Senior Indirect Sourcing Specialist - Procurement Operations Department, Procurement Operations Supervisory Department (PCOD)

Job Description:

Business Overview

Rakuten provides over 70 services globally, including e-commerce, fintech, and mobile.
We integrate these services through a unified membership to form the "Rakuten Ecosystem."
This unique organic connection creates a seamless experience across our diverse business platforms.

*Reference
https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/careers/services/

Department Overview

The Procurement Operations Dept. is expanding its role to manage centralized procurement for the entire Rakuten Group. We optimize procurement processes across 70+ business units to drive the Group’s sustained growth.
Our Indirect Sourcing Group leads supplier selection and negotiations for marketing, BPO, and office supplies.
We are rapidly scaling and evolving our processes, seeking individuals who enjoy change and can define our "ideal state."

Position:

Why We Hire

We are seeking a skilled Sourcing Specialist to join our Indirect Sourcing Group, tasked with strengthening our centralized procurement capabilities and advancing our sourcing maturity.
As a core member of our rapidly expanding organization, you will leverage your expertise to lead strategic projects, mentor junior buyers, and evolve into a key leadership role within the team.

Value Proposition
1. Opportunity to Shape the Organization
- As a relatively young department, we are in a phase of active development. You will have the autonomy to design and mature our procurement processes, playing a pivotal role in building the foundation of our organization.

2. Diverse Career Growth & Global Resources
- Leveraging the vast Rakuten ecosystem, you will manage a wide range of indirect categories across diverse business units.
- Our team consists of professionals from various backgrounds and industries, providing a rich environment to exchange expertise and elevate your sourcing career.

3. A Culture of Innovation and Agility
- Rakuten’s fast-paced environment thrives on change. We are looking for individuals who do not settle for the status quo, but instead embrace challenges to continuously refine and innovate our procurement practices.

Position Details

Lead Sourcing Projects: Translate business needs from management and various departments into actionable strategies, managing the full cycle from RFP development to vendor selection and contract finalization.

- Develop Category Strategies:
Conduct comprehensive market research and spend analysis to establish and implement procurement best practices.

- Build & Drive Processes:
Design and implement robust procurement policies and workflows to support organizational scaling and ensure company-wide adoption.

- Stakeholder Management:
Collaborate with diverse business units to align complex interests and drive cross-functional projects to success.

Work Environment

Organizational Structure
- Total Procurement Operations Department: Approx. 100 members.
Indirect Sourcing Group: Approx. 10 members.
- Culture: The team is composed almost entirely of mid-career hires, with a primary age range of 30s to 40s.

Work-Life Balance
Average Overtime: Approx. 20 hours per month.
*May fluctuate depending on project cycles and deadlines.

Examples of Backgrounds of Mid-Career Hires
- Automotive Industry: Direct material procurement, procurement project management, and indirect procurement.
- Telecommunications Industry: Indirect procurement.
- Consulting: IT procurement.

Mandatory Qualifications:

- Sourcing Experience: 5-7 years of hands-on sourcing or procurement experience (industry background is open).
- Language Proficiency: Native-level fluency in Japanese.
- Stakeholder Management: Proven track record of driving consensus among diverse stakeholders to lead complex projects to successful completion.
- Project Management: Ability to autonomously manage multiple concurrent projects while effectively prioritizing tasks.
- Presentation Skills: Exceptional proficiency in creating high-impact PowerPoint presentations and delivering persuasive proposals.
- Analytical Skills: Strong data analysis capabilities in Excel (e.g., spend analysis using pivot tables).

Desired Qualifications:

- Indirect sourcing experience is desirable, especially experience in Marketing, BPO or Office &Facility categories.
- Experience in establishment of Procurement rules and its execution.
- Knowledge of contract law and compliance.
- Experience in project management or consulting.

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Rakuten Crimson House (at Futakotamagawa, Tokyo)

Additional information on English Qualification

- English Proficiency: TOEIC score of 800+ (or equivalent certification, or a degree from a university in an English-speaking country).
- Proof of qualification must be submitted by the time of the offer.
- If you do not have a valid score or certificate, we will provide a TOEIC IP test during the selection process.

Related Pages
- Employee Benefits: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/benefit/

- Employee Conditions: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/information/

- Culture: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/culture/

#corporate #procurement #sourcing #operationdiv

Languages:

English (Overall - 3 - Advanced), Japanese (Overall - 4 - Fluent)