Associate Market Development Manager

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.

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Job Title:

Associate Market Development Manager, USA – Organized Play

Job Summary:

This individual contributor role builds and manages strategic partner alliances to strengthen key account relationships, analyze program and market trends, and implement strategies that support growth, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning.

FLSA Classification (US Only):
Exempt

People Manager:
No

• Expand Retail Partnerships – Recruit, develop, and manage Play! Pokémon Store partnerships across the North America and Oceania, driving engagement and retention.

• Subject Matter Expertise – Serve as a trusted expert in Play! Pokémon market development, ensuring strategies align with broader business objectives and industry best practices.

• Support Program Growth – Identify and cultivate opportunities to grow the Play! Pokémon program, facilitating casual and competitive events that create inclusive gaming experiences.

• Market & Competitive Analysis – Evaluate program performance, analyze market trends, and recommend strategies for improving retailer participation and success.

• Retailer & Community Engagement – Strengthen Play! Pokémon awareness by working directly with stores, organizers, and community leaders to increase access and support.

• Strategic Alignment
  Assess factors contributing to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and forecast growth opportunities.

• Resource Optimization – Contribute to building and updating training documents and materials for a diverse audience of retailers and professors.

• Program & Competitive Awareness – Oversee program impact, monitor industry trends, and implement best practices to ensure Play! Pokémon remains a top-tier experience.

• Event Representation – Plan and attend key international events to connect with retailers, vendors, and Pokémon Professors, fostering relationships and gathering insights.

• Vendor & Contract Management – Ensure vendor agreements align with Play! Pokémon goals, supporting event execution and retail success.

• Cross-Team Collaboration – Work effectively across teams to coordinate efforts and align strategies for timely delivery of objectives.

• Three (3) to five (5) years of related professional experience.

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Experience in delivering results in diverse markets.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

• Thorough understanding of or the ability to quickly learn about the project or product being developed.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Experience with Salesforce a plus

For this role, new hires generally start between $85,000 - $100,000 per year. The full range is $85,000 - $126,000 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

• 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.
• I…