Facilities & Real Estate Business Manager

Job Description:

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

Job Summary:

The Real Estate & Facilities Business Manager serves as the strategic operational lead for the Global Real Estate & Facilities department. This role acts as a primary business partner to the Head of Real Estate, driving departmental efficiency, executive reporting, and cross-functional alignment. You will bridge the gap between regional facilities teams, Finance, HR, Business Operations, Sustainability and internal business units to ensure the real estate portfolio supports the company's broader business strategy. You are the "operational engine" of the department, ensuring that data-driven insights are translated into action.

Key Responsibilities:

• Executive Reporting: Lead the preparation of Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews (MBR/QBR) and strategic presentations for executive leadership; translate complex portfolio data into compelling, high-level narratives.
• Strategic Business Partnership: Act as the primary liaison between the Real Estate department and internal stakeholders (Finance, HR, Business Operations, Sustainability, internal business units, etc.), ensuring workspace strategies align with evolving organizational needs.
• Portfolio & Lease Governance: Oversee the integrity of critical lease information and portfolio data, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and readiness for audits and strategic decision-making.
• Operational Workflow: Manage the operational cadence of the department; coordinate with regional facilities managers to ensure consistent global standards and reporting alignment.
• Performance Analytics: Monitor and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to facility performance, space utilization, and portfolio costs to inform long-term real estate strategy.
• Strategic Projects: Assist the Head of Real Estate in managing cross-departmental initiatives, including hybrid work policy implementation, office transformations, and sustainability/ESG reporting.
• AI Integration & Innovation: Leverage Artificial Intelligence tools to streamline departmental workflows, automate reporting, enhance data analysis, and drive innovative workplace solutions.
• Team Engagement & Communications: Coordinate and lead the monthly Global Real Estate & Facilities Team All-Hands; curate the agenda and develop presentation materials to ensure global team alignment and transparency.

• Communication: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex data into executive-level presentations.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of real estate financial metrics, lease administration, and budget management.
• Influencing Skills: Proven track record of managing cross-functional relationships and influencing stakeholders across various seniority levels.
• Data Literacy: Proficiency in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, or similar); high attention to detail regarding lease and portfolio data.
• AI Integration & Innovation: Leverage Artificial Intelligence tools to streamline departmental workflows, automate reporting, enhance data analysis, and drive innovative workplace solutions.
• Soft Skills: Ability to operate as a "right-hand" partner to leadership, maintaining confidentiality and high professional standards.
• Real Estate & Facilities Management (IWMS/CAFM)
• Data Visualization & Analytics like Tableau for tracking KPIs, mastery of Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, complex modeling), a plus.
• Executive Presentation: Expert-level skills in PowerPoint, Canva, and Adobe Creative Cloud (specifically for creating high-impact visual narratives).
• AI & Automation Tools: Experience with generative AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot) to automate report generation, summarize meeting notes, and streamline data synthesis.
• Enterprise Collaboration: Proficiency in Slack & Teams (for real-time stakeholder communication), Jira/Confluence (for project tracking and documentation), and Workday (for departmental budget/headcount reporting).
• Cloud Infrastructure: Familiarity with Box Drive/Docs/Forms for collaborative document management and cross-departmental information gathering.

• 7+ years in Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Operations, or Business Operations/Strategy.