Corporate Communications Manager

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.

Ideal opportunity for someone looking to build a career in communications for a large, matrixed international corporation. The Corporate Communications Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing external communications strategies that advance the company’s corporate narrative, elevate its reputation, and support key business priorities. This newly created role is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional with strong media relations experience, sound judgment, and the ability to operate independently within a fast-paced, matrixed, international organization.

As part of the Corporate External Communications team, the Corporate Communications Manager will lead day-to-day execution of integrated communications programs, support executive visibility and thought leadership, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across multiple businesses. The role will focus on our performance marketing businesses and offer exposure to many of our most important current and future initiatives, including our Cash Back platform, affiliate publishing and card-linked offer networks, and others.

• Lead the development and execution of integrated external communications programs, including media relations, thought leadership, executive communications, and corporate storytelling, ensuring these programs contribute to a cohesive strategy for engaging stakeholders on relevant channels (e.g., earned media, owned platforms, and internal communications).
• Create and execute high-quality communications materials, including press releases, messaging frameworks, media pitches, executive talking points, and briefing documents.
• Serve as a primary media contact for designated beats or business areas; build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and industry influencers.
• Collaborate with multiple marketing, commercial, and leadership teams to align and execute communications strategies that help them meet their business objectives.
• Serve as our in-house expert on media coverage, industry trends, and issues that may impact the company’s reputation, providing strategic insights and recommendations to proactively protect and enhance the company’s reputation.
• Support executive visibility initiatives, including speaking engagements, bylined content, and conference participation.
• Lead project management for complex communications initiatives, including coordination of timelines, approvals, and deliverables.

• Direct experience or strong knowledge of B2B and B2C tech, e-commerce, retail and/or ad tech industries.
• Demonstrated success leading media relations programs, including pitching stories, managing press inquiries, preparing spokespeople, and building relationships with national, trade, and business media.
• Strong media relationships with top tier business and ad/marketing trades preferred.
• Willingness to learn and excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively independently, as well as part of a highly collaborative team. You will be part of a communications team distributed across multiple U.S. locations serving internal clientele worldwide.
• Act with discretion when handling sensitive and confidential company information.
• Ability to project manage multiple competing priorities and excellent time management.
• A blend of curiosity, analytical thinking, creativity, flexibility, adaptability, and the relentlessness to drive projects to completion.
• A passion for the truth well told and for delivering best-in-class customer service.
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