Jobs in Japan
Explore hand-picked jobs in Japan for English speakers across tech, education, marketing, and more.
Vetted companies only. Apply from overseas.
Explore hand-picked jobs in Japan for English speakers across tech, education, marketing, and more.
Vetted companies only. Apply from overseas.
Business Overview Rakuten Group, headquartered in Japan, serves approximately 100 million users in Japan and over 1 billion globally. We offer more than 70 services across various fields, including e-commerce, payment services, financial services, telecommunications, media, and sports. The Commerce & Marketing Company primarily provides internet services related to shopping, lifestyle, and leisure, offering a wide array of services that make daily life more enjoyable and convenient. Department Overview Rakuten Mart, Rakuten's warehouse-based online supermarket business, is a new business model that boasts a market reach comparable to major retail chains while enabling agile merchandising (MD) akin to independent local stores. By leveraging the unique characteristics of this business model to develop an innovative product lineup, we aim to revolutionize the domestic food distribution market and realize a more value-added society for both users and producers. Mission of Merchandising (MD) We aim to improve sales and customer satisfaction by enhancing product assortment and quality, and by setting appropriate prices. Rakuten Mart's Service Area and Delivery Methods We cover 12 million target households in the Tokyo metropolitan area and ship from two automated warehouses. By establishing an efficient delivery network using a Hub & Spoke model, we achieve same-day delivery and precise temperature control for products. Furthermore, our state-of-the-art automated warehouses significantly reduce walking time during product retrieval and product verification tasks, enabling highly efficient operations. Position Details You will be responsible for the duties of a merchandiser and buyer. As a leader or manager candidate, you will be entrusted with tasks that allow for significant autonomy. - Confirming and improving product sales and profit performance - Conducting market research to understand user needs - Developing and executing assortment strategies for your assigned department - Gathering information on raw materials, products, and production lines - Negotiating with manufacturers, production regions, and producers - Product pricing (purchase price and selling price) - Analyzing customer data and managing inventory levels - Planning promotions, verifying results, and improving effectiveness - Designing the store layout (within the website) of the online supermarket We divide our team based on the products handled, such as chilled goods, groceries, daily necessities, and fresh foods. 1. Foods such as vegetables, meat, and seafood 2. Foods other than fresh produce and prepared dishes (deli items) 3. Products from Rakuten Ichiba stores and local specialty goods Work Environment Organizational Structure Our division comprises approximately 90 members in total (including indirect employment). The MD department is structured into the following teams: - Mart MD Excellence Section: 2 members - Mart Fresh Food Section: 7 members - Mart Daily Foods Section: 6 members - Mart Grocery & Nonfood Section: 5 members - Mart Product Development Section: 8 members - Mart MD Cross Functional Section: 10 members Background of Mid-Career Hires - Retail Buyer - Food Wholesaler Buyer Mandatory Qualifications: - Experience in merchandising (MD) and buying for fresh foods. - A person with negotiation skills and communication skills with internal and external parties. Desired Qualifications: - Management experience - Buyer experience in retail, particularly in supermarkets Other Information: Additional information on Location Rakuten Crimson House 1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo *Please note that this role requires commuting to warehouse locations a few times a week. ‐Kohoku: Rakuten Mart Kohoku Logistics Center, D-LIFELOGI, 760-1 Kawawa-cho, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Nearest Station: Kawawa-cho Station ‐Matsudo: Rakuten Mart Matsudo Logistics Center, 5-1-1 Minoridai, Matsudo-shi, Chiba Nearest Station: Minoridai Station Additional information on English Qualification TOEIC Score exceeding 800 (or similar level of English ability) or a University Degree earned in an English-speaking country. Proof of qualifications will be required by the time of the job offer. If no evidence is available to prove the qualifications denoted above, taking an IP test, organized by Rakuten, during selection process is required.
Experience in merchandising (MD) and buying for fresh foods. A person with negotiation skills and communication skills with internal and external parties.
Management experience Buyer experience in retail, particularly in supermarkets