Global Project Manager (Overseas field survey operations) - Rakuten Insight, Inc.(A&M)

Job Description:

Business Overview
The Ad & Media Company offers a comprehensive suite of advertising and marketing services, encompassing digital advertising, research, and influencer Business.

Our distinctive strength lies in our ability to provide end-to-end marketing solutions, from upstream strategy formulation to downstream execution, including ad operations, performance measurement, and data analysis.

Our diverse marketing portfolio includes services such as "Rakuten Marketing / LinkShare" for holistic digital marketing solutions, "Rakuten Data Marketing" leveraging Rakuten's vast big data for marketing insights, and "Rakuten Insight" specializing in marketing research.

Joining our organization, which forms a core pillar of the Rakuten Group, offers an unparalleled environment for your personal growth and career advancement.

Department Overview
As global lifestyles and values diversify, companies face marketing research challenges that are more sophisticated and complex than ever before. Rakuten Insight rises to this challenge, tasked with pioneering new value across the entire marketing process for our clients. We achieve this by harnessing the unparalleled assets of the Rakuten Group and deploying state-of-the-art technology.

Our vision extends beyond domestic borders; we are aggressively expanding into the global market. In July 2025, we proudly launched our "Overseas Research Service for Japanese Companies" as a key strategic initiative. Through a strong partnership with Rakuten Insight Global, Inc.(a wholly-owned subsidiary), we are already delivering innovative overseas research solutions, powered by Rakuten's unique advantages.

We are now seeking a "Global Project Manager" to be at the forefront of this burgeoning overseas research venture. Your pivotal role will be to address the international market challenges faced by Japanese corporations, effectively driving business growth through robust operational support.

Working hand-in-hand with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders, you will ensure the successful execution of client overseas research projects. We are looking for a core team member who is ready to make a significant impact and contribute to the exponential growth of our business.

"We are looking for individuals who aspire to revolutionize the industry by leveraging Rakuten Group's extensive assets and cutting-edge technologies to drive and launch new businesses."

We are looking for highly ambitious individuals like you. Why not join us in shaping the future of marketing research?

Position:
Why We Hire
The imperative for Japanese companies to strengthen their presence in overseas markets for sustainable growth has never been greater, especially in our rapidly globalizing era. Post-COVID-19, there's been a dramatic surge in Japanese firms pursuing international expansion to secure foreign currency, consequently skyrocketing the demand for accurate marketing research to navigate these complex global landscapes.

Responding to this critical need, Rakuten Insight proudly launched its "Overseas Research Service for Japanese Companies" in July 2025. By maximizing Rakuten Group's formidable assets and extensive global network, we've already garnered significant interest and a strong pipeline of projects.

As this new venture experiences exponential growth and enters a crucial expansion phase, there's an urgent need to fortify our operational framework to guarantee the seamless and successful delivery of our clients' overseas research projects. We are actively seeking dedicated new team members who will not only bolster the operational core of our business but also drive its accelerated growth.

This is your chance to unleash your full potential at the vanguard of a burgeoning global business, collaborating to scale our operations and contribute to a truly impactful enterprise.

Appeal
1. A Thriving Startup Culture within the Rakuten Group
Launched in July 2025, we are one of the few "startup businesses" within the vast Rakuten Group. Precisely because we are in this nascent stage, every team member is empowered with significant autonomy and responsibility, allowing them to be deeply involved from strategic planning to execution. This environment offers a unique chance to shape the future of a rapidly growing business from the ground up.

2. Leveraging Rakuten's Extensive Assets and Cutting-Edge Technology
You will have the opportunity to develop new products and improve operations by leveraging Rakuten Group's (domestic/international) extensive assets and cutting-edge technologies like AI.

3. Asia's Largest Research Panel
Rakuten Insight Global boasts one of the largest research panels in the Asia region. This unparalleled panel foundation is precisely why we receive numerous requests for marketing research, primarily from Japanese companies focusing on the Asian market.

Position Details
We conduct overseas research for Japanese companies. We are seeking a dedicated operations member to manage clients' overseas research projects in close collaboration with our sales team, ensuring stable and high-quality delivery. Beyond conventional operations, we are committed to actively pursuing continuous efficiency and innovation across the entire team. This involves rigorously eliminating "unnecessary" and "inefficient" tasks from current business processes to achieve significant improvements.

Key Responsibilities
You will serve as a crucial intermediary, coordinating between our sales team, various internal departments (including local overseas branches), and external overseas partners to manage the entirety of internet research projects. Through your work, you will gain a profound sense of accomplishment and personal growth as you see the products and services you've researched launch into the market and expand globally.
Our diverse client portfolio includes leading companies across various industries such as manufacturers, advertising agencies, think tanks, consulting firms, research companies, and government agencies. We receive numerous inquiries from these industry leaders who seek us as trusted partners. You are expected to contribute significant value by providing directional guidance that precisely meets our clients' needs.

Specifically, your responsibilities will encompass the end-to-end handling of internet research projects, from questionnaire review and survey screen creation to distribution, data tabulation, and final delivery.

- Upon receiving a research request from the sales team, you will grasp the overall project scope.
- You will meticulously review the questionnaire, which contains survey items, and confirm its content with the client.
- Once the questionnaire is finalized, you will instruct the survey screen creation team (located in our India branch) to build the survey.
- After the survey screen is developed, you will check the survey specifications and content, request client confirmation, and manage any necessary revisions.
- In collaboration with our own team and local partner companies, you will distribute the survey to our panel members and collect responses.
- The data tabulation team (located in our India branch) will process the collected data. You will then verify the tabulated results and proceed with final delivery to the client.
- If a report is required, you will coordinate with researchers for its creation and subsequent delivery to the client.

In addition to these regular duties, each team member is expected to embrace a business improvement agenda, actively driving operational efficiencies through the utilization of AI and other innovative approaches.

Work Environment
- This position is integral to a dynamic 6-member team established in July 2025.
The team currently comprises 3 Sales Promotion members and 3 Operations members.
- For the latest and most detailed information regarding the department/group's current status and growth trajectory, we encourage you to inquire directly with our team members during your interview.
*Information current as of September 2025

Example Career Paths
- Year 3: Team Leader (Leading a team of 2-3 members).
- Year 5: Group Manager (Managing multiple teams, approximately 10 members).
- Other: Flexible options are available based on your career plan, such as transfers to departments more closely related to products or services, or reassignments through applying for open positions in other Rakuten businesses.
　
Mandatory Qualifications:
Required Skills & Experience
- Minimum of 3+ years of experience in coordinating and managing cases or projects, acting as a liaison between clients and internal team members.
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and logically in both written and verbal forms, and to effectively understand discussions and follow the flow of conversations.
- Practical business English proficiency, demonstrated through prior work experience.

Desired Candidate Profile
- Strong sense of ownership and high responsibility, approaching tasks with a proactive and committed mindset.
- Demonstrated ability to thoroughly commit and persevere to achieve set goals.
- High growth mindset, eager to actively learn new knowledge and acquire new skills.
- Adaptable and proactive, capable of responding flexibly to change and taking initiative.

Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working at a research firm or in a research-related role.
- Familiarity with or experience using specific tools utilized by our operations team, such as Confirmit, Decipher, and SPSS.
- Demonstrated experience or a strong interest in leveraging AI and other technologies for process automation and efficiency improvements.

Other Information:
Additional information on Location
Futako Tamagawa Rise Office
2-21-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Additional information on Secondment
Rakuten Insight, Inc.
　
Additional information on English Qualification
English Requirement: Yes
*TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
*Details will be provided if you proceed to 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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