Manager – Original Merchandise Brand Services

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 - $158,722per 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.

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