.K. (Secondment)

Job Description:

Business Overview

Ad & Media Company provides a comprehensive suite of advertising and marketing services, including digital advertising, research, and influencer business.
Our greatest strength lies in our ability to offer end-to-endsolutions-from upstream strategic planning to downstream execution, such as ad operations, performance measurement, and data analysis.

Our marketing-related operations encompass a wide range of services, including "Rakuten Marketing / LinkShare," which provides full-funnel digital marketing solutions; "Rakuten Data Marketing," which leverages Rakuten’s vast proprietary big data; and "Rakuten Insight," which offers specialized marketing research services.
By joining a core organization within the Rakuten Group, you will be empowered to drive your professional growth and elevate your career to the next level.

Department Overview

This position is part of the Rakuten Marketing Japan / LinkShare Japan, a specialized marketing arm within the Ad & Media Company. Under our motto, "Performance-Based Marketing For All Channels," we tackle the diverse and evolving business challenges of our clients by providing multi-faceted, high-impact solutions.

Rooted in our history as a pioneer in affiliate marketing, we have evolved into a leader in the Performance Marketing space. We drive innovation through strategic alliances with global AI technology firms and by leveraging Rakuten’s unique marketing assets, including our proprietary big data and diverse media ecosystem. We work directly with top-tier advertisers-including the Rakuten Group itself, as well as leading e-commerce and fintech enterprises-to drive marketing ROI and accelerate business growth through data-driven performance advertising.

Our primary service offerings include: Affiliate Marketing (in-house ASP), Influencer Marketing (in-house services), Search Engine Marketing (Google,Yahoo!, Microsoft), Display/Video Advertising (Meta, LINE, X, TTD, TVer,etc.), and our integrated SEO/AIO search optimization analysis tool.

This position is within a team dedicated to building the "next pillar" of the Rakuten Marketing Japan Department and LinkShare Japan business. We are looking for individuals who can think beyond existing services and frameworks to build new businesses from 0 to 1 and drive them to profitability.
Your proposals will directly shape product specifications, and your sales efforts will directly translate into revenue. Would you like to launch an intensive career where you can experience the "pains of creation" and the "joys of growth" closer than anyone else?

Position:

Why We Hire

In response to the rapidly evolving business landscape, we are
taking on the challenge of building new value-creation frameworks. Because we
are in a phase where the "right answer" has yet to be defined, we
need teammates who do not wait for instructions but instead think, act, and
shape the future on their own initiative.

We are looking for members who are ready to embrace this transformation and
build the future of our business together.

・Experience the reality of "0 to 1": You will gain
comprehensive, end-to-end experience-from the initial planning stages and
product development to securing your first revenue.
・High level of autonomy: As part of a lean, agile team, your individual
proposals will directly influence product specifications and sales strategies.
・Stable foundation with startup speed: You will have the unique
opportunity to take on challenges with the speed of a startup while
leveraging the robust client network and credibility of LinkShare Japan.

Position Details

・Market & Competitor Research: Estimating market size in new domains, conducting competitor analysis, and monitoring industry trends.
・MVP (Prototype) Validation: Designing validation frameworks for minimum viable products and executing test marketing to verify service viability in real-world scenarios.
・Execution of business operations: All practical tasks necessary for commercialization, such as creating sales lists, approaching initial customers, and building operations, in connection with the launch of new businesses/services/products or the expansion of existing businesses/services/products.
・Data Analysis: Quantifying validation results and generating reports to derive data-driven insights for the next steps.
・Presentation & Documentation: Creating high-impact materials for stakeholders and senior management to articulate strategies and progress.

Work Environment

The New Business Development Office currently consists of only one office manager. As we look to accelerate our commitment to new business development, we are seeking core members to join us and play a pivotal role in this growth.
 

Transitioned to a management role after gaining extensive experience in launching multiple new businesses and managing various products.

Mandatory Qualifications:

・Experience: At least 1 year of experience in new business development or BizDev roles within a startup or a new business unit.
・Drive & Initiative: A self-starter mindset with the ability to formulate hypotheses, take action in ambiguous situations where there is no "right answer," and persevere until results are achieved.
・Communication Skills: Strong ability to deeply understand customer pain points and articulate effective solutions through clear communication and proposals.
・Technical Skills: Proficiency in basic PC software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.).

Desired Qualifications:

・Experience in B2B SaaS or Web Service Development: Proven track record in launching or scaling B2B SaaS or web-based services.
・Domain Expertise: In-depth knowledge of affiliate marketing, ad operations, or marketing technology (MarTech).
・Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work seamlessly with engineers and designers to drive product improvements and iteration.

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

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

Additional information on Secondment

・Employment status: Regular employee of Rakuten Group, Inc.
・The Rakuten Marketing Japan Department also operates under the legal entity "LinkShare Japan K.K.," a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., providing comprehensive digital marketing solutions.
・For the purpose of this position, you will be assigned to work at LinkShare Japan K.K. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc.) after joining the company.
・As your primary employer remains Rakuten Group, Inc., your salary structure, benefits, and performance evaluation system will be identical to those of Rakuten Group, Inc.

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/
・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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