Chief of Staff

Why should you choose us?

Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry’s pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region. For more information, visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com

Building on the technology Rakuten used to launch Japan’s newest mobile network, we are taking our mobile offering global.

To support our ambitions to provide an innovative cloud-native telco platform for our customers, Rakuten Symphony is looking to recruit and develop top talent from around the globe. We are looking for individuals to join our team across all functional areas of our business – from sales to engineering, support functions to product development.

Let’s build the future of mobile telecommunications together!

About Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to 2 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has over 30,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.

Overview

As the Chief of Staff Rakuten mobile, you will play a pivotal role in driving the company's strategic vision, overseeing operational excellence, and fostering collaboration across departments. Reporting directly to the BU President, you will serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner, ensuring alignment between organizational goals and day-to-day activities. This role requires a combination of strategic thinking, operational expertise, and strong leadership skills to support the company's growth and success in a dynamic industry.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Collaborate with the President and executive team to develop and execute strategic initiatives that drive business growth and innovation in the software-based mobile network industry.
• Own the P&L for the BU, including budgets and tracking, working with Sales, Products and Delivery as well as liaise with central Strategy and Finance teams
• Own the People Transformation plan
• Monitor progress on strategic initiatives and adjust plans as needed to achieve organizational objectives.
• Ability to be a trusted advisor for decision making.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee the operational functions of the company, ensuring efficient delivery of software-based mobile network services.
• Work closely with technology and operations teams to optimize network performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Implement best practices and processes to streamline operations and enhance customer experience.

Communication and Coordination

• Serve as a central point of contact for internal stakeholders, facilitating communication and collaboration across departments (such as All-Hands).
• Coordinate with product development, marketing, and sales teams to ensure alignment on product roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Prepare executive communications, presentations, and reports to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

Project Management Office

• Lead strategic projects and initiatives, overseeing project planning, execution, and delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scope, objectives, and success criteria.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and risks, and provide regular updates to executive leadership.

Executive Support

• Provide strategic support to the President, including calendar management, meeting preparation, and follow-up on action items.
• Conduct research, prepare briefing materials, and provide recommendations on key strategic issues and opportunities.
• Anticipate the needs of the President and executive team, proactively addressing challenges and driving initiatives forward.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and mentor a team of professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Set clear expectations, provide feedback, and support professional development initiatives to empower team members to excel in their roles.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team and across the organization.

Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Business Administration, Management, or related field.
• Proven experience in a leadership role, preferably as a Chief of Staff or similar position in the software or telecommunications industry.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with a deep understanding of the software-based mobile network landscape.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional project management abilities, including the ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in dealing with sensitive information and confidential matters.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing market conditions and business needs.
• This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and qualifications for the Chief of Staff role within our software-based mobile network operator. The duties may evolve over time to meet the changing needs of the organization and industry.

RAKUTEN SHUGI PRINCIPLES:

Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviours 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.

• Be 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 success in unknown territory.

• Maximize Customer Satisfaction.

  The greatest satisfaction for workers in a service industry is to see their customers smile.

• Speed!! Speed!! Speed!!

  Always be conscious of time. Take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team.