Program Manager, Partner Brands (Japanese/English Bilingual)

At Wizards of the Coast, we connect people around the world through play and imagination. From our genre-defining games like Magic: The Gathering® and Dungeons & Dragons® to our growing multiverse, we continue to innovate and build new ways to foster friendship and connection. That’s where you come in!

Do you have demonstrated expertise in program management, partnerships or licensing, and a passion for product development? Do you have near native level Japanese proficiency and strong communication skills in both Japanese and English with a deep understanding for Japanese culture and entertainment?

We are looking for an innovative and daring bilingual Japanese Program Manager, Partner Brands for the Magic Franchise to cultivate and lead profitable long-term partnerships with licensors and collaborators to ensure the delivery of an outstanding portfolio of products and business goals. The ideal candidate will have experience with licensor management and critical communication, along with a highly attuned game quality sense.

The Program Manager, Partner Brands will be leading licensing programs across our portfolio of titles to bring the best entertainment-licensed consumer products and experiences to our fans. In this key role, you will work externally with licensors based Japan and internally, cross-functionally with global teams.

What You'll Do:

• Own the Partnership – Manage the day-to-day relationship with licensees including onboarding, seeing opportunities, problem-solving, marketing and all business reviews. You represent Wizards to the partner, and you also represent the partner’s voice within Wizards.
• Cross-Functional Leadership – Work collaboratively to support and lead throughout the pipeline of partnership product development, owning the flow of licensing, the release schedule and marketing information to all internal teams. You will be an encouraging communicator and negotiator, and a constant consultant.
• Connect Us – Be a liaison between Japan and the U.S. by translating partner communication and feedback, interpreting in meetings, and occasionally traveling to Japan to support in-person business meetings. You are both a guide and consultant, helping our teams navigate JP business culture and JP partnerships.
• Drive the Business – Provide insights on the Japanese marketplace and community actively studying the Japanese TCG market to discover opportunities with new and existing partners. You will build and summarize performance reports while ensuring internal compliance with licensing deals and timelines.

What You'll Bring:

• 4-6 years experience in translating emails, presentations, documents, and other text based translations into both native-level Japanese and English.
• 4-6 years experience of English & Japanese consecutive interpreting in in-person business meetings and remote calls. (Experience with simultaneous interpretation would be a further plus.)
• Flexible working hours to accommodate a few afternoon and evening meetings a week with Japanese business partners.
• 4-6 years experience, specifically within consumer goods or gaming.
• At least 2 years analyzing or working with legal agreements and external working relationships.
• Has near native level Japanese proficiency and strong communication skills in both Japanese and English.
• A deep understanding in the Japanese TCG market and gaming culture.
• Entrepreneurial, persistent, and resourceful, with experience learning quickly about new technologies and industry trends.
• Strong business judgment and intellectual maturity; ability to craft solutions that appropriately balance risk and business objectives.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and experience developing strong internal
• Ability to identify key concerns quickly and drive collaborators to a consensus.
• Strong project management abilities; capable of prioritizing and balancing multiple projects simultaneously, under tight time constraints and within budget parameters.

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

Wizards of the Coast is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. We are committed to making all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process and need to request an accommodation, please contact your recruiter or coordinator.

The base salary range for this position is $102,000.00 to $163,800.00. The hiring range will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location and market conditions. Additionally, employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package.