Director, Consumer Communications

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 4000 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.

Rakuten is the most rewarding way to shop giving millions of members Cash Back when they buy from their favorite brands. As a leading shopping platform Rakuten partners with thousands of top brands across apparel beauty and wellness grocery travel on-demand services subscriptions and dining helping members save on everyday purchases. Since 1999 Rakuten members have earned more than $4.6 billion in Cash Back making it the largest Cash Back platform of its kind. Learn more at .

Job Summary:

Rakuten is seeking a Director of Consumer Communications to lead the development and execution of a global integrated communications strategy that increases brand awareness builds trust with consumers and drives long-term brand loyalty. This role plays a critical leadership function in managing communications across key international marketsincluding the U.S. Canada and the a consistent global narrative while tailoring strategies to local audiences.

You will position Rakuten as the #1 shopping destination for earning rewards on everyday purchases while overseeing agency partners and cross-regional execution to deliver measurable business impact. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Brand Creative and Communications this role is both strategic and hands-on with significant visibility across senior leadership.

The ideal candidate is a proactive communicator and exceptional writer with deep experience in B2C public relations and global brand storytelling. You bring a passion for culturally relevant narratives and have a proven track record of executing high-impact communications strategies across top-tier consumer media. You are agile detail-oriented and results-driven with strong media relationships and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. You understand how to connect with diverse audiences and distill complex ideas into compelling creative stories that drive engagement and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior communications advisor to internal stakeholders and executive leadership providing a strong point of view clear recommendations and data-driven counsel in a fast-paced environment.

• Lead the development and execution of a cohesive global consumer communications strategy across the U.S. Canada and the U.K. ensuring alignment across regions while allowing for local market nuance; oversee and manage external PR agencies in each market driving strategic integration fostering bold thinking and holding partners accountable to performance metrics and business outcomes.

• Partner with cross-functional leaders to refine Rakutens messaging and narrative framework aligning communications with broader brand and business priorities.

• Identify innovative and culturally relevant ways to tell Rakutens story translating business priorities product innovation and partnerships into compelling consumer narratives.

• Identify and activate high-impact opportunities to amplify Rakutens brand and business partnershipsincluding collaborations with American Express and Biltby developing integrated communications strategies that drive awareness credibility and customer acquisition.

• Partner with the Sports & Entertainment team to support communications strategies tied to marquee partnershipsincluding the Golden State Warriors Golden State Valkyries and San Francisco 49ersshaping narratives managing media engagement preparing spokespeople and amplifying culturally relevant moments that drive brand awareness credibility and customer acquisition.

• Lead media strategy and execution including interview preparation thought leadership development media briefings and coverage amplification.

• Create high-quality written content including press releases statements Q&A briefing materials award submissions and media pitches.

• Define and evolve measurement frameworks including media quality message pull-through attribution and impact on brand and growth KPIs; regularly report insights to leadership.

• Integrate AI and LLM considerations into communications strategy ensuring earned media and brand narratives are optimized for AI-driven search and discovery.

• Support crisis communications and reputation management partnering with global teams to protect and strengthen brand trust.

Minimum Requirements:

• Proven experience leading global communications programs and managing multiple external PR agencies with a hands-on lead from the front approach.

• Strong experience overseeing agency strategy performance and relationshipsdriving accountability creativity and measurable business impact.

• Strong business acumen and deep understanding of the retail ecommerce and media landscapes.

• Experience partnering with performance marketing growth or partnerships teams with a clear understanding of how communications drives acquisition and retention.

• Highly creative storyteller with a track record of generating newsworthy ideas and securing impactful media coverage.

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to measure performance and continuously optimize strategies.

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced matrixed organizations with evolving priorities.

• Exceptional written verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Experience with both traditional and digital communications tools and platforms.

Qualifications:

• 1015 years of relevant experience ideally across both agency and in-house roles at high-growth companies.

• Demonstrated experience managing global or multi-regional communications programs.

• Experience in fashion retail ecommerce or consumer technology strongly preferred.

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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

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.