Senior Product Manager

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Product Manager would serve as the central product owner connecting NISJ/Development, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Porting, Localization, and PR, ensuring that product decisions are made early, supported by market data, and aligned with a consistent commercial strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Own the overall commercial product strategy for each title from pre-launch through post-launch• Develop SKU strategies across PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, Steam, and physical/digital products
• Develop pricing recommendations for games, editions, DLC, bundles, and promotions
• Conduct market and competitive analysis, including competitor pricing, editions, release timing, and positioning
• Define product positioning, target audience, and key product differentiators

• Evaluate the commercial potential, opportunities, and risks of upcoming titles• Support go-to-market and launch strategy in partnership with Sales and Marketing
• Recommend post-launch pricing, promotions, bundles, and lifecycle strategies based on performance

• Establish standardized product planning, forecasting, and reporting processes• Coordinate with HQ in Japan and internal teams to ensure key commercial decisions are made early enough to support production and launch schedules
• Build sales forecasts, revenue assumptions, and business cases by platform and SKU
• Establish KPIs and monitor product performance against forecasts and business objectives
• Present product recommendations and business cases to senior management when needed

Required Qualifications:

• 5–8+ years of experience in game publishing, product management, business strategy, or a closely related commercial role
• Experience successfully launching multiple commercial game titles
• Strong understanding of console and PC platforms, as well as digital and physical SKU structures
• Proven experience in pricing, forecasting, competitive analysis, and business planning
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets and analytical skills
• Good understanding of revenue, margin, and commercial performance
• Ability to turn market, player, and business data into clear recommendations
• Strong cross-functional communication and project leadership skills
• Experience working with international teams and, ideally, Japanese publishers/developers
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate recommendations to senior management

Preferred Qualifications:

• Business-level or native proficiency in Japanese, enabling direct communication with HQ in Japan and Japanese licensors/developers
• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field
• Experience setting pricing and go-to-market strategy across multiple regions, including Japan, North America, and Europe
• Established relationships with first-party platform holders (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) or key PC storefronts
• Familiarity with the Japanese game industry and trends in Japanese title localization for Western markets

Other Requirements:

• Supervisory Responsibilities: TBD

Key Attributes:

Candidate should demonstrate these skills

• Strategic & Commercial Mindset• Able to turn market, player, and business data into clear, actionable recommendations
• Balances long-term product vision with near-term commercial priorities

• Executive Communication• Exceptional presentation skills; comfortable presenting business cases to senior management
• Strong negotiation skills with platform partners and internal stakeholders

• Leadership & Ownership• Takes full ownership of commercial outcomes across the product lifecycle
• Confident making and defending high-stakes recommendations

• Cross-functional Collaboration• Builds trust and alignment across Development, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Porting, and Localization
• Experience working effectively with international and Japanese teams

• Analytical Rigor• Strong sense for numbers, forecasting, and P&L impact
• Detail-oriented in pricing, forecasting, and business case analysis

• Judgment & Resilience• Sound judgment under ambiguity and competing priorities
• Stress tolerance in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is typically performed either in an office environment with a moderate noise level or at your home.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to frequently sit and occasionally must stand, walk, use hands and fingers, and may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include the ability to read and analyze data in hard copy and on a computer screen, measure, or identify using eyesight and adjust vision focus.
• Abilities to communicate verbally and in writing to individuals and groups.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Benefits: Health, Dental & Vision coverage, 401k plan

Health care: effective first of the month following 30 days waiting period. 401K: Require 3 months of service to be eligible.

• Paid holidays; 88 hours of vacation in the first year; 56 hours sick leave per year
• Discretionally Year-end bonus (TBD) may be available