Learning & Development. Sr. Program Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401k matching

Paid time off

Volunteer Time Off

Job summary

Rakuten International seeks a senior program leader to drive global initiatives, including AI school transformation, Udemy Enterprise rollout, and a world-class onboarding experience. You will partner with leadership across regions to align priorities, manage complex stakeholder networks, and deliver scalable, high-impact programs that advance Rakuten's learning and capability goals.

The role demands a strategic, autonomous executor who can frame problems, guide cross-functional teams, and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in program management or equivalent.
• Experience navigating complex org structures and driving initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication for leadership.
• Ability to apply global nuances to strategies and programs.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and metric-driven impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact, global programs from inception to delivery.
• Architect and drive AI school strategy, governance, and content scaling.
• Oversee global Udemy Enterprise rollout across time zones.
• Redesign and optimize the end-to-end new hire experience.
• Own portfolio excellence and cross-functional collaboration.
• Facilitate executive meetings and drive consensus with senior leaders.
• Proactively identify issues and implement root-cause solutions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Global mindset

Change management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Job Description: 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:

• You won’t just be maintaining programs; you will be evolving our organizational intelligence.
• You will serve as the primary architect and driver for several high-visibility pillars: 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’ll 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.
• 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.

#LI-ES1

Five Principles for 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.

USD $91,044.00 - $157,248.00 annually

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.

Rakuten International oversees 7 businesses with over 4,000 employees globally. The brand is recognized for its leadership and innovation in e-commerce, digital content, advertising, entertainment, and communications, bringing the joy of discovery and access to more than 1 billion members across the world. Everyday team members deliver on the company’s mission to delight merchants and customers through innovation, optimism, and teamwork.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act’s Transparency in Coverage Rules require group health plans to disclose on a public website information regarding in-network provider rates and historical out-of-network allowed amounts and billed charges for covered items and services in two separate machine-readable files (MRFs). The MRFs for Rakuten’s Aetna benefit plan are provided in the link below. Aetna Transparency in Coverage: Machine-Readable Files | Rakuten