📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Publisher Partnerships Specialist (Shanghai Based)
🔹 Company: Rakuten
🔹 Location: Shanghai, China
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Advertising & Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 4, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Entry-level (0-2 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing a portfolio of high-performance potential supply/publisher partners to drive new active partnerships
- Providing marketing support and guidance to partners to achieve a good ROI growth
- Establishing and maintaining regular communication with key contacts through various channels
- Serving as the point of escalation for resolving publisher issues
- Supporting the Client Services group in developing, maintaining, and extending relationships
- Upselling Rakuten Advertising's products to increase adoption and market share
- Using market-specific knowledge to spot and scope scalable solutions to improve publisher support
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of digital marketing, publisher, or affiliate marketing to effectively manage partnerships and drive growth.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Oversee the growth and development of a larger group portfolio to drive new active partnerships
✅ Offer marketing support and guidance to partners to support a good ROI growth
✅ Establish and maintain regular and appropriate communication with key contacts through various channels
✅ Serve as the point of escalation for resolving publisher issues, supported by the wider back office function (Publisher Support)
✅ Support the Client Services group in developing, maintaining, and extending relationships internally and externally
✅ Have a good understanding of Rakuten Advertising's products to upsell and increase adoption
✅ Use market-specific knowledge, signals, and insights to spot and scope scalable solutions to improve the support of publishers in the market
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills to effectively manage partnerships and drive growth.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Experience: Minimum 1-year experience in digital marketing, publisher, or affiliate marketing
Required Skills:
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Chinese
- Publisher or SSP background (advantageous)
- Knowledge of publisher business models to standardize approaches to opportunity sizing
- Advanced proficiency with Excel (e.g., data pivoting) for client-ready reports and presentations
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint
- Ability and willingness to learn publisher integration tools and products
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in a similar role or relevant industry
- Familiarity with the Rakuten ecosystem (data and audience co-op)
ASSUMPTION: Bilingual proficiency in English and Chinese is crucial for liaising with Chinese publishers and international merchants.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Industry standard for entry-level digital marketing roles in Shanghai, China: CNY 250,000 - 350,000 per year (source: Glassdoor)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Dynamic and international work environment
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week), with flexible working hours and remote work options available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for entry-level digital marketing roles in Shanghai, China. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Rakuten is a global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses, and society. It operates in various sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications.
Company Size: Rakuten has over 10,000 employees worldwide, providing a large and diverse work environment.
Founded: 1997, in Tokyo, Japan
Company Description:
- Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses, and society
- Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications
- Rakuten has operations in 30 countries and regions, with more than 30,000 employees worldwide
Company Specialties:
- E-commerce (Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Books)
- Card & Payments
- Life & Leisure support services
- Communications & Energy & Mobile
- Investment
- Sports
- Digital Contents
- Open EC
- AD
- Affiliate
- Securities
- Bank
- Insurance
- Travel
- Mobile
- Mobile Network Operator
- Telecommunications
- and Artificial Intelligence
Company Website: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's diverse range of services and global presence offer applicants various opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Entry-level to mid-level, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Regional Publisher Development Manager and works closely with the Client Services group
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site position with flexible working hours and remote work options available
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to senior roles within the Publisher Development function
- Expansion into other areas of Rakuten Advertising, such as Client Services or Demand Teams
- International relocation opportunities within the Rakuten Group
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a clear path for career progression within Rakuten Advertising and the broader Rakuten Group.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, international office environment with a dynamic and multicultural team
Office Location(s): Shanghai Global Harbor, Shanghai, China
Geographic Context:
- Shanghai is a major commercial and financial hub in China, offering a vibrant and dynamic work environment
- The office is located in the Shanghai Global Harbor, providing easy access to public transportation and amenities
- Shanghai offers a mix of traditional Chinese culture and modern, cosmopolitan living
Work Schedule: Standard office hours with flexible working hours and remote work options available
ASSUMPTION: Shanghai's dynamic business environment and multicultural atmosphere provide an ideal setting for this role.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
- Final decision and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Language proficiency in English and Chinese
- Digital marketing and publisher knowledge
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience and skills in digital marketing, publisher, or affiliate marketing
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit for the role and company
- Prepare examples of your ability to manage partnerships, drive growth, and resolve issues
- Research Rakuten's business and the role's responsibilities to ask informed questions during the interview
ATS Keywords: Digital Marketing, Publisher Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Client Services, Partnership Development, Market Knowledge, Data Analysis, Excel Proficiency, PowerPoint Proficiency, Publisher Integration Tools, Bilingual Communication, Strategic Planning
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills and cultural fit for the role and company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint)
- Publisher integration tools and products (to be learned)
- Project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Slack)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite is required, while proficiency in publisher integration tools and products will be developed through training and on-the-job learning.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Empowerment
- Optimism
- Gratitude
- Accountability
- Continuous Learning
Work Style:
- Dynamic and international team environment
- Collaborative and cross-functional collaboration
- Focus on continuous learning and improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Rakuten's core values in your work?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with partners?
- How do you stay updated with industry trends and adapt to changing market conditions?
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's company values and work style emphasize a dynamic, collaborative, and continuously learning environment, which is crucial for success in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a diverse portfolio of publisher partners with varying needs and expectations
- Balancing the demands of multiple stakeholders, including publishers, merchants, and internal teams
- Adapting to the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the digital marketing industry
- Working in a bilingual environment, requiring strong communication skills in English and Chinese
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to the role and can be effectively managed with strong communication, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other publisher development roles, this position focuses more on strategic planning and partnership development, rather than day-to-day account management
- Rakuten's global presence and diverse service offerings provide unique opportunities for growth and development not found in smaller or more specialized companies
- This role offers a clear path for career progression within Rakuten Advertising and the broader Rakuten Group
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to similar roles in the industry, with a focus on strategic planning and partnership development within a global technology leader.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a strategic plan to grow a key publisher partnership by 20% within the first six months
- Identifying and onboarding new publisher partners in emerging markets to diversify Rakuten's supply network
- Collaborating with the Client Services team to resolve a complex publisher issue, resulting in improved partner satisfaction and increased revenue
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, partnership-focused nature of this role and the opportunity to drive growth and improve partner satisfaction.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into Rakuten Advertising's overall strategy for publisher development?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does Rakuten support the professional growth and development of its employees?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how have previous incumbents addressed them?
- How does Rakuten foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to assess the role's fit with the applicant's skills, career goals, and work preferences, as well as provide insights into Rakuten's company culture and support for employee growth.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills in digital marketing, publisher, or affiliate marketing
- Prepare examples of your ability to manage partnerships, drive growth, and resolve issues
- Research Rakuten's business and the role's responsibilities to ask informed questions during the interview
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week after the interview to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
