Head of Sales New Business Area - Brand Solutions Section 1, Data Solutions Department, Rakuten Insight, Inc. (Secondment) (A&M)

Job Description:

Department Overview

The Ad & Media Company provides advertising and marketing services spanning digital advertising, research, and influencer-related businesses. 

A key strength is the ability to offer end-to-end solutions covering every aspect of marketing - from upstream strategic planning to downstream execution, including ad operations, performance measurement, and data analysis. 

This segment encompasses a wide range of marketing-related businesses, such as "Rakuten Marketing/LinkShare" (providing comprehensive digital marketing solutions), "Rakuten Data Marketing" (offering solutions that leverage Rakuten's proprietary big data), and "Rakuten Insight" (providing marketing research services). 

It offers an environment where you can work within a core division of the Rakuten Group while fostering your own professional growth and career advancement. 

Position:
Why We Hire

Leveraging the strengths cultivated through its marketing research business, Rakuten Insight is expanding into new services that go beyond traditional commissioned research. 

A key area of ​​focus right now is a new service designed to support corporate marketing and public relations activities. 

Upon joining the company, your primary responsibility will be driving the market rollout of this new service: the "Rakuten Insight Customer Satisfaction Ranking." 

This service visualizes customer satisfaction levels for products and services based on consumer surveys, thereby supporting companies in their marketing and public relations efforts. 

To bring this service to a wider range of companies and unlock new growth opportunities for Rakuten Insight, we need sales professionals capable of engaging directly with clients and leading the market expansion. 

As the sales lead for this new business area, you will drive the service's growth by acquiring new clients, developing proposals, formulating sales strategies, and collaborating with relevant internal departments. 

1. Lead the market expansion of a new service from a sales perspective 

Rather than simply selling established products through predefined approaches, you will play a key role in bringing a new service to clients and expanding its presence in the market. 

2. Contribute to both sales performance and service growth 

You will be in a position to capture client feedback firsthand and use those insights to improve sales proposals and activities.

While delivering strong sales results, you will also have the opportunity to contribute directly to the growth of the service. 

3. Leverage your experience in marketing and public relations solutions 

Drawing on Rakuten Insight’s expertise in research and marketing support, you will develop proposals that help companies strengthen their marketing and public relations activities. 

4. Work with major corporations and partner companies 

You will engage in consultative sales involving multiple stakeholders across functions such as marketing, public relations, brand management, and business divisions. 

5. Expand your career opportunities over time 

In addition to driving the growth of the service you initially oversee, you may have opportunities to engage in sales activities for related services as the business evolves.

This role offers the opportunity to build on your sales experience while developing a career focused on growing new services. 

Position Details 

As the Sales Lead for our new business domain, you will initially be responsible for driving the market expansion of the service described above. 

Through new client acquisition, sales proposals, sales strategy development, and collaboration with internal stakeholders, you will drive the growth of the service from a sales perspective. 

・Develop and execute sales strategies for the assigned service and drive its market expansion 

・Conduct consultative and new business sales, primarily targeting major corporations and partner companies 

・Develop outreach strategies and approaches for new client acquisition 

・Design and refine proposal narratives, sales materials, and solutions based on client needs and challenges 

・Generate sales opportunities, develop proposals, close deals, and manage the sales pipeline 

・Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including researchers, Legal, Intellectual Property, Public Relations, and Sales teams 

・Provide feedback to improve sales proposals and the service itself based on insights gained from clients 

Work Environment 

・Number of people: One Senior Manager, two Managers, and four team members. 

・Age range: 30s - 40s 

・New graduate / Mid-career hire ratio: 20% / 80% 

Approximately 20 - 30 hours per month on average. 

Our mid-career hires come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including research specialists, sales, and corporate functions. 

Team members with diverse areas of expertise work together to drive a single product toward success. 

・Joined in a sales role and later moved into product development 

・Transitioned from a research specialist role to a corporate function in data privacy, among other examples 

Mandatory Qualifications: 

・5+ years of B2B corporate sales experience 

・Experience developing and executing sales strategies for new client acquisition or newly launched products/services 

・Experience identifying client needs and independently developing compelling proposals and sales narratives 

・Experience selling intangible products or services while understanding and navigating client decision-making processes 

・Experience driving sales activities or projects by engaging and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders 

Desired Qualifications: 

・Experience in BtoB consultative sales in areas such as advertising, PR, marketing research, SaaS/data-related services, consulting, or media 

・Experience selling intangible products/services, advertising solutions, research solutions, or marketing support services 

・Experience in consultative sales to major corporations involving multiple departments and decision-makers 

・Experience in sales planning, sales strategy for new services, go-to-market strategy, or proposal development 

・Knowledge of or interest in research data, consumer insights, PR, branding, and marketing communications 

・Experience using AI and other tools to create sales materials, organize information, enhance proposal quality, and improve operational efficiency 

Other Information: 

Additional information on Location

Futako Tamagawa Rise Office

Futako Tamagawa Rise 13F, 2-21-1 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/

・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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