Publisher Acquisition Specialist

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Publisher Acquisition Specialist

🔹 Company: Rakuten Advertising

🔹 Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Advertising

🔹 Date Posted: May 1, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Identifying and recruiting relevant publishers for the Rakuten Affiliate Network
• Developing strategies to grow publishers with diverse business models
• Representing Rakuten Advertising in the market to educate and recruit publishers
• Providing account onboarding and activation support to a set portfolio of publishers
• Working towards a revenue target to meet Rakuten Advertising's goals

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proactive approach to finding and engaging with potential publishers, as well as strong communication skills to educate and motivate them to join the Rakuten Affiliate Network.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Identify and proactively meet and recruit relevant publishers based on market, vertical, or client needs

✅ Conduct online research and networking to find, develop, and manage own publisher acquisition pipeline

✅ Design suitable strategies to develop the use of affiliate marketing activities to empower the growth of publishers with diverse business models

✅ Represent Rakuten Advertising in the market to educate key publishers on the use of affiliate marketing with the aim of recruiting them to the network

✅ Increase the awareness of the Rakuten brand by always positively representing the company in every call

✅ Educate and motivate new organic signed-up publishers to become active by sending weekly emails and taking punctual actions

✅ Provide welcome materials (guides, tutorials) and support account onboarding and activation for a set portfolio of publishers

✅ Attend industry events to network and stay updated on industry trends

✅ Run reports and provide bespoke analysis to ensure visibility on campaign performance

✅ Act as 'inside sales' for partners to help advocate and educate Rakuten Advertising commercial teams (Sales and Client Services) across all global networks

✅ Work towards a quota and potential revenue target to meet revenue goals for the set portfolio

✅ Learn high-level capabilities of proprietary software and educate publishers to increase adoption

✅ Support the APAC team in internal and external communications regarding cross-functional initiatives and network updates

✅ Remain ahead of industry trends and developments by reading industry news and networking to act as an expert in discussions with publishers

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong focus on execution, achievement of personal targets, and the ability to work autonomously while being coached by senior team members.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 1-2 years of experience in digital marketing, affiliate publisher landscape, or affiliate marketing (or similar business development role)

Required Skills:

• Solid proficiency with Excel for client-ready reports and presentations
• Ability and willingness to learn publisher integration tools and products
• Good working knowledge of Outlook, Microsoft PPT, and Excel (data pivoting)
• Salesforce experience to record and track or CRM (ideal)

Preferred Skills:

• Excellent English communication skills
• Hands-on approach with a can-do attitude; problem-solving; resourceful; ensures constructive accountability for actions; decisive; adaptable

ASSUMPTION: Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are crucial for success in this role, as the candidate will be required to engage with various stakeholders, including publishers, clients, and internal teams.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: AUD 60,000 - 80,000 per annum (Estimated based on industry standards for entry-level roles in digital marketing in Sydney)

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for entry-level digital marketing roles in Sydney. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, and performance.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Rakuten Advertising operates in the advertising industry, focusing on performance-driven marketing solutions for top brands worldwide.

Company Size: Rakuten Advertising is a mid-sized company with 501-1,000 employees globally, offering a collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Founded: Rakuten Advertising was founded in 1996 as part of Rakuten Inc., a leading global internet service company.

Company Description:

• Rakuten Advertising leads the industry in delivering performance-driven marketing solutions that help the world’s top brands connect with unique, highly engaged audiences – from awareness to activation.
• The company works across affiliate, display, search, programmatic, and media, leveraging a global partner network and owned-and-operated properties to reach people like no one else.
• Rakuten Advertising is backed by industry-leading technology, global media properties, and decades of data and experience to develop the strategies and ad experiences that will drive engagement, sales, loyalty, and beyond.

Company Specialties:

• Affiliate marketing
• Media
• Paid search
• Social media
• Programmatic display

Company Website: www.rakutenadvertising.com

ASSUMPTION: Rakuten Advertising's global presence and diverse service offerings provide ample opportunities for career growth and development within the company.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is an entry-level position, ideal for candidates with 1-2 years of experience in digital marketing or a related field.

