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