Manager, Original Merchandise Brand Services (Bilingual Japanese/English)

Get To Know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and 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 corporate.pokemon.com and pokemon.com.



Get to know the role

• Job Title: Original Merchandise Brand Services (Plush) (Bilingual Japanese English)
• Job Summary: This role carries dual responsibilities:
• Team Management: Managing the plush development and coordination team.
• Strategic Execution: Driving plush initiative and The Pokémon Company related product project, working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure successful planning and execution.
  

The ideal candidate is a native level English – Japanese bilingual and has proven expertise in plush and related product development and management. They have experienced in stakeholder engagement, capable of balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on execution, and committed to delivering results through both team leadership and individual contributions.

An understanding of the overall Pokémon brand and its characters is a plus. The candidate will be expected to immerse themselves in the Pokémon brand; this ranges from playing video and trading card games to watching the animated series.

• FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
• People Manager: Yes
  
  

What you’ll do

Product Strategy & Execution

• Assist in developing and executing strategies for plush and other TPC-related products, ensuring alignment with business goals and brand standards.
• Manage the project of plush and other TPC-related product development.
• Build and strengthen the relationships with external partners, actively manage the production schedules and quality standards.
• Lead coordination of the data integration with TPC’s system.
  
  

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary point of contact, coordinate and collaborate with TPC, other Pokémon group companies, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth execution of various initiatives and projects.
  
  

Operational Excellence & Team Management

• Oversee team operations, including workload management, role assignment, and progress tracking.
• Guide the plush development, sample review, and quality standards for team members.
• Implement process improvements and best practices to enhance development efficiency and product quality.
  
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead a high-performing team.
• Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities to support scalable operation.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement through mentorship, coaching, and professional development.
• Set clear goals and performance metrics, conduct regular feedback sessions, and support career growth for team members.
  
  

What You’ll Bring

• 5 years of experience in product development, merchandising, or related industries.
• 3 years of experience managing and leading high-performing teams.
• Experience developing plush or other 3D product, with strong knowledge of materials, production, and quality control is a plus.
• Japanese and English speaking and writing ability at native level.
• Familiarity with Japanese business protocol.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent required.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to balance people management responsibilities with individual contributor duties.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with multiple priorities and simultaneous projects.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word.
• Familiarity in Slack, Confluence, and SharePoint is a plus
• International business travel required.
  
  

Base Salary Range: For this role, new hires generally start between $119,292 - $158,722 per year. The full range is $119,292 - $214,860 per year. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. The final base salary is directly related to the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience uniquely.

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.
• Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a “team first” mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.
• Delighting Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience.
  
  

What To Expect

• An innovative culture driven by impact, delivering meaningful outcomes.
• Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon.
• Competitive cash-based compensation programs.
• 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you.
• Generous paid family leave.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Employer-paid long and short-term income protection insurance.
• US Employees: 401k Employer Matching.
• UK/IRE/MX Employees: Pension Employer Contributions.
• Fitness reimbursement.
• Commuter benefit.
• LinkedIn learning.
• Comprehensive relocation package for certain roles.
• Hybrid work environment.
  
  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work. In some cases, and for some roles, the Company may be able to arrange a visa. For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland. However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.

The Pokémon Company International is committed to the inclusion of all qualified applicants for consideration in our job application process. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at accommodationrequest_ta@pokemon.com.