Senior Creative Strategist - CONTRACT

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Creative Strategist - CONTRACT

🔹 Company: Rakuten Rewards

🔹 Location: San Mateo, California (Remote)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Contract

🔹 Category: Marketing & Creative

🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 6-9 years

🔹 Remote Status: Remote (CA-Remote Tier 4)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Partnering with business stakeholders to develop and execute creative assets
• Driving internal creative projects and providing strategic input to the creative team
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure brand consistency and achieve business goals
• Managing production from start to finish across various channels

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in account management or marketing, with a focus on creative strategy and project management. Experience in the sports industry is a plus.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Build and nurture strong relationships with business partners, creative team, and other stakeholders

✅ Drive the development and execution of internal creative projects, including briefs, inspiration, strategic input, and launch plans

✅ Collaborate with teams across the organization to ideate on initiatives and optimize work processes

✅ Ensure brand consistency and credibility across all communications

✅ Manage production from start to finish across all channels, including TV/video, digital/social, photography, and activations

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration and requires strong communication, written, and presentation skills. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who can navigate ambiguity and manage competing priorities.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field

Experience: Approximately 6-9 years of experience in an account management role at an agency and/or in a marketing role in-house

Required Skills:

• Proven experience managing production from start to finish across all channels
• Ability to provide clear, strategically sound feedback
• Strong communication, written, and presentation skills
• Motivates team members and fosters a positive, collaborative work environment
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and manage competing and changing goals and priorities
• Experience identifying issues and partnering with teammates to build better processes

Preferred Skills:

• Passion for and knowledge of the sports industry

ASSUMPTION: While a specific degree is not always required, a strong background in marketing, advertising, or a related field is essential for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The expected hourly rate for this role is between $XX and $XX. Individual compensation will vary based on job-related factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment

Working Hours: Full-time, with a flexible schedule and remote work options available

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a senior-level marketing role in the San Francisco Bay Area. Benefits may vary based on the candidate's location and employment status.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Rakuten International operates in the e-commerce, digital content, advertising, entertainment, and communications sectors, serving over 1 billion members worldwide.

Company Size: Rakuten Rewards is a leading e-commerce company with over 4,000 employees globally. This role is part of the Rakuten Rewards team, which has approximately 1,000 employees.

Founded: Rakuten was founded in 1999 and has since grown into a global leader in its industries.

Company Description:

• Rakuten Rewards offers Cash Back, deals, and rewards from over 3,500 merchants, with nearly $2 billion paid out to its 15 million members
• The company also operates ShopStyle, a leading fashion discovery destination, and Cartera Commerce, a top rewards platform for airlines and banks
• Rakuten Rewards is committed to enhancing the shopping experience by offering rewards and deals to its members

Company Specialties:

• E-commerce and digital content
• Advertising and entertainment
• Communications and customer rewards

Company Website: rakuten.com

ASSUMPTION: Rakuten Rewards is a leading e-commerce company with a strong focus on customer rewards and satisfaction. The company's success is driven by its commitment to innovation, optimism, and teamwork.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring a high degree of experience and expertise in creative strategy and project management.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Creative Strategist will report directly to the Creative Director and work closely with business partners, the creative team, and other stakeholders.

Work Arrangement: This role offers a flexible, remote work arrangement, with the option to work from the San Mateo, California office or remotely from a designated tier 4 location.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to a leadership role within the creative team or broader marketing organization
• Expansion of responsibilities to include additional business units or partnerships
• Professional development opportunities, such as training, workshops, or mentorship programs

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand their responsibilities and advance their career within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Rakuten Rewards offers a hybrid work environment, with the option to work remotely or from the San Mateo, California office.

Office Location(s): San Mateo, California

Geographic Context:

• The San Francisco Bay Area is a dynamic and diverse region with a thriving tech industry
• The area offers a high cost of living, with a median home price of over $1.5 million
• San Mateo is located approximately 20 miles south of San Francisco and 30 miles north of San Jose

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a flexible schedule and remote work options available

ASSUMPTION: The San Francisco Bay Area is a competitive job market with a high cost of living. However, it also offers a wealth of professional opportunities and a vibrant cultural scene.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the HR team
• In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or creative team
• Final interview with the Creative Director

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creative problem-solving and strategic thinking
• Communication and presentation skills
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Understanding of the Rakuten brand and its values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
• Prepare examples of your creative strategy and project management work
• Research Rakuten Rewards and the broader Rakuten organization to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its mission

ATS Keywords: Creative Strategy, Project Management, Marketing, Brand Stewardship, Account Management, Production Management, Feedback, Problem Solving, Sports Industry Knowledge, Self-Starter, Team Motivation, Ambiguity Navigation, Strategic Input, Holistic Planning

ASSUMPTION: Rakuten Rewards uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage job applications. Including relevant keywords in your resume and cover letter can help your application stand out and increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
• Creative software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)
• Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace)

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the candidate's background and the team's preferences. However, strong project management and creative software skills are essential for success in this position.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Always improve, always advance (Kaizen)
• Passionately professional
• Hypothesize, practice, validate (Shikumika)
• Maximize customer satisfaction
• Speed!! Speed!! Speed!!

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Innovative and experimental
• Customer-focused and results-driven

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you embrace a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation?
• Are you passionate about your work and committed to delivering high-quality results?
• Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment?

ASSUMPTION: Rakuten Rewards values candidates who are passionate, innovative, and committed to delivering exceptional results. A strong cultural fit is essential for success in this role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing competing priorities and changing goals in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborating effectively with remote team members and stakeholders
• Ensuring brand consistency and credibility across a wide range of communications and channels
• Navigating the complexities of the e-commerce and digital content industries

ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require a strong, adaptable candidate with a proven track record in creative strategy and project management.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional marketing roles, this position focuses heavily on creative strategy and project management
• This role requires a strong understanding of the Rakuten brand and its values, as well as the ability to steward the brand across a wide range of communications and channels
• Career progression in this role may involve expanding responsibilities to include additional business units or partnerships, or advancing to a leadership role within the creative team or broader marketing organization

ASSUMPTION: This role is unique within the marketing and creative industries, requiring a strong focus on creative strategy and project management, as well as a deep understanding of the Rakuten brand and its values.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive creative strategy for a major partnership or promotional event
• Managing the production of a high-profile advertising campaign from start to finish
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize work processes and improve efficiency

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are intended to illustrate the types of responsibilities and challenges the Senior Creative Strategist may face in this role. The specific projects and initiatives will vary depending on the candidate's background and the team's priorities.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How would you describe the creative team's dynamic and how does this role fit into it?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the creative team, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Rakuten Rewards support the professional growth and development of its employees?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does Rakuten Rewards foster a culture of innovation and experimentation?

ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company, as well as to demonstrate their interest and engagement in the hiring process.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Rakuten Rewards careers page
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
• Prepare examples of your creative strategy and project management work
• Research Rakuten Rewards and the broader Rakuten organization to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its mission
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and reiterate your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.