Product & Growth Specialist for AI Search Marketing - LINKSHARE JAPAN K.K.(A&M)

Job Description:

Business Overview

Ad & Media Company provides a comprehensive suite of advertising and marketing services, including digital advertising, research, and influencer business.

Our greatest strength lies in our ability to offer end-to-end solutions—from upstream strategic planning to downstream execution, such as ad operations, performance measurement, and data analysis.

Our marketing-related operations encompass a wide range of services, including "Rakuten Marketing / LinkShare," which provides full-funnel digital marketing solutions; "Rakuten Data Marketing," which leverages Rakuten’s vast proprietary big data; and "Rakuten Insight," which offers specialized marketing research services.

By joining a core organization within the Rakuten Group, you will be empowered to drive your professional growth and elevate your career to the next level.

Department Overview

This position is part of the Rakuten Marketing Japan / LinkShare Japan, a specialized marketing arm within the Ad & Media Company. Under our motto, "Performance-Based Marketing For All Channels," we tackle the diverse and evolving business challenges of our clients by providing multi-faceted, high-impact solutions.
Rooted in our history as a pioneer in affiliate marketing, we have evolved into a leader in the Performance Marketing space. We drive innovation through strategic alliances with global AI technology firms and by leveraging Rakuten’s unique marketing assets, including our proprietary big data and diverse media ecosystem. We work directly with top-tier advertisers—including the Rakuten Group itself, as well as leading e-commerce and fintech enterprises—to drive marketing ROI and accelerate business growth through data-driven performance advertising.

This position sits within the team responsible for "LinkSurge," the core of our new business expansion at Rakuten Marketing Japan / LinkShare Japan. LinkSurge is an integrated analysis tool designed to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of SEO and AIO (AI Optimization) optimization, covering AIO, GEO, and LLMO.
We are currently at a historic turning point where the internet search experience is shifting dramatically from traditional keyword-based queries to AI-driven answers (AIO/LLMO).
LinkSurge is our cutting-edge product engineered to capture this paradigm shift and optimize marketing activities for businesses in the AI era. We are looking for a visionary to join us during this transformative period—someone who will lead the charge from product refinement to delivering tangible value to our clients.
Together, let’s build the next major pillar of the LinkShare business. Are you ready to shape the future of search marketing with us?

Position:

Why We Hire

The rise of AI search-encompassing AIO (AI Optimization), GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization)—has rendered traditional SEO methods increasingly obsolete. We are entering uncharted territory, and the rules of search marketing are being rewritten.
We are seeking a core team member to evolve "LinkSurge" into the definitive market-leading product for this new era. As a key contributor, you will play a pivotal role in refining our product and delivering innovative solutions that address the complex challenges our clients face in this shifting landscape. If you are ready to pioneer this frontier, we want you on our team.

- At the Vanguard of Cutting-Edge Technology
Immerse yourself in the most sought-after industry trends. You will gain deep, hands-on experience with AIO, GEO, and LLMO—technologies that are currently redefining the global search landscape.

- 0-to-1 Business Building
Be a key architect in the early stages of a high-growth venture. You will sharpen your expertise in Product Marketing Management (PMM) and master the project management skills necessary to scale a business from the ground up.

- High Autonomy & Real-Time Impact
In this fast-paced, fluid environment, bureaucracy is minimal. Your ideas can be translated into product features or marketing initiatives almost immediately, allowing you to see the direct impact of your work.

- Strategic Ownership
Move beyond operational execution. You will develop a management-level perspective, focusing on the "bigger picture"—strategizing how to build and secure future revenue streams for the company.

Position Details

- Product Development & Operations:
Drive product evolution by analyzing user feedback, defining development roadmaps, and collaborating closely with engineering teams on requirement definitions.

- Business Development & Onboarding:
Lead sales initiatives by proposing innovative AI-driven marketing strategies and providing dedicated post-implementation support to ensure client success.

- Marketing Strategy & Promotion:
Maximize product value through in-depth market analysis, strategic positioning, and the execution of high-impact lead generation campaigns.

- AI Search Marketing Sales Enablement:
Empower the sales team by building a knowledge base and developing essential sales assets to effectively communicate our value proposition.

- AIO/SEO for Owned Media:
Practice and validate the latest AIO/SEO strategies using the owned media of A&M and LinkShare as a live laboratory.

Work Environment

The LinkSurge Group is a dynamic team of Three professionals, comprising a blend of both new graduates and experienced mid-career hires from Rakuten.
Background of Mid-career Hires
- Experience in B2B sales within the manufacturing industry.

Example Career Path of Successful Hires
- Currently serving as a potential team leader within the first year of joining.

Mandatory Qualifications:

- Practical experience in Web marketing (SEO, ad operations, content marketing, etc.)
- Knowledge of AI
- Get Things Done Mindset
- Embrace Change & Forge Your Own Path

Desired Qualifications:

- Interest in SaaS product operations or product management
- High sensitivity to new technologies and trends, with a proactive approach to learning and sharing insights
- Experience in sales or consulting, with a focus on deeply understanding client challenges and proposing effective solutions

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Futako Tamagawa Rise Office
2-21-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Additional information on Secondment

Employment status: Regular employee of Rakuten Group, Inc.
The Rakuten Marketing Japan Department also operates under the legal entity "LinkShare Japan K.K.," a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., providing comprehensive digital marketing solutions.
For the purpose of this position, you will be assigned to work at LinkShare Japan K.K. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc.) after joining the company.
As your primary employer remains Rakuten Group, Inc., your salary structure, benefits, and performance evaluation system will be identical to those of Rakuten Group, Inc.

Additional information on English Qualification

TOEIC Score exceeding 800 (or similar level of English ability) or a University Degree earned in an English-speaking country.
Proof of qualifications will be required by the time of the job offer.
If no evidence is available to prove the qualifications denoted above, taking an IP test, organized by Rakuten, during selection process is required.

Rakuten Group, Inc. Homepage Link
Benefits:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/benefit/
Recruitment Information:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/information/ * Employment type is detailed
Rakuten Culture:https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/culture/

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