Sr. Program Manager

Rakuten; 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

PTO

Volunteer Time Off

Job summary

Rakuten International seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead global initiatives bridging complex business challenges with scalable, high-impact solutions. You will drive programs from inception to delivery with autonomy and strong judgment.

You will own AI School strategy and governance, lead the global Udemy Enterprise rollout, and shape the new hire experience while advancing core training assets across our worldwide organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience navigating complex organizational structures and driving programs to outcomes.
• Ability to distill complex data into actionable insights for leadership.
• Experience coordinating with senior stakeholders and managing cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead global programs from inception to delivery with autonomy and sound judgment.
• Own AI School strategy and governance, including content scaling and program launches.
• Drive end-to-end Udemy Enterprise rollout across time zones and senior leadership alignment.
• Shape the new hire experience (OnboardU) and evolve core training assets for the global organization.

Skills

Strategic program management

Global stakeholder management

Change leadership

Communication mastery

Analytical rigor

Global mindset

Continuous improvement

Measuring impact

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 8 years experience

Master’s degree + 6 years experience

Tools

Udemy Enterprise

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.

Thisisn’ta 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 frominceptionto delivery, exercising sound judgment, andmaintainingautonomyto steer stakeholders toward successful outcomes without needing a “safety net.”

Key Responsibilities

Youwon’tjust bemaintainingprograms; you will be evolving our organizational intelligence.

• 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 ofour internalOptUsite) to ensure our workforce remainsahead 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 drivereal businessvalue.
• End-to-End New Hire Experience:As a core contributor to our global end-to-end newhire 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’llOwn

• 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,facilitatehigh‑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 proactivelyidentifyissues, perform root‑cause analyses, and implement solutions thatevolveour 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:Youpossessthe 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: Youare proactivelyidentifyingopportunities to improve programs,processesand ways of working.
• Measurement and Impact: You define success measures, evaluateeffectiveness,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—youpossessthe capability to coordinate personnel and influence outcomes without relying on next‑level management for daily direction.
• Knowledge and experience in implementing AI training and globaldeployment of Udemy/online training is a plus.

Why This is a Career-Defining Opportunity

• Innovation-First:Youaren’tjust managing existing processes; you are designing the future of learning and AI capability at Rakuten.
• Global Influence:You willfacilitatedecisions thatimpactemployees 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 toshowcaseyour leadership and strategic vision.

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