Consumer Public Relations Specialist - North America

Rakuten Kobo

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. 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 Consumer PR Specialist, North America is responsible for driving Rakuten Kobo’s brand awareness and engagement across key North American markets (Canada and the United States). Reporting to the Senior Manager of Communications, the role focuses on strategic media relations, earned influencer programming, and overseeing local PR agencies in both Canada and the US. A critical component is elevating Rakuten Kobo’s innovative hardware and accessories by positioning our eReaders and related products to media and earned influencers, securing impactful coverage that highlights their unique features and benefits, and driving a robust product review program.

• Communications strategy & execution: execute overall communications strategy, including product launches, consumer PR outreach, earned influencer programming, and media/influencer/consumer events, in close collaboration with the Senior Manager of Communications.
• Organize and execute media opportunities and speaking engagements to drive Kobo’s brand awareness across North America, including media tours and interviews with local agency assistance.
• Agency & market management: oversee public relations agencies for North American markets (US and Canada), including planning, briefing, and managing ongoing activities, and analyzing results to inform future efforts.
• Monitoring, reporting & analysis: lead reporting across North American markets, track results, measure against KPIs, identify notable wins/trends, and coordinate agency reporting.
• Competitor news tracking and analysis to identify gaps and opportunities for the Kobo brand.
• Internal & external stakeholder engagement: liaise with Rakuten Kobo’s internal teams to ensure all communication needs are met regarding new and existing products, software features, Kobo Plus subscriptions, Kobo Writing Life, Kobo Originals content, and new partner/territory announcements relevant to North America.
• Foster relationships with Rakuten Kobo’s North American retail partners to expand co‑brand awareness through communications initiatives and events.

• 3‑5 years of PR/Communications agency or in‑house experience with a proven track record in a fast‑paced environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, English, or an allied field.
• Experience working in public relations within North America (US and/or Canada) and confidence working with diverse regional teams.
• Strong communicator with exemplary writing and editing skills.
• Strategic thinker and detail‑oriented worker adept at managing timelines and communicating progress.
• Ability to effectively manage a network of internal stakeholders and PR agencies.
• Experience with event planning and execution.
• Ability to proactively identify communications opportunities and help develop supporting programs.
• Available for occasional travel as needed.
• Positive team approach to working with internal and external partners.

• Strategic thinking and a diplomatic approach when dealing with media, internal, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of the digital book industry and consumer technologies, particularly within the North American market.
• Creative thinking and ability to uncover trend‑focused story angles to differentiate and advance Rakuten Kobo’s market position.
• Detail and solutions‑oriented mindset to ensure smooth program execution.
• Ability to multi‑task and triage work among time‑sensitive priorities.
• Flexible team player who can support various teams and lines of business simultaneously (devices, subscriptions, self‑publishing, Kobo Originals, content, publisher, etc.).

• Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
• Subsidized…