VP, Partnerships

About Rakuten International

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

Job Description :

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

About Rakuten Rewards

Rakuten is a leading shopping platform that offers Cash Back on purchases from all your favorite brands. By partnering with thousands of brands in apparel, beauty and wellness, dining, grocery, travel, on-demand services, subscription boxes and more, Rakuten helps members save and get more on everyday purchases. Since its founding in 1999, Rakuten has become the largest and most rewarding shopping experience, and its members have earned $4.6 billion in Cash Back just for shopping through Rakuten.

Job Summary :

As Vice President of Partnerships, you will deliver growth by sourcing, structuring, and scaling high-impact partnerships with Fortune 500 and other strategically aligned companies across multiple verticals. You will leverage your corporate development expertise and proven track record in complex deal-making to deliver partnerships that drive significant new customer acquisition, revenue growth, and business innovation. This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape Rakuten’s partner ecosystem and deliver measurable business results. This role reports to the CMO, Rakuten Rewards.

Key Responsibilities :

• Define and execute Rakuten’s strategic partnerships roadmap across core and emerging verticals, including retail, travel, financial, lifestyle, technology, grocery, etc.
• Lead cross-functional alignment around partnership goals, including GMV, new customer acquisition, co-marketing, customer expansion and retention, and product integration.
• Influence product and marketing strategies with insights from the partnership ecosystem.
• Identify, evaluate, and close high-impact deals with Fortune 500 companies and other key partners that align with Rakuten’s customer base.
• Lead all aspects of the deal lifecycle-from sourcing and pitch through negotiation, contracting and onboarding.
• Create innovative value exchange models, including loyalty integrations, data sharing, co-branded programs, media swaps, card linking, platform integrations, and cultural moments.
• Ensure Rakuten has effective partnerships across the different stages of the customer journey.
• Drive incremental GMV, new customer acquisition, existing customer expansion, and improved customer acquisition cost (CAC) through ongoing partner performance management.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and product teams to develop partner campaigns and user experiences that drive results.
• Prepare executive-level reporting with key KPIs, OKRs, and business initiatives, adapting strategy as needed.
• Build and lead a high-performing team of business development and partner marketing professionals.
• Foster a culture of ownership, creativity, and data-informed decision making.
• Represent Rakuten at industry events and in senior-level partner conversations.

Qualifications :

Minimum Requirements :

Rakuten provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Rakuten considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws. The successful applicant for this role will be eligible for discretionary bonus, health, vision, dental insurance, 401k matching, PTO, Volunteer Time Off (VTO), and other employee benefits as the company implements. USD $157,464.00 - $293,760.00 annually.

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