Reporting Structure: The Publisher Acquisition Specialist will report directly to the Regional Publisher Team Leader and work collaboratively with the wider Publisher team and Client Services organization.

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site position, with the primary workplace located at the RSA Sydney Office.

Growth Opportunities:

• Proven success in this role may lead to opportunities for advancement within the Publisher team or other departments within Rakuten Advertising.
• The company encourages internal mobility and offers various training and development programs to support employee growth.
• Working closely with cross-functional teams may provide opportunities to gain exposure to different aspects of the business and expand skillsets.

ASSUMPTION: Success in this role will be measured by the number of new publisher partnerships secured, the growth of existing partnerships, and the achievement of revenue targets.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: The RSA Sydney Office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and productivity.

Office Location(s): 818 Stewart St, Seattle, Washington, US

Geographic Context:

• The Sydney office is located in the heart of the city, offering easy access to public transportation, shopping, and dining options.
• Sydney is a vibrant, multicultural city with a high quality of life, known for its beautiful harbor, iconic landmarks, and stunning beaches.
• The city boasts a thriving tech industry, with numerous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM) with occasional flexibility for industry events and client meetings.

ASSUMPTION: The Sydney office provides a dynamic and engaging work environment, with ample opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
• In-person or virtual interview with the Regional Publisher Team Leader and a member of the HR team
• Final interview with the Global Publisher Team Lead
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Communication skills and telephone manner
• Problem-solving capabilities
• Understanding of the affiliate marketing landscape
• Cultural fit with Rakuten Advertising's values and work environment

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Demonstrate your understanding of the affiliate marketing industry and Rakuten Advertising's offerings
• Prepare examples of your problem-solving skills and how you have successfully recruited and managed publisher relationships in the past

ATS Keywords: Affiliate marketing, publisher acquisition, digital marketing, client services, communication skills, problem-solving, Rakuten Advertising

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's communication skills, industry knowledge, and cultural fit with Rakuten Advertising's values and work environment.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Salesforce
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Publisher integration tools and products (to be learned)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite is preferred, as these tools are essential for success in this role. A willingness to learn and adapt to new tools and technologies is also crucial.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Always improve, always advance
• Passionately professional
• Hypothesize - practice - validate – shikumika
• Maximize customer satisfaction
• Speed!! Speed!! Speed!!

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Proactive and autonomous
• Results-driven and accountable
• Adaptable and open to feedback

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have strong communication skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with publishers?
• Are you proactive, autonomous, and results-driven, with a can-do attitude?
• Do you thrive in a dynamic, collaborative work environment and embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth?

ASSUMPTION: Rakuten Advertising values candidates who embody their five principles for success and are a strong cultural fit with the company's values and work environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a high volume of publisher outreach and onboarding
• Meeting revenue targets and KPIs in a competitive market
• Adapting to changes in the affiliate marketing landscape and industry trends
• Balancing the demands of client services and publisher acquisition and management

ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires strong time management skills, the ability to prioritize tasks, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other affiliate marketing roles, this position has a stronger focus on publisher acquisition and onboarding, with less emphasis on day-to-day account management
• Industry-specific context: The affiliate marketing industry is highly competitive, with a constant need for innovation and adaptation to new trends and technologies
• Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for career growth within the Publisher team or other departments within Rakuten Advertising, with potential paths to management or specialist roles

ASSUMPTION: This role is well-suited to candidates seeking to gain experience in publisher acquisition and account management, with a long-term goal of advancing to a more senior role within the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a targeted outreach campaign to recruit publishers in a specific vertical or geographic region
• Creating and delivering welcome materials and onboarding guides for new publishers
• Analyzing campaign performance data to identify trends and opportunities for optimization

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are designed to provide candidates with a clear understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities and key deliverables of the Publisher Acquisition Specialist role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does this role fit into the broader organizational structure, and what opportunities are there for growth and development?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare to succeed in them?
• How does Rakuten Advertising support the professional growth and development of its employees?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will my success be measured?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to success.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare examples of your problem-solving skills and how you have successfully recruited and managed publisher relationships in the past
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.