IT Risk Management Project Manager - IT Governance Section, IT Strategy Department (ITSD)

Job Description:

Business Overview

The Technology Management Division (TMD) provides Corporate IT, and Cyber Security & Privacy Governance to Rakuten Group companies and essential business management for technology organizations, thereby enabling innovation and strengthening the technology foundation. Within TMD, the Technology Management Services Supervisory Department (TMSSD) plays a vital role in CIO Governance, IT financial management, IT procurement, Quality Management System (QMS), technology-related public relations, and human resources strategy. By promoting efficiency, quality, risk management, and organizational strength, we ensure that Tech Divisions remain agile and at the forefront of technological advancement.

Department Overview

The IT Strategy Department (ITSD) is responsible for formulating and executing Rakuten Group's overarching IT strategy. ITSD's core mission is to ensure the delivery of high-quality IT services, optimize customer satisfaction, and effectively manage strategically important initiatives.

The department is structured into four key units: the CIO Office, IT governance, Quality Management, and Tech PR ITSD's responsibilities encompass the oversight of group-wide and tech community wide initiatives.

Position:

Why We Hire

Providing high-quality services promptly and maximizing customer satisfaction is central to the Rakuten Group's core principles and remains our most important business strategy. To realize this, we are strengthening our execution capabilities by hiring a Project Manager who can autonomously drive critical projects and cross-functional working groups to successful completion.

Position Details

We are looking for a Project Manager with specialized knowledge and experience to lead execution and drive cross-functional problem-solving. As a member of the Technology Division, you will lead projects from initiation through to implementation. You will be expected to be flexible, navigating between overall PMO governance and hands-on project management, leading everything from problem definition to technical implementation.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and manage project plans in alignment with PMO guidelines.
• Ensure alignment between business requirements and technical specifications, leading consensus-building among stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings and working groups to drive key decision-making.
• Clarify complex issues, coordinate with stakeholders, and proactively identify and mitigate project risks to ensure successful delivery.
• Collaborate with engineering teams and vendors to lead technical problem-solving, implementation, and release management.

Mandatory Qualifications:

Project Execution & Technical Skills

• Proven experience as a hands-on Project Manager leading business system or IT infrastructure implementation projects, with responsibility for planning, deliverables, and timeline management.
• Deep understanding and practical application of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
• Ability to understand the full technical stack, from infrastructure (cloud, network) to applications (databases, APIs), and engage in meaningful technical discussions.

Stakeholder & Interpersonal Skills

• Strong negotiation skills to engage with senior stakeholders and executive leadership, managing conflicting interests to reach consensus.
• Ability to drive projects forward in challenging environments, providing logical and persuasive recommendations.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills (verbal and written) in a diverse, global environment.

Mindset & Language

• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Native level Japanese.
• Business level English (TOEIC 800+ or equivalent).

Desired Qualifications

Project Execution & Technical Skills

• Experience in stakeholder management and vendor management for large-scale system development projects.
• Proven track record leading the implementation of enterprise SaaS/packaged systems (e.g., SAP, ServiceNow, Salesforce).
• Practical experience in technical problem-solving and architectural design.

Stakeholder & Interpersonal Skills

• Professional experience in IT consulting or as an IT Manager in a corporate environment.
• Experience in facilitating cross-functional committees or working groups.

Professional Certifications

• Relevant management or strategic certifications (e.g., PMP, Prince2, Project Manager (PM), or IT Strategist (ST)).

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Languages:English (Overall - 3 - Advanced), Japanese (Overall - 4 - Fluent)