Job Description:
Business Overview
Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services in a wide range of fields, including e-commerce, travel, digital content, and other Internet services in Japan and overseas, as well as financial services such as credit cards, banking, securities, electronic money, and smartphone app payments, mobile services such as mobile carrier services, and professional sports. By organically linking these services through a membership system centered on Rakuten members, Rakuten has created a unique “Rakuten ecosystem” that is unlike any other.
*Our Businesses Key Figures
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/services/
Department Overview
Procurement Operations Supervisory Department was established in January 2024 with the aim of promoting the standardization of procurement processes across the Rakuten Group and, through that standardization, achieving smoother business processes and stronger governance.
The Department is responsible for rolling out policies and frameworks across all domestic and overseas group companies, as well as driving continuous improvement initiatives related to procurement operations. In a group like Rakuten that operates multiple businesses, it is an organization that delivers cross-functional value from a position close to top management.
This opening is for the Operations Planning Section, one of the four sections within the Procurement Operations Supervisory Department.
The Operations Planning Section is a dynamic, cross-functional team that plays a central role in “designing” standardization for procurement operations across the Rakuten Group, “embedding” it with stakeholders, and “establishing and driving” it as part of ongoing operations.
Position:
Why We Hire
The Operations Planning Section aims to build an operating foundation that functions stably across the entire group by taking end-to-end ownership of the design, rollout, and operational execution of procurement operations standardization.
Because each business and each company has different circumstances, achieving both procurement process standardization and stronger governance requires more than simply rolling out rules-it demands strong drive to move operations forward while staying close to stakeholders. To date, the Operations Planning Section has supported operational adoption by maintaining close communication with frontline teams and moving initiatives forward with a strong sense of speed.
Looking ahead, with an expansion of scope and stakeholders in mind, we aim to strengthen our talent pipeline by hiring individuals who can drive planning and execution now and grow into future team leaders.
In this role, you will work with a variety of business units and group companies, balancing different needs and perspectives to successfully implement new policies and processes. We are looking for people who enjoy bringing stakeholders together, driving change, and making a lasting impact across the organization.
We are in the launch-to-expansion phase of standardizing and consolidating procurement processes across the entire group. While a certain set of rules and mechanisms is already being put in place, the real work is just beginning in terms of expanding the scope (target areas and companies) and further enhancing operational maturity. Rather than simply “running what has already been decided,” a key feature of this position is the opportunity to proactively engage in growing the framework and shaping what comes next.
You will not only execute predetermined initiatives, but also take end-to-end ownership-from identifying issues and designing solutions, to coordinating with stakeholders and driving operational adoption. While roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, individuals are given substantial autonomy, providing an environment where you can turn ideas (“this would be better”) into reality by involving relevant stakeholders. There are also opportunities to prepare approval materials for senior management…