Job Description:

Rakuten International oversees 7 businesses with over 4,000 employees globally. The brand is recognized for its leadership and innovation in e-commerce, digital content, advertising, entertainment and communications, bringing the joy of discovery and access to more than 1 billion members across the world. Our teams deliver on the company’s mission to delight merchants and customers through innovation, optimism, and teamwork.

Rakuten Advertising provides advertising technology and consumer insights to the world’s leading brands and retailers. Working with agencies and brands around the world, Rakuten Advertising unites technology, client strategy and consumer insights to deliver advertising experiences that drive increased brand awareness and marketing performance. With access to Rakuten’s diverse media properties and audiences, combined with an award-winning performance network and proprietary consumer research, Rakuten Advertising creates the right conditions to reach new customers and sustain long-lasting loyalty.

SUMMARY

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Publisher Partnerships Specialist to manage a portfolio of publisher partners in the EMEA region. This role is essential for driving growth and strengthening the effectiveness of our partnerships through strategic support and guidance, as well as identifying new partnership opportunities and proposing innovative growth strategies. The Publisher Partnerships Specialist will also represent the Rakuten Affiliate Network brand in the market, ensuring client satisfaction and contributing to the achievement of revenue goals for both our publishers and Rakuten Marketing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Portfolio Management: Oversee a diverse range of publisher partnerships, providing tailored marketing support and ensuring each partner reaches its full potential. Drive engagement with Rakuten products and services to enhance performance and adoption.

Relationship Management: Cultivate strong relationships with publishers and internal teams, proactively assessing account performance to identify growth opportunities and develop strategic recommendations.

Consultative Support: Offer consultative guidance aligned with each partner's goals to support ROI growth, adding value to each partnership and enhancing satisfaction.

Project Management: Lead and execute smaller-scale projects within the portfolio, coordinating activities, timelines, and resources to ensure smooth execution from start to finish.

Data Analysis & Reporting: Run performance reports and provide bespoke analysis to maintain visibility on campaign results, utilizing insights to optimize outcomes and refine strategies.

Internal Visibility: Advocate for publishers within internal stakeholders, working to maximize new partnership approvals and supporting cross-functional collaboration on new opportunities.

Product Knowledge: Develop proficiency in Rakuten’s proprietary software and educate publishers on its high-level capabilities to drive adoption and improve results.

Revenue Targets: Work towards revenue targets, striving to exceed 100% of revenue goals within the managed portfolio through effective partnership strategies.

Industry Engagement: Attend industry events, read industry news, and network to stay current on trends and developments, leveraging this knowledge to act as a trusted expert in discussions with publishers.

Cross-Functional Support: Support the local team with internal and external communications on cross-functional initiatives and network updates, contributing to cohesive project alignment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

1-2 years of relevant experience in marketing, account management, or related roles.

Experience with publisher models and the digital advertising ecosystem is beneficial.

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field.

Basic Knowledge of the EMEA Market and some experience working with partners in this region.

Exposure to Revenue Targets with a track record of contributing to revenue goals and supporting successful outcomes.

Analytical Skills – Foundational experience in running reports, reviewing campaign performance, and identifying initial insights to support partnership optimization.

Fluency in German or French is highly desired, with the ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms.

Ability

Ability to work well independently and as part of a team

Good working knowledge of Rakuten Advertising’s value proposition and product offering Affiliate Marketing experience, with publisher technology or tools (reporting, API’s, tracking).

Incubate a culture of collaboration, problem solving and teamwork.

Attention to detail and deadlines.

Demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to evolving market trends, partner needs, and internal changes in a fast-paced environment.

Takes initiative to anticipate partner needs and identifies opportunities for continuous improvement without waiting for direct instructions.

Skills

Advanced level of proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

Commercial and negotiation skills.

Exemplary written and oral communication skills.

Develop and maintain relationships across a broad sphere of influence, including internal stakeholders, executives and management teams, and external contacts (publishers, platform partners, sister companies, etc.).

Five Principles for Success
Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.

Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen
Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team