Director, Merchandise Americas & EU

Square Enix is seeking a strategic leader to shape our IP and merchandise business in the West region (Americas, EU). The successful candidate will bring a growth mindset and experience with rapid revenue growth, a clear understanding of the Western merchandise market and our strategic opportunities, and extensive experience with managing global operations.

This is a unique opportunity to work on some of gaming’s most beloved IPs and rapidly expand Square Enix’s merchandise business in the West region!

Strategy & Planning

• Lead development of short- and long-term growth strategies for merchandise business in West region.
• Evaluate ongoing market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscapes to inform decision-making.
• Analyze sales (retail and e-store) and consumer feedback to identify areas for improvement in product strategies and marketing efforts.
• Secure approval from internal stakeholdres to ensure alignment with brand objectives and marketing strategies.
• Lead development process for international and local merchandising go-to-market concepts.

• Oversee product selection and management for retail and e-store platforms through cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead merchandise pricing strategy for West region.
• Identify and evaluate new distribution partners and retail partnerships to reach new markets.
• Lead new product conceptualization and development.

Operations & Execution

• Develop, track, and report production operations budget to management.
• Maintain and strengthen partner and vendor relationships while optimizing production capacity and supply chain efficiency.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight of inventory management ensuring proper allocation and movement (pre-order, launch).
• Ensure alignment with internal stakeholders on production information across all channels.
• Oversee product localization to ensure alignment with regional preferences and compliance