Senior PMO, Portfolio Management Department (RMI - strategy & Product Office)

PMO Specialist

The Strategy & Product Office (SPO) is at the forefront of driving strategic innovation, maximizing revenue, and enhancing customer value for Rakuten Mobile. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced PMO Specialist to join our dynamic Portfolio Management Office. This critical role will be instrumental in ensuring the successful execution of strategic initiatives by effectively collaborating and aligning with a diverse range of internal Japanese stakeholders. This position requires driving projects forward by engaging numerous stakeholders, including sales, marketing, shop/customer support, development teams, legal, and other back-office staff.

Job Duties

• Strategic Initiative Management & Delivery: Develop & strengthen 3rd party business partnerships and new business ideation. Drive multiple strategic initiatives and projects from inception through to successful completion, ensuring objectives are met on time and within scope. This includes end-to-end ownership of key strategic initiatives within the SPO portfolio.
• Product Portfolio & Governance Leadership: Lead the management of the SPO Product Portfolio, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy. Establish and maintain robust internal and external governance frameworks for the SPO, driving adherence and continuous improvement in project and portfolio management practices.
• Critical Japanese Stakeholder Communication & Alignment: Proactively streamline communication and foster collaboration with key Japanese stakeholders (Rakuten Shop, Marketing, CS, Revenue Office, Finance, B2B/B2C, GHR etc).
• Executive Forum Facilitation & Management: Organize, drive, and manage critical executive forums, such as the System Development Committee (SDM) meetings, ensuring productive discussions, clear decision-making, and effective follow-through on action items.
• Cross-Functional Alignment & Collaboration: Facilitate effective communication, collaboration, and alignment across various departments to ensure all parties are engaged, informed, and contributing to project success.
• Process & Governance Enhancement: Continuously support the establishment, refinement, and enforcement of PMO processes, standards, and governance frameworks to ensure consistent, efficient, and high-quality project delivery across the SPO.
• Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify, track, and manage project and portfolio-level risks, issues, and dependencies, escalating as necessary and developing effective mitigation strategies in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Reporting & Strategic Communication: Prepare and present clear, concise project and portfolio updates, status reports, and strategic insights to senior management and relevant stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making.
• Cultural Nuance & Strategic Bridging: Leverage native Japanese proficiency and deep cultural understanding to effectively navigate and adapt to Japanese business customs and communication styles, building strong, trust-based relationships and serving as a critical bridge between SPO and Japanese stakeholders

Minimum Qualification

Languages Proficiency: Japanese (Native-Level), English (Business-Level). Proven experience (10+ years) in a Project Management Office (PMO) or Project/Program Management role within a complex organizational structure. Demonstrated ability to successfully drive cross-functional initiatives to closure, particularly in environments involving multiple internal business units. Strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building consensus and influencing stakeholders at all levels. Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualification

Experience in the telecommunications or technology industry. Consulting Background in technology sector. Experience working in a global company with diverse cultural teams.

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