Sr. Program Manager

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 the role

We are looking for a Senior Program Manager to join our Global Team Management and Inclusion (GTMI) team to lead high-impact initiatives that bridge the gap between complex business challenges and creative, scalable solutions. This role is for a strategic orchestrator who thrives in complex, global environments and builds roadmaps rather than following them. You will act as a change agent, driving global programs from inception to delivery with autonomy, sound judgment, and the ability to steer stakeholders toward successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• AI School Strategy & Governance: Modernize the AI School, scale content, and launch targeted programs (including AI communication and integration of our internal OptU site) to ensure our workforce remains ahead of the curve in enterprise-wide AI transformation.
• Global Udemy Rollout: Act as the end-to-end program lead for the global deployment of Udemy Enterprise, synchronizing stakeholders across multiple time zones and securing alignment from senior leadership on adoption strategies that drive real business value.
• End-to-End New Hire Experience: Contribute to the global redesign of our new hire onboarding (OnboardU), ensuring learning priorities and GTMI standards are seamlessly woven into a world-class, global onboarding experience.
• Portfolio Excellence & Innovation: Own the evolution of core training assets, partnering with cross-functional program managers to shape the soft-skill capabilities of our global organization.
• Global Strategic Partnership: Consult with business leaders worldwide to prioritize and solve complex, variable-factor problems.
• Executive Presence & Facilitation: Own meetings with senior leadership, facilitate high-stakes discussions, and drive consensus with clear, concise communication and minimal oversight.
• Change Leadership: Proactively identify issues, perform root-cause analyses, and implement solutions that evolve our business operations.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience) navigating complex organizational structures and resolving issues that require more than a "textbook" approach.
• Ability to distill complex data into actionable insights for leadership, knowing when to seek input from senior stakeholders and when to lead with confidence.
• Comfort working with shifting variables and critical judgment to select the right techniques for success.
• Global mindset, applying nuanced strategies to ensure programs are effective, inclusive, and scalable.
• Proactive identification of opportunities to improve programs, processes, and ways of working.
• Experience defining success measures, evaluating effectiveness, and using data/insights to continuously improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of related experience; OR Master’s degree plus 6 years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in instructional design, needs assessment, root cause analysis, and proactive stakeholder management.
• A "Team Lead" mindset with the capability to coordinate personnel and influence outcomes without relying on next-level management for daily direction.
• Knowledge and experience in implementing AI training and global deployment of Udemy/online training is a plus.

Why this role

• Innovation-First: Design the future of learning and AI capability at Rakuten, not just manage existing processes.
• Global Influence: Facilitate decisions impacting employees across every region, acting as a key advisor to leadership on scaling culture and technical skills.
• End-to-End Ownership: Own the full lifecycle of initiatives—from vendor selection and strategic planning to global rollout and adoption—showcasing your leadership and strategic vision.

Benefits

• Discretionary bonus
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• 401k matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

Pay

USD $91,044.00 - $157,248.00 annually