Job Description:

About Rakuten Advertising:

Rakuten Advertising delivers performance-driven, brand-driven, and people-driven ad solutions that help the world’s top brands connect with unique, highly engaged audiences – from first impression to final sale. Backed by industry-leading technology, global media properties, and the largest, high-quality partner network, Rakuten Advertising taps into decades of data and experience to develop the strategies and ad experiences that will drive engagement, sales, loyalty, and beyond.

A leader in the industry since its beginnings, Rakuten Advertising is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc. (4755: TOKYO), one of the world’s leading internet service companies. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices throughout EMEA, APAC, LATAM, and North America. Learn more at RakutenAdvertising.com.

As a Consulting Lead, you will serve as a strategic architect, driving analytical innovation and shaping long-term roadmaps for our most critical client accounts. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, you will provide high-level oversight on complex analytical initiatives, ensuring they deliver both technical excellence and tangible business value. You will be a catalyst for intellectual growth within the Advanced Analytics team, mentoring talent and establishing best practices that define our competitive edge.

Responsibilities:

• Define and shape the long-term analytical roadmap for critical client accounts or specific business areas, aligning to commercial objectives and driving strategic value.
• Identify and pilot innovative analytical approaches and technologies that deliver significant business value and differentiate Rakuten Advertising’s offerings.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior clients and internal stakeholders (e.g., Directors, VPs) on complex analytical challenges, guiding their strategic decisions.
• Provide senior analytical oversight across major analytical projects, ensuring quality, accuracy, and strategic relevance of delivered work.
• Drive the intellectual capital and best practices within the Advanced Analytics team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Mentor Senior Consultants and Consultants, fostering their strategic growth, leadership skills, and advanced analytical capabilities.
• Represent the Advanced Analytics team’s capabilities in high-level strategic discussions with internal leadership (e.g., Directors, VPs) and key client decision-makers.
• Support Directors and VPs in formulating strategic analytical initiatives and communicating complex analytical strategies to wider audiences.

Specific Tasks: 

• Strategic Vision & Roadmapping:
  • Develop multi-year analytical strategies and roadmaps for key accounts, identifying opportunities for advanced analytics to drive significant business impact.
  • Lead the assessment and integration of cutting-edge analytical methodologies and tools into the team’s practice.
  • Translate high-level business objectives set by Directors and VPs into actionable analytical programs and initiatives.
• Advanced Consulting & Problem Solving:
  • Serve as the lead analytical expert on the most complex and ambiguous client problems, providing strategic guidance and innovative solutions.
  • Facilitate executive-level discussions with senior client decision-makers (e.g., department heads, program directors) to define strategic analytical needs.
  • Oversee the design and implementation of highly complex analytical frameworks and models, ensuring robust validation and interpretation.
• Thought Leadership & Mentorship:
  • Develop and deliver internal training programs on advanced analytical topics, strategic consulting, and client engagement best practices.
  • Drive the creation of white papers, case studies, and internal best practice guides that codify the team’s analytical expertise.
  • Provide advanced coaching and career guidance to Senior Consultants, helping them navigate complex projects and client relationships.
• Support to Leadership:
  • Prepare executive summaries and strategic recommendations for Directors and VPs, synthesizing complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights.
  • Collaborate with Directors and VPs on strategic planning, resource prioritization, and the development of new service offerings.

Required Skills and Experience: 

Candidate will have at least 6 years of experience in advanced analytics, with a demonstrated track record of defining analytical strategy, leading high-impact initiatives, and influencing senior stakeholders in a consulting or strategic analytical role. Proven ability to mentor senior team members. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science) highly preferred. 

• Strategic Analytical Leadership – Exceptional ability to define strategic analytical problems, architect innovative solutions, and articulate their business value. Drives the analytical agenda for assigned major clients or domains.
• Advanced Technical & Architectural Abilities – Expert Microsoft Excel, used to build and stress-test the models, scenario analyses, and client-ready outputs that underpin strategic recommendations, and to set the standard for how the team structures them. Deep experience with multiple BI tools (e.g., Strategy/MicroStrategy, Tableau, Power BI, Looker) for sophisticated dashboarding and data visualization. Mastery of at least one statistical programming language (e.g., Python, R) for advanced analytics, machine learning, and automation. Strong understanding of cloud analytics platforms (e.g., BigQuery, AWS, Azure) is a significant plus.
• Senior Client & Stakeholder Influence – Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with senior client management and internal leadership (Directors, VPs). Expert in influencing strategic decisions and guiding complex discussions.
• Executive-Level Planning & Program Management – Exceptional ability to define, plan, and strategically prioritize multiple, large-scale, cross-functional analytical programs, managing resources, risks, and timelines effectively.
• Strategic Vision & Adaptability – Demonstrated capability to operate effectively in highly dynamic and ambiguous environments, driving innovation and providing strategic direction amidst uncertainty.
• Executive-Level Communication & Persuasion – Outstanding communication skills, capable of crafting and delivering highly persuasive presentations and strategic narratives to senior client and internal audiences.
• Strategic Team Leadership & Mentorship – Proven ability to strategically lead, inspire, and mentor Senior Consultants and Consultants, fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous learning without formal line management authority.
• Advanced Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Exceptional ability to identify and address fundamental business problems with innovative, data-driven solutions, evaluating long-term implications and strategic trade-offs.
• Deep Strategic Business Acumen – Profound understanding of industry trends, competitive landscapes, market dynamics, and client business models, leveraging this knowledge to define and drive the analytical agenda.
• Thought Leadership & Innovation – Demonstrated ability to drive intellectual capital, develop new analytical methodologies, and champion innovative solutions within the team and for clients.
• High Impact Delivery & Presence – Exceptional ability to deliver clear, convincing, and well-organized presentations to senior audiences, projecting credibility, poise, and authority.

Rakuten is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications regardless of sex, marital status, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religious belief or age.