Sr. Manager, Pokémon Championships

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, 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: Sr. Manager, Pokémon Championships
• Job Summary: Develops objectives and strategies for the overall effectiveness and execution of the Pokémon Championships, such as the Regional, International, and World Championships, across multiple product categories and age divisions.
• FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
• People Manager: Yes

What you’ll do

• Creates long term plans and strategy for growth of the Pokémon Championships.
• Directly manages and oversees alignment across competition production, operations, players management, and program design for the Pokémon video game, Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE along with other properties, as needed.
• Leads a group of managers and individual contributors aligning their roles and operations for effective delivery of the Pokémon Championships, it's events, and programs - everything from tournament structure, floor plans, and staffing to alignment of rules, penalties, and point systems.
• Manages and executes projects and plans intended to maximize the Pokémon Championships, player engagement, and fans interested in competitive play.
• Creates alignment across multiple internal teams including broadcast, convention, organized play, marketing, licensing, legal, and technology.
• Collaborates with external groups including game developers to ensure aligned delivery of annual World Championships.
• Negotiates contracts and manages relationships with outside vendors.
• Prepares ROI evaluations of events. Ensures budgets are adhered to.
• Provides onsite leadership at tentpole events for the Pokémon Championships.
• Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function.

What you’ll bring

• Ten+ (10+) years of relevant professional experience (esports, sports, or other competitive program), plus two (2) years of management experience or a demonstrated equivalent level of expertise.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or a demonstrated equivalent level of applicable experience.
• Expert in the esport space including sponsorships, teams, and competitive formats (individual event and season long qualification)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Creative and effective problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Ability to respond to problems and to assist others with a calm, courteous, and helpful manner and attitude.
• Thorough understanding of legal regulations and permits required to produce competitive events.
• Thorough understanding of rule structures and competitive program design and point systems.
• Ability to travel internationally for fixed event dates ~10% of the time including to Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.
• Excellent skills with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Power Point, and Excel) & Google Workspace (Sheets, Slides)
• Knowledge of Pokémon and it's events a major plus.
• Knowledge CAD and design programs (Adobe Suite, SketchUp, Vectorworks) a major plus.

Base Salary Range: For this role, new hires generally start between $154,000 - $183,350 per year. The full range is $154,000 - $232,000 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.

#LI-CK1 #LI-Hybrid

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.