Program Manager

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities. 

If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth– join Kobo and come help us make reading lives better. 

The Role:

It’s an exciting time for the PMO at Rakuten Kobo Inc. as we refresh our Program Management practice and power up our delivery processes in preparation for what is about to be a busy and exciting year for us! We’re looking to grow our team with someone who has both experience and fresh ideas when it comes to running digital programs, and with the kind of passion, dedication and creativity that would be an asset to any team.

The Project Management Office (PMO) is looking to add an experienced and talented Program Manager to our fantastic team. This person will manage multiple concurrent tech projects simultaneously, ensuring effective delivery, clear communication and alignment between program components – all while keeping a clear view of program purpose and business objectives. They will have solid experience having done this already with cross-functional teams in large organizations, and on a range of programs and tech solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Thoughtful and cohesive delivery of key programs by guiding teams, partners and stakeholders through all stages of the program lifecycle
• Careful planning, diligent organization, and effective day-to-day management to mobilize and enable program teams
• Transparent and proactive maintenance of dependency and risk mitigation processes
• Clear and useful visibility and communication of program status and issues for diverse groups of collaborators as appropriate
• High engagement and active contribution to the PMO Team, working together to share and build our team’s knowledge, skills, and sense of community

The Skillset:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing multiple digital projects in a large-scale delivery environment with multi-functional teams
• Understanding of project management principles and methodology, including Agile and Waterfall, and familiarity with typical Project Management tools
• Excellent planning, organizational and communication skills, with tone and content adjusted to suit audience and context appropriately
• Ability to manage competing demands with confidence
• Self-motivated, creative problem solver with keen attention to detail
• Conscientious contributor, reliable and not afraid of accountability – keen to get involved and takes pride in their work and the difference it can make