Learning & Development. Sr. Program Manager

Rakuten International; New York (NY); On-site; USD 91,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Rakuten International in New York, NY is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead the GTMI team, driving global learning and inclusion initiatives from concept to delivery. You will own AI program strategy, scale content, deploy Udemy Enterprise globally, and redesign the new hire experience to embed learning into onboarding.

If you are a strategic change agent who can align senior leaders, manage cross-time-zone collaborations, and build scalable learning systems, this role offers broad impact

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of related experience; OR Master’s degree plus 6 years.
• Demonstrated experience in instructional design, needs assessment, root cause analysis, and proactive stakeholder management.
• A "Team Lead" mindset—you possess 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.

Responsibilities

• Global Strategic Partnership: Consult with business leaders worldwide to prioritize and solve complex, variable-factor problems.
• Executive Presence & Facilitation: You are the face of your programs. You will own meetings with senior leadership, facilitate high-stakes discussions, and drive consensus.
• Change Leadership: As a catalyst for improvement, you will proactively identify issues, perform root-cause analyses, and implement solutions that evolve our business operations.
• AI School Strategy & Governance: You will modernize the AI School, scale content, and launch targeted programs to ensure our workforce remains ahead of the curve.
• Global Udemy Rollout: You will act as the end-to-end program lead for the global deployment of Udemy Enterprise.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Executive presence

Change leadership

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Global mindset

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 8 years experience

Master’s degree with 6 years

Job description

Learning & Development. Sr. Program Manager

New York, NY

Full time

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.

Job Summary

Are you a strategic orchestrator who thrives in complex, global environments? We are looking for aSenior Program Managerto 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 isn't a role for someone who needs a roadmap; this is a role for someone who builds them. You will act as a change agent, driving global programs from inception to delivery, exercising sound judgment, and maintaining autonomy to steer stakeholders toward successful outcomes without needing a 'safety net.'

Key Responsibilities

• AI School Strategy & Governance: You will be at the forefront of our enterprise-wide AI transformation. This includes modernizing the AI School, scaling content, and launching targeted programs (including AI communication and the integration of our internal OptU site) to ensure our workforce remains ahead of the curve.
• Global Udemy Rollout: You will act as the end-to-end program lead for the global deployment of Udemy Enterprise. This is a high-stakes initiative requiring you to synchronize stakeholders across multiple time zones and secure alignment from senior leadership on adoption strategies that drive real business value.
• End-to-End New Hire Experience: As a core contributor to our global end-to-end new hire redesign (OnboardU), you will influence the future of how we bring talent into the company. You will ensure that learning priorities and GTMI standards are seamlessly woven into a world-class, global onboarding experience.
• Portfolio Excellence & Innovation: You will own the evolution of our core training assets, partnering with cross-functional program managers to shape the soft-skill capabilities of our global organization.

What You’ll Own

• Global Strategic Partnership: Consult with business leaders worldwide to prioritize and solve complex, variable-factor problems.
• Executive Presence & Facilitation: You are the face of your programs. You will own meetings with senior leadership, facilitate high-stakes discussions, and drive consensus. We value your ability to manage expectations, provide clear, concise communication, and follow through with a rigor that requires minimal oversight.
• Change Leadership: As a catalyst for improvement, you will proactively identify issues, perform root-cause analyses, and implement solutions that evolve our business operations.

What You Bring

• Proven Track Record: 8+ years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience). You have a history of navigating complex organizational structures and resolving issues that require more than a 'textbook' approach.
• Communication Mastery: You possess the ability to distill complex data into actionable insights for leadership. You know when to seek input from senior stakeholders and when to lead with confidence.
• Analytical Rigor: You are comfortable working on issues where variables are constantly shifting, and you have the critical judgment to select the right techniques to achieve success.
• Global Mindset: You understand that one size rarely fits all. You apply global nuances to your strategies, ensuring our programs are effective, inclusive, and scalable.
• Continuous Improvement: You are proactively identifying opportunities to improve programs, processes and ways of working.
• Measurement and Impact: You define success measures, evaluate effectiveness, and use data/insights to continuously improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of related experience; OR Master’s degree plus 6 years
• Demonstrated experience in instructional design, needs assessment, root cause analysis, and proactive stakeholder management.
• A "Team Lead" mindset—you possess 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 is a Career-Defining Opportunity

• Innovation-First: You aren't just managing existing processes; you are designing the future of learning and AI capability at Rakuten.
• Global Influence: You will facilitate decisions that impact employees across every region, acting as a key advisor to leadership on how we scale our culture and technical skills.
• End-to-End Ownership: From vendor selection and strategic planning to global rollout and adoption, you will own the full lifecycle of these initiatives, providing you with a platform to showcase your leadership and strategic vision.

If you are a builder who thrives on influencing global strategy and want to leave a lasting mark on Rakuten, we want to hear from you.

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Five Principles for Success

Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.

Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen

Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best

Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory

Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile

Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team

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.

As part of our Rakuten interview process, we encourage applicants to use their own words, rather than AI-generated content. Tell us your story in a way that's personal and authentic.

At the time of posting, Rakuten expects the base compensation for this role to be within the range shown below. Individual compensation will vary based on job-related factors, including the skills, qualifications, and experience of the successful candidate as well as business need and geographic location. 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 $91,044.00 - $157,248.00 annually