About Company
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation.
The company offers an integrated product line including the popular digital manga anthology Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages.
We are looking for a Brand Development Manager to join our team
What you’ll do:
- Manage all aspects of the relationship with the licensor and its distributor including: strategic planning, submitting deals for review, routine business updates and reviews (Most meetings/video conferences and email correspondence will be conducted in Japanese with our licensor based in Japan)
- Build and execute Marketing plans to support the portfolio which will continue to expand consumer brand awareness and strengthen brand affinity.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive franchise development and GTM strategy that aligns with the company and brands growth objectives.
- Conduct market research to identify potential new markets, evaluate competition, and assess the feasibility of new franchise opportunities.
- Create and execute strategic business and brand marketing plans on behalf of VIZ
- Provides support to licensees for their own brand activations
- Build Franchise strategy decks, presentations, and sales tools/pitch materials
- Identify white space and category expansion opportunities to grow the business
- Represent the CPG division at annual conventions, partner summits, trade shows, and client meetings as requested
- Be the primary contact on external brand inquiries regarding the properties and route to appropriate team members as needed.
- Manage P&L Responsibility, set annual forecasts, and drive business partners to meet financial targets quarterly and annually.
The ideal candidate has:
- 5+ years of relevant business experience, particularly Sales, Marketing, and Licensing experience
- Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in both business- or native-level Japanese and English is a MUST – this position will require spoken Japanese in a professional office environment 50% of the time
- Knowledge of and interest in pop culture and kawaii culture strongly preferred
- Excellent written and verbal communication, as well as strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to communicate and interact professionally with culturally diverse partners, providers, and staff
- Proficiency with presentation development, delivery, and software (such as Canva and Keynote)
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