Sr. Product Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Job Description:

Location: This role is also eligible for hire in our NYC or San Francisco offices.

Rakuten International oversees 7 businesses with over 4,000 employees globally. The brand is recognized for its leadership and innovation in e-commerce, digital content, advertising, entertainment and communications, bringing the joy of discovery and access to more than 1 billion members across the world. Our teams deliver on the company's mission to delight merchants and customers through innovation, optimism, and teamwork.

Rakuten Rewards is a leading e-commerce company that enhances the way people shop by offering Cash Back, deals and rewards from more than 3,500 merchants. Founded in 1999, Rakuten has grown to become the go-to shopping destination for consumers, having paid out nearly $2 billion in Cash Back to its 15 million members. The company also operates ShopStyle, a leading fashion discovery destination, and Cartera Commerce, a top rewards platform for airlines and banks. For more information, visit www.rakuten.com.

• Strategic Product Leadership: Define and execute product strategies and roadmaps, with a focus on strategic partnerships and alignment with overall company objectives. Partner with Business Development, Engineering, and Design teams to identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead and support cross-functional teams throughout the product development lifecycle. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., Legal, Finance, Marketing, Data) and external partners to ensure seamless execution and collaboration.
• Requirements Definition & Product Development: Gather and translate business needs into actionable product plans and detailed requirements. Drive the development of complex features that enhance product capabilities and user experiences across web and mobile platforms.
• Integration & Optimization: Oversee technical integrations (e.g., APIs, SDKs, data sharing) and continuously optimize user journeys for reliability, value delivery, and usability.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Identify, define, and track key performance metrics (e.g., acquisition, engagement, revenue, integration health). Leverage quantitative and qualitative insights to assess product success and inform continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Clearly communicate initiative progress, product value, and outcomes to internal stakeholders (including executive leadership) and external partners to maintain alignment and transparency.
• Process & Operational Efficiency: Implement processes that improve product development cycles, system design, and delivery timelines. Forecast resources and manage dependencies to ensure on-time execution.
• Team Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Coach and support junior team members to encourage professional growth, knowledge transfer, and strong team performance.

• Experience delivering high-impact products driven by strategic partnerships or platform ecosystems.
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, integration strategies, and co-development models.
• Ability to translate complex technical and business needs into actionable product plans.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including experience working with executive leadership.
• Strong analytical capabilities with a data-driven decision-making mindset.
• Track record of launching successful consumer-facing products at scale.
• Prior experience in e-commerce, retail, or consumer technology is a plus.
• Passion for creating innovative, user-centric solutions that deliver measurable business results.

• 5-7 years Required
• 8-11 years Preferred
• BA or BS in a technology or business-related field, required.
• Master's Degree Preferred or 3+ years of experience in Product Management.
• Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner (ACPMPO) certification - Preferred
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) - Preferred