📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager
🔹 Company: Rakuten Rewards
🔹 Location: San Francisco, California
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-06-16
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Eligible for work in NYC, San Francisco, San Mateo or Chicago offices)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing, negotiating, and managing strategic partnerships to drive revenue, GMV, and new members for Rakuten Rewards.
- Working cross-functionally with various teams (Legal, Marketing, Product) to launch and manage partnerships.
- Building relationships and credibility within partner organizations to unlock additional value.
- Identifying new opportunities to grow partnerships and navigating internal and external dynamics for positive-sum outcomes.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop, negotiate, close, and manage strategic agreements that support Rakuten's mission and positively impact growth.
✅ Drive cross-functional teams towards deal objectives, collaborating with Legal, Marketing, Content, Product, and other teams.
✅ Source and manage a pipeline of prospective partnerships, identifying, negotiating, managing, and renewing strategic deals with partners.
✅ Be the 'go to' person for partners' needs, defining and executing on the long-term partner relationship, and ensuring both Rakuten's and the partner's commitments are delivered.
✅ Drive positive-sum outcomes by navigating internal and external dynamics effectively.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proactive approach to partnership management, strong prioritization skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple stakeholder groups.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Experience: 5-7 years of client-facing experience in a high-tech marketing environment, ideally in the affiliate space
Required Skills:
- Proven Strategic Partnerships or Business Development background
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills with experience in financial modeling
- Experience negotiating contracts, interpreting legal documents, and working with attorneys to complete agreements
- Strong communication & storytelling skills, proficient in executive communication internally and externally
- Keen sense for prioritization, both internally and externally with partners
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, exciting environment and collaborate across external and internal teams to deliver
- Creative thinker, willing to push the boundaries
- Ability to identify when it is right for Rakuten to say No to a partnership
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with Google Suite, Cloud Storage (Box), and Salesforce
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment while prioritizing tasks and time
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in strategic partnerships or business development, with a strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills. Experience in the affiliate marketing space is highly preferred.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: USD $113,157.00 - $211,032.00 annually
Benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- 401k Matching
- PTO
- Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager role with 5-10 years of experience. Benefits are subject to change and may vary based on the employee's location and role.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Rakuten International operates in the e-commerce, digital content, advertising, entertainment, and communications sectors, with a focus on creating rewarding experiences for its customers and members.
Company Size: Rakuten International has over 4,000 employees globally, providing a large and diverse work environment.
Founded: Rakuten was founded in 1999 and has since grown to become a leading global e-commerce company.
Company Description:
- Rakuten is a Japanese company with a global presence, recognized for its leadership and innovation in various industries.
- The company is committed to delivering joy and access to its members through its diverse portfolio of businesses.
- Rakuten's mission is to make life more rewarding for its customers, clients, communities, and employees.
Company Specialties:
- E-commerce platforms and services
- Digital content and entertainment
- Advertising and marketing technologies
- Financial services and fintech
- Logistics and shipping
Company Website: Rakuten International
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's diverse business portfolio and global presence provide employees with ample opportunities for growth and exposure to various industries and markets.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high level of expertise and experience in strategic partnerships or business development.
Reporting Structure: The Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager reports directly to the Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships and works cross-functionally with other Rakuten teams.
Work Arrangement: This role is eligible for work in NYC, San Francisco, San Mateo, or Chicago offices, with a hybrid work arrangement.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand partnerships and take on additional responsibilities as the role evolves.
- Opportunities to work with diverse teams and gain exposure to various aspects of Rakuten's business.
- Potential to grow within the Strategic Partnerships and Business Development team or explore other roles within Rakuten.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, both within the team and across Rakuten's diverse business portfolio.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Rakuten Rewards has offices in multiple locations, offering a hybrid work arrangement for this role.
Office Location(s): NYC, San Francisco, San Mateo, or Chicago
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco, California: Known for its vibrant tech industry, diverse culture, and high cost of living.
- New York, New York: A global financial and cultural hub with a fast-paced work environment.
- Chicago, Illinois: A major city with a diverse economy, offering a mix of urban and suburban living.
- San Mateo, California: A suburban city near San Francisco, known for its high quality of life and proximity to Silicon Valley.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work, providing flexibility for employees to manage their personal and professional lives.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with cross-functional team members
- Final interview with the Head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and partnership management skills
- Communication and storytelling abilities
- Collaboration and teamwork skills
- Cultural fit with Rakuten's values and work environment
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in strategic partnerships or business development, with a focus on negotiation, financial modeling, and cross-functional teamwork.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit for this role and Rakuten's company culture.
- Prepare examples of successful partnerships you've managed, emphasizing the positive impact you've made on both your company and your partners.
ATS Keywords: Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, Negotiation, Financial Modeling, Cross-Functional Teams, Partnership Management
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's hiring process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best fit for both the company and the applicant.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets)
- Cloud Storage (Box)
- Salesforce
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools is essential for effective communication, collaboration, and project management in this role.
👔 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
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Focused on continuous improvement and innovation
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Are you passionate about driving growth and maximizing customer satisfaction?
- Do you have a proven track record of successful partnership management?
ASSUMPTION: Rakuten's company culture emphasizes continuous improvement, collaboration, and a passion for driving growth and customer satisfaction. Candidates should assess their fit with these values and work style before applying.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple partnerships simultaneously, requiring strong prioritization skills
- Navigating complex internal and external dynamics to drive positive-sum outcomes
- Working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, requiring adaptability and resilience
- Balancing the need for strategic thinking with the need for tactical execution
ASSUMPTION: These challenges are inherent to a senior-level strategic partnerships role and require a proactive, adaptable, and collaborative approach.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other strategic partnerships roles, this position offers a broader range of partnership opportunities and a more diverse business portfolio.
- Rakuten's global presence provides opportunities for international partnerships and exposure to various markets.
- This role offers significant growth potential, both within the team and across Rakuten's diverse business portfolio.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to similar roles in the industry, with a focus on strategic thinking, collaboration, and growth potential.
📝 Sample Projects
- Negotiating and managing a strategic partnership with a major retailer to drive revenue, GMV, and new members for Rakuten Rewards
- Identifying and pursuing new partnership opportunities in the affiliate marketing space to expand Rakuten's reach and grow its member base
- Developing and executing a long-term partner relationship strategy to maximize value for both Rakuten and its partners
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, collaborative, and results-driven nature of this role, with a focus on driving growth and maximizing value for Rakuten and its partners.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into Rakuten's overall strategic partnerships and business development efforts?
- What are the most pressing challenges facing the Strategic Partnerships and Business Development team, and how can this role address them?
- How does Rakuten support the professional growth and development of its employees in this role?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Rakuten's company culture support a work-life balance for its employees?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to assess the role's fit with the candidate's skills, experience, and career goals, as well as Rakuten's company culture and support for employee growth and development.
📌 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 in strategic partnerships or business development, with a focus on negotiation, financial modeling, and cross-functional teamwork.
- Prepare examples of successful partnerships you've managed, emphasizing the positive impact you've made on both your company and your partners.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications for the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
