Influencer Relations Specialist

Job Description

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

We are seeking a creative and relationship-driven Influencer Relations Specialist with a passion for digital storytelling to drive Kobo’s brand presence and ethos. This key role reports to the Senior Manager, social media, and will be responsible for developing and executing a robust influencer strategy that deeply resonates with the bookish communities online. The Specialist will own the end-to-end influencer program lifecycle, from sourcing and contracting to coordinating with content creators and agencies.

This is an exciting opportunity to cultivate authentic partnerships, provide data-driven recommendations, and significantly contribute to Kobo's brand growth and influence among avid readers.

• Assist in developing a comprehensive influencer strategy especially focused on the North American market that aligns directly with the overarching social media and brand marketing goals.
• Conduct ongoing industry research to identify emerging trends, platforms, and high-potential creators relevant to Kobo’s brand audience.
• Establish clear KPIs and metrics for all influencer programs to ensure alignment with business objectives.

• Manage the end-to-end influencer program lifecycle, including sourcing, outreach, negotiation, and contracting for paid and gifted partnerships.
• Oversee the coordination of external agencies and vendor partners, ensuring they meet strategic goals and delivery timelines.
• Lead the execution of influencer campaigns, including content collaborations, product seeding, and promotional events.
• Manage campaign budgets effectively, ensuring maximum ROI across all influencer initiatives.
• Lead the boosting and paid amplification of influencer content to extend reach and drive conversions.

• Cultivate and maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse roster of content creators and influencers.
• Manage a dedicated pool of content creators for organic social media content production, ensuring a consistent flow of high-quality, on-brand assets.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Communications team to coordinate strategies and outreach for earned influencers and long-term brand ambassadors.
• Ensure all content produced adheres to brand guidelines, legal requirements and disclosure standards.

• Track, measure, and analyze performance across all influencer campaigns using relevant social media and marketing analytics tools.
• Generate comprehensive campaign reports and present key findings, insights, and recommendations for future strategy optimization.

• 3–5 years of experience in influencer marketing, social media management, or public relations, specifically focused on content creator relationships preferably for consumer-facing D2C brand (e.g., tech, lifestyle).
• Demonstrated experience managing and executing influencer programs within the North American market.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, English, or an allied field (e.g., social media, digital media).
• Experience working within or a strong understanding of the bookish community (Booktok, Bookstagram) is a strong plus.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts in a clear and engaging way.
• Confidence in public speaking and presenting to various audiences, including internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent English skills (verbal and written).

• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with a proactive and positive approach to identifying and solving challenges.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced…