Merchandise Marketing Manager

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children's entertainment properties in the world.

Learn more online at Pokemon.com and on Facebook (facebook.com/pokemon), YouTube (youtube.com/pokemon), Twitter (twitter.com/pokemon), and Instagram (instagram.com/pokemon).

Get to know the role

• Job Title: Merchandise Marketing Manager
• Job Summary: Reporting to the Sr. Director, Merchandise and Retail Marketing, this role will focus on leading marketing and channel support for our Licensed Merchandise, Promotions, and Publishing in US, Canada, LATAM, and Australia. This position will also lead brand cross-category retail programs for anniversaries, movies, and major brand events.
• FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
• People Manager: No

What you’ll do

• Establish Merchandise Marketing objectives and strategies for Licensing and Publishing that align with company, business unit, and department goals.
• Develop annual marketing programs to promote key licensed products, collaborations, and promotions and increase prominence of Pokémon brand by strategically integrating key licensees like Jazwares, Mattel, and Funko.
• Lead planning with licensees’ retail teams and the Manager, Retail Marketing to develop, pitch, and execute cross-category to merchandising programs.
• Plan and execute high profile retail events for major brand initiatives, like anniversaries and movies, that increase our fanbase, cross product engagement, and fan interaction.
• Create merchandise and retail partner communication strategy and custom marketing materials including sales presentations, brand updates, and annual retailer tradeshows.
• Provide consumer insights and direction to TPCi Digital Marketing and Communication teams to develop effective consumer outreach across PR, Email, Online, and Social Media channels.
• Guide the Associate Product Marketing Manager in the execution of channel marketing programs including planning calendars, creations of designs and special art, usage guardrails, and design feedback/approvals.
• Analyze results of activations, provide updates across all functions, analyze results against planned KPI’s and total outcomes, report to partner teams and executives.
• Drive annual budgeting, review/approval, and compliance for all Licensing and Publishing marketing programs, providing updates and spending summaries.            

What you’ll bring

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant professional experience or a demonstrated equivalent level of expertise.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or a demonstrated equivalent level of applicable experience.
• Passion to create unique programs that combine Pokémon and partner goals
• Experience working with external partners and able to communicate clearly and troubleshoot challenges diplomatically
• Passion to create unique programs that combine Pokémon and partner goals
• Demonstrable ability to project manage, work cross functionally, and oversee multiple projects with various stakeholders
• While passion for the Pokémon brand is a plus it is not required, however knowledge of and a willingness to learn more about the brand is a must.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

How you’ll be successful

• Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do.
• Challenging the Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.  
• Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results.
• Dedicated to Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve.