Description

Job Description:

Business Overview

Rakuten Group, Inc. is the largest e-Commerce company in Japan, and provides a variety of services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to many users all over the world.

Department Overview

The Rakuten Search team creates powerful, customer-focused search. Whenever a customer visits an Rakuten services and types in a query or browses through product categories, the Rakuten Search services go to work. We design, develop, and deploy high performance, fault-tolerant distributed search systems used by millions of Rakuten customers every day. Our Search product management team works with key business like Ichiba to commerce user facing user experience.

Position:

Position Details

We are seeking a Product Manager to spearhead the ongoing enhancement of our search user experience and functionality in Ichiba. This role involves developing and executing a product roadmap aimed at optimizing search functionalities, ensuring that our users can quickly find relevant products and information. Fluency in Japanese is essential, as a key aspect of this position is collaborating with Japanese-speaking stakeholders and understanding local market nuances.

Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Roadmap

- Define and maintain the product vision and strategy for search-related features.

- Develop and prioritize a product roadmap that aligns with the company's objectives and user needs.

- Conduct market and competitive analysis, especially focusing on the Japanese e-commerce landscape.

User Research & Insights

- Conduct user research (including Japanese-speaking user groups), analyze feedback, and translate insights into actionable product improvements.

- Work closely with the analytics team to measure search performance (e.g., conversion, click-through rates) and continuously optimize based on data-driven insights.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

- Serve as the primary liaison between cross-functional teams (engineering, design, marketing, customer support), ensuring smooth communication and alignment of goals.

- Engage with Japanese-speaking stakeholders to understand requirements and address concerns specific to the Japanese market.

- Present product updates, progress reports, and future plans to leadership and relevant stakeholders on a regular basis.

Project Management & Execution

- Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from conception to launch, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outputs.

- Define success metrics, monitor key performance indicators, and iterate product features based on performance data and user feedback.

Mandatory Qualifications:

Education & Experience

- Bachelor's degree Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.

- 3-5+ years of experience in product management, with a proven track record in search or recommendation systems for e-commerce or related industries.

Language Skills

- Fluency in Japanese (both written and spoken) is a must.

- Excellent command of English, enabling effective communication within a global team.

Technical & Domain Expertise

- Demonstrated experience working with search technologies, recommendation engines, or related analytics tools.

- Familiarity with product management best practices and agile methodologies.

- Strong understanding of user behavior and market trends, particularly in Japan.

Analytical & Communication Skills

- Data-driven mindset with the ability to interpret complex analytics and translate them into actionable product strategies.

- Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Soft Skills

- Highly collaborative approach, with the ability to build strong relationships across diverse teams.

- Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to tackling challenges.

- Passion for user-focused product development and continuous improvement.

#engineer #strategyplanning #productmanager #commerce