Licensing and Merchandise Manager (Japan)

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

As a Licensing and Merchandise Manager focused on Japan, you’ll drive the development of meaningful partnerships and merchandise initiatives that connect CD PROJEKT RED’s IP with audiences in Japan and beyond. You’ll work at the intersection of local trends, global strategy, and gamer culture - bringing creative, commercially viable projects to life with high attention to cultural relevance and quality.

Please note: the agreement will be with CD PROJEKT S.A. (the Polish entity), and we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead licensing and merchandise projects originating in Japan, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality benchmarks are met.
• Manage day-to-day communications with partners and vendors, building lasting relationships and resolving any challenges along the way.
• Track and analyze entertainment and consumer goods trends in Japan to identify new opportunities for merchandise, licensing, and crossovers.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external creatives to develop merchandise and partnership concepts that reflect our brand while appealing to both local and global gamers.
• Coordinate production and execution of projects, ensuring deliverables meet both creative expectations and business objectives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of IP rights, licensing standards, and legal compliance across all initiatives.

Qualifications

• Fluency in both Japanese and English.
• At least 3 years of experience in licensing, contract negotiation, and merchandise development.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• A creative, problem-solving mindset with the ability to adapt to changing needs.
• Solid understanding of Japan’s media, consumer product, or entertainment markets.
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and managing timelines.
• Familiarity with legal frameworks around IP and licensing.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Have

• Experience working with international teams or in a global franchise environment.
• Passion for games, pop culture, or storytelling through merchandise.

Additional Information

Working Mode

• Remote-First: this role is primarily remote, with occasional in-person collaboration at our local office space.

Perks & Professional Growth 

• Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!
• REDs have access to the cafeteria platform through which they can receive subscription benefits, additional medical packages or vouchers and codes to shops and cinemas.
• Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Head office in Warsaw

• Sustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.
• An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.
• Car and bike parking spaces.
• A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them. 
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.

Global Employee Perks

• Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.
• Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.

If you've observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.

#LI-Onsite