Job Summary

We're looking for a Brand Manager who will play a key role in supporting the newly formed Brand Management function to nurture key franchises like Naruto, BLEACH, and new production projects for long term growth and relevance. In this role you will be a key stakeholder between licensed partners, co-production partners, and internal teams including publishing, content, consumer products, events, and more to drive marketing initiatives throughout the lifecycle of VIZ's largest brands. The ideal candidate has a passion for entertainment brands and a creative mindset, with a proven ability to develop and execute innovative marketing campaigns that resonate with target audiences.

Candidates must be able to speak, read, and write professionally in both English and Japanese in order to communicate effectively with internal staff and Japanese companies.

What you'll do:

• Shape the brand positioning and go-to-market strategy for how key franchise brands show up in the marketplace across digital, streaming, social, retail, and more
• Plan and execute brand-led marketing campaigns to strengthen perception of our franchise brands, increase awareness, and drive fan engagement
• Maintain knowledge of key franchise brands thoroughly to enable strong cross-functional collaborations that resonate with the brand and adheres to brand guidelines
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the brand's external and internal stakeholders and keeper and approver of brand information/ for assigned brands
• Collaborate closely with internal and external teams to ensure cohesive and impactful brand messaging across the marketplace and all channels
• Manage the day-to-day execution of marketing campaigns including physical and digital promotions, partnerships, and events to support key business objectives
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of campaigns and provide reporting with key summaries and actionable insights for continuous optimization
• Provide brand insights and feedback on marketing assets, including copywriting, visual content, and multimedia materials to ensure they effectively communicate the brand's message and resonate with target audiences
• Maintain and update key relevant brand information and guidelines through close partnership with Content, Consumer Products, and Approvals team (e.g. Franchise Bible, style sheets, etc.)
• Maintain master timelines and tracking all activities for assigned brands including but not limited to publishing, content, consumer products, marketing, and events
• Support as additional point of contact for key licensor and partner requests
• Stay abreast of industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to inform, innovate, and adapt marketing campaigns accordingly

As a Brand Manager, you will report to the Director of Franchise Brand Management.

The ideal candidate has:

• 3- 5 years of work experience in brand marketing preferably in the entertainment industry, with 2 year of partnership management and cross-functional department experience
• Past experience in brand development, marketing campaign strategy, and/or product marketing
• Knowledge and passion for the anime and manga landscape and VIZ IP
• Strong understanding of marketing principles, strategies, and tactics, with a demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful marketing campaigns
• Creative thinker with excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to craft compelling marketing messages and narratives
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, draw insights, and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Be proactive and optimistic. You like to learn new things and take on new challenges
• Great communicator and able to build relationships with partners and internal cross-functional teams and be a team player
• Written and spoken Japanese fluency at a native or business level
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office /Google Apps suites
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience with a record of success

Additional preferred experience:

• Previous experience with marketing and licensing is a PLUS
• Passion for entertainment and pop culture, with a finger on the pulse of current trends and industry developments
• Experience with tools like Netbase/QUID (social listening) and Wrike (project management) is a PLUS
• Experience using content delivery software (Aspera, SFTP, etc) is a PLUS

Work Environment & Schedule

Location: Open to candidates within California. This position is expected to be hybrid for candidates local to the San Francisco Bay Area (approx. 1-2 days onsite per week). Remote options can be considered pending candidate's experience and qualifications. Some business travel is expected for this position.

Schedule: This is a Regular Full-Time position with flexibility in working hours outside of our core hours of 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Brand Manager may occasionally need to work late or on weekends.

Compensation: $80,000 - $110,000 annually, depending on experience, with additional variable compensation