Job Description:

Business Overview

The Rakuten Group, a global technology leader based in Japan, provides innovative solutions that enrich the lives of millions worldwide. Our AI & Data Supervisory Division is pioneering in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver exceptional experiences across our services.

Department Overview

Catalog Management Department envisions creating a standardized, semantically rich, and easily discoverable repository of Catalog Datasets, ranging from Product Catalogs to Brand and Corporate Catalogs, that can be seamlessly provide across Rakuten’s services. We view those data not just as information, but as a powerful, interconnected ecosystem that drives meaningful connections between products, services, and customer experiences as a data hub.

By leveraging these data, our goal is to empower a seamless, intuitive customer experience by enabling a deeper understanding of customer intent through enriched catalog data, enhancing shopping, marketing, and internal processes.

We are committed to providing high-quality, trustworthy catalog data that maximizes Rakuten's service experience. By leveraging Rakuten's cutting edge technologies and operations, we build strategic, feature-rich data and data  solutions that support business objectives. Our work contributes to Rakuten’s vision of 'Empowering people and society through innovation', and we are looking for top talents to help shape the future of catalog data management and customer experiences.
 

Position:

Why We Hire

Catalog Management Department has been playing a pivotal role in Rakuten, serving as the data expert behind critical business decisions and solutions. As we continue to expand, both in terms of data generation and data enrichment solutions, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number of clients we serve. To support this growth, we are seeking talented engineers who are excited to contribute to our mission and vision for the future.

As Rakuten scales its business, we need individuals with a challenging spirit - those who are eager to drive our data product management and tackle innovative projects in a fast-paced environment.

Based on demands and potential of Catalog Knowledge data, we are requesting for persons who can plan for the overall strategy including the optimization of operation, system, utilization etc. of the product.

Position Details

As a Data Product Manager of one of our Catalog Knowledge data, the main responsibility of this position is to lead product management of our catalog data asset as data products, to making proposal for data solution/system, and creating overall product strategy with collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensure that our Catalog Knowledge enhance Rakuten’s service experiences for our customers. You will be instrumental in addressing complex challenges, driving continuous improvements, and shaping the long-term success of our product.

This role is ideal for an individual with a strong product management and technological background, coupled with a passion for solving complex data challenges. As a Data Product Manager, you will drive the vision and strategy for managing and enriching Rakuten’s Catalog Knowledge data. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering and regional stakeholders, to ensure that the catalog data is of the highest quality, aligns with business goals, and supports the company’s growth.

Key Responsibilities

- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including engineering teams, to define and drive the product vision, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals and business objectives.

- Work closely with teams across Japan, China, and India to coordinate efforts, define joint goals, and develop execution plans for catalog data management and utilization.

- Proactively identify and solve business issues related to data, ensuring that catalog data is continuously improved and aligned with strategic objectives.

- Establish and enforce best practices and standards for catalog data generation processes, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and comprehensive coverage.

- Develop and manage key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking performance and visualizing results to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.

- Oversee human resources and offshore teams, ensuring effective management and alignment with product goals.

- Lead and manage projects focused on improving data quality and expanding catalog data utilization, driving outcomes that directly contribute to business goals.

- Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with both technical and non-technical teams, ensuring smooth execution of catalog data-related projects and product improvements.

Mandatory Qualifications:

- 5+ years of experience in product/program management, product strategy, business development, or related technology roles.

- Proven experience in strategy planning, requirement definition, and owning product roadmaps aligned with business objectives.

- Proven experience and skills in data retrieval and data research techniques to enhance data enrichment.

- Track record of successful end-to-end product delivery, including seamless feature execution and integration.

- Ability to understand complex systems/processes and communicate them clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

- Strong project management and key performance indicators (KPIs) tracking skills across business, customer, and operational metrics.

- Demonstrated leadership in mentoring teams, facilitating decision-making, and promoting cross-functional collaboration.

- Strategic thinking with the ability to align product execution with organizational and client goals.

- Skilled in balancing feature delivery with trade-offs in scope, schedule, and resources.

- Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.

- Excellent communication skills in both Japanese and English for cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.

Desired Qualifications:

- Strong understanding of data management, including data modeling, analysis, and data quality.

- Experience with Information Architect, or Knowledge Engineer working with ontologies and taxonomies.

- Experience with data analysis or data design in e-commerce, internet services, or advertising domains.

- Ability to translate business needs into actionable data strategies and requirements.

- Experience implementing AI/ML/LLM solutions to improve operations or product capabilities.

- Proficient in analytical tools and languages such as SQL, Python, or R.

- Ability to lead development with a business-first mindset, balancing technical execution with strategic impact.

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