Company Description:
LinkShare Corporation provides an online marketing platform that integrates high quality direct response digital media, services and technology. LinkShare empowers clients with the ability to develop cost-efficient pay per action (PPA) affiliate, search and lead generation campaigns that acquire new customers, increase revenue and drive results. LinkShare clients are Fortune 500 and prominent companies doing business online, including J.C. Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express, and Avon Products. LinkShare was founded in 1996 in New York City, and operates additional offices in Chicago, London, San Francisco, Tampa, and Tokyo.

LinkShare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc., (www.rakutenusa.com) which is a public company listed on the JASDAQ. Rakuten, Inc., is one of the world’s largest Internet service companies, providing leading services in e-commerce, portal and media, travel, financial services and professional sports.

Job Description:
The Product Manager is responsible for assisting in product planning and execution throughout the product lifecycle, including: gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the product vision in Market Requirements Documents (MRDs), and working closely with services, product development, sales, marketing and support to ensure revenue and customer satisfaction goals are met. The product manager may perform qualitative and quantitative research with existing customers and potential prospects. This includes on-going technology assessment within the context of the competitive landscape and analysis of product acceptance/usage. Based on market-driven feedback from customers and prospects, the Product Manager will assist in creating the product road map, and write clear business requirements for new products/features in MRDs. The Product Manager will work closely with product development to define the contents and delivery of product releases. In addition, the Product Manager will perform sales, trend, and profitability analysis. As products come to market, the Product Manager will develop a company-wide go-to-market communications plan, working with all departments to execute. The Product Manager job also includes ensuring that the product supports the company’s overall strategy and goals.

The Product Manager is expected to:
• Help define the product strategy and roadmap working with the Director and Product Development
• Assist in managing the prioritization process with senior management
• Run qualitative and quantitative market research and feedback programs
• Deliver marketing requirements documentation with prioritized features and corresponding justification to product development
• Work with Product Development and business owners on approving functional specs
• Run beta and pilot programs with early-stage products when possible
• Inform feature, schedule and cost tradeoffs as the product nears completion
• Provide in-depth market, industry and competitive analysis and positioning
• Develop pricing and packaging strategies
• Work closely with the marcom team to develop sales tools and training
• Develop and manage customer training/customer care programs
• Provide subject matter expertise for product and company collateral
• Report on product results, including: usage, costs, revenues and contribution.
• Act as the internal and external champion of his or her product. This includes being the ‘one- stop-shop’ for information on the product, target market and product competitors.
• Have proactive communication with management on the product, its performance and any major issues or changes in the market or competition.

Requirements:
• 3-5 years B2B product management experience
• Bachelor’s degree. MBA a plus.
• 2+ years product management experience in high technology products, from development through launch and introduction
• Prior experience at an ad network or online marketing services company
• Knowledge of Web technologies
• Demonstrated success in collaborating on product strategies and lifecycle management
• Demonstrated ability to meet or beat assigned targets and deadlines consistently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong presentation skills, including experience having independently presented to Management
• Experience as a technical analyst a plus
• The ability to be self-motivated
• Seasoned experience using Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, and project management software such as @task.