Marketing Director - Fanatics Collectibles

This role will define and oversee the execution of comprehensive marketing strategies across brand marketing, trade marketing, events marketing, and social media channels in Japan. The successful candidate will lead initiatives to drive brand growth, engage consumers, and deliver impactful marketing campaigns, aligning local efforts with global objectives. This position is pivotal in building the company's brand presence and fostering growth in the Japanese market through innovative and culturally relevant marketing strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Marketing Leadership

• Build the Japan marketing team, fostering a high-performance culture while aligning efforts with global strategic goals.
• Develop and execute localized marketing strategies that align with the company’s overall branding, ensuring consistency in tone, messaging, and visual identity while incorporating elements that resonate with Japanese consumers.
• Strengthen the company’s brand identity and awareness in Japan through culturally relevant and innovative marketing initiatives.
• Partner with global teams to ensure consistency in brand representation across all touchpoints while adapting campaigns to suit regional preferences.

Events Management:

• Oversee the planning and execution of key activations, including local sports collaborations, card shows, and high-impact initiatives.
• Collaborate with local events agencies and event management teams globally to deliver impactful consumer and trade marketing events.
• Work closely with stakeholders to align activations with business goals, ensuring measurable ROI.
• Evaluate event performance and gather consumer insights to enhance future activations.

Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Develop comprehensive marketing strategies tailored to Japan’s unique market landscape, encompassing product launches, digital campaigns, and trade promotions.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation of marketing initiatives.
• Conduct consumer research to refine marketing strategies and enhance product positioning.

Content and Digital Marketing:

• Oversee the development of engaging content for local social media platforms ensuring alignment with brand guidelines.
• Drive innovative digital marketing strategies to strengthen online presence and consumer engagement.
• Utilize influencer partnerships and other digital tools to maximize reach and impact.

Relationship and Partnership Development

• Cultivate relationships with key partners, such as local sports leagues, media companies, and entertainment entities.
• Collaborate with brand partners and licensors to expand the reach of marketing campaigns.
• Manage partnerships with agencies to ensure cost-effective and impactful marketing activities.

Team Development and Collaboration

• Build a cohesive marketing team capable of delivering against ambitious goals.
• Foster collaboration between regional and global teams, ensuring seamless integration of strategies.

Budget and Financial Management

• Manage promotional and advertising budgets, ensuring alignment with financial goals.
• Work closely with sales teams to develop retail strategies that maximize market penetration and revenue.

Required Skills, Experience, and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of marketing experience in Japan’s sports/entertainment or consumer products sectors, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven track record of delivering successful localized marketing campaigns.
• Strong understanding of Japan’s consumer landscape, including digital platforms and emerging trends.
• Visionary thinker with a creative approach to problem-solving and strategy.
• Experience organizing high-profile events and managing complex activations.
• Self-driven, proactive, and results-oriented with strong organizational and communication skills.
• Fluent in Japanese and English.
• Extensive experience working for an international company.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. 

Subject to applicable laws, Fanatics Collectibles may choose to run a background check.

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers.

Fanatics Collectibles is a leading licensor, producer, designer, and seller of physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets for entertainment and sports properties globally, as well as a manufacturer of physical and digital trading cards. It has secured exclusive licensing arrangements with major national professional sports leagues, including the MLB, NFL and the NBA, and related players associations, to produce physical and digital trading cards and other collectibles. 

Fanatics Collectibles also has partnerships with a number of individual international sports teams and leagues, as well as owners of other entertainment properties granting similar exclusive rights. Fanatics Collectibles recently announced Fanatics Live, expected to launch later in 2023, which will focus on transforming the digital shopping experience through personality-driven content and entertainment.