Manager Candidate for Software Category Sourcing Specialist - Procurement Operations Department, Procurement Operations Supervisory Department

Job Description:

Business Overview

• Rakuten Group is guided by its core philosophy of empowering people and society through innovation.
• Starting with its internet shopping mall, Rakuten Ichiba, the company has expanded into a wide range of businesses, including e-commerce services such as Rakuten Travel, financial services such as Rakuten Bank, and professional sports. Today, Rakuten Group offers more than 70 diverse services across multiple industries.

• *Our Businesses Key Figures
• https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/services/

Department Overview

• The position will be part of the Procurement Operations Department of Rakuten Group, Inc.
• The Procurement Operations Department is responsible for overseeing procurement operations across the entire Rakuten Group. Within this organization, the Global Sourcing Section functions as a centralized sourcing unit, driving supplier selection and negotiations in close collaboration with business units.

To promote group-wide centralized procurement of software and indirect materials, a dedicated team for software category sourcing and indirect procurement has been established under the Global Sourcing Section.

• The scope of procurement mainly includes the following categories (but is not limited to)
• - Software related to telecommunications equipment and networks (e.g., OSS/BSS, analytics tools)
• - Software maintenance contracts (AMC) and renewal negotiations
• - Cloud and SaaS services (e.g., security solutions, development tools)

Position:

Why We Hire

Replacement Hiring due to Resignation-Global Sourcing Software Category

• Business/Organizational Phase
• - The organization is currently building and enhancing a group-wide centralized procurement model, offering the opportunity to be directly involved in process design, standardization, and strategic sourcing, rather than routine operations.
• - You will have the opportunity to shape and build procurement functions from the ground up, without being constrained by legacy practices.

• Ownership & Culture
• - Each category owner is given significant autonomy, enabling you to lead end-to-end sourcing activities from strategy development through negotiation and contract execution.
• - The organization values speed and execution, with a flat structure that empowers individuals to drive initiatives and improvements proactively.

• Career Development (Skills gained and career paths)
• - In addition to deepening expertise in software procurement (licenses, Maintenance, SaaS), you will gain structured experience in strategic sourcing, including TCO analysis, contract strategy, and vendor management.
• - Potential career paths include Category Lead, Global Sourcing roles, and Procurement Leadership positions.

• Differentiation (Rakuten Group Advantage)
• - Backed by the scale of Rakuten Group, this role provides exposure to large-scale IT and software investments, offering significant business impact.
• - You will work in a unique environment where telecommunications, IT, and platform businesses intersect, enabling experience with complex and high-value sourcing projects not typically found in a single enterprise.
• - By leveraging group-wide scale, you can deliver high-impact outcomes in pricing negotiations and contract optimization.

Position Details

- Support the manager in overall management activities as an assistant to the manager

• - Develop and execute procurement strategies for software and indirect categories
• - Lead end-to-end RFP processes, including requirement definition, vendor selection, and evaluation
• - Perform cost analysis, lead price negotiations, and optimize commercial and contractual terms
• - Manage vendors, including optimization of existing contracts and onboarding of new suppliers
• - Drive procurement initiatives in collaboration with internal stakeholders (Engineering, Legal, Finance)
• - Conduct contract reviews from commercial, risk, and cost perspectives
• - Deliver cost savings and drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) optimization

Work Environment

• Organization Structure
• Around 80 people in the Procurement Operations Department
• Software Sourcing Group: 5 members

• Background of Mid-Career Hires
• - Professionals joining the team come from diverse backgrounds, including IT vendors, telecommunications operators, consulting firms, and manufacturing companies, with experience in procurement, purchasing, or strategic sourcing
• - In their previous roles, they managed specific categories (e.g., IT, software, indirect spend), driving cost reduction initiatives, contract negotiations, and vendor management
• - After joining, members are involved not only in their assigned categories but also in group-wide sourcing initiatives, contributing to procurement strategy development and governance enhancement
• - Depending on experience, individuals may take on Category Lead roles and be responsible for team management and talent development

• Career Path Examples
• - Joined as a software/indirect procurement specialist, gained experience across multiple categories, and progressed to a Category Lead, responsible for sourcing strategy and large-scale procurement projects
• - In addition to sourcing activities, led procurement process standardization and tool implementation (e.g., Ariba), contributing to the overall enhancement of group-wide procurement capabilities

Mandatory Qualifications:

• - Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, or strategic sourcing functions
• - Hands-on experience in procurement of software and/or indirect categories
• - Native-level Japanese proficiency or JLPT N1 certification
• - Business-level English proficiency (Proficient enough to handle meetings, negotiations, and email correspondence)

Desired Qualifications:

- Experience in people management is preferred

• - Hands-on experience in procurement and contract management for software (licenses, SaaS, AMC)
• - Proven track record of leading TCO analysis and cost reduction initiatives with measurable results
• - Experience leading end-to-end sourcing activities from vendor selection through contract execution
• - Ability to drive procurement initiatives by engaging cross-functional stakeholders (Engineering, Legal, Finance, etc.)
• - Experience negotiating and reviewing contracts in English with global vendors
• - Strong understanding of complex contractual terms, including data protection, limitation of liability, and SLAs
• - Knowledge of IT services such as cloud, security solutions, and development tools
• - Experience in procurement within the telecommunications industry, or IT/platform companies
• - Familiarity with OSS/BSS, network software, and analytics tools
• - Experience in procurement process standardization, governance framework design, and tool implementation (e.g., Ariba)
• - Experience in spend analysis and data-driven improvement using Excel and/or BI tools
• - TOEIC score of 800 or above, or equivalent proficiency with the ability to conduct business negotiations in English

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Rakuten Crimson House

1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Additional information on English Qualification

• A TOEIC score of 800 or higher is required, or equivalent English proficiency demonstrated through recognized qualifications or a university degree from an English-speaking country.
• Proof of English proficiency must be submitted by the time of the job offer.
• If you do not have a valid TOEIC score or supporting documentation, you will be required to take a company-administered 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 #operationdiv

Languages:

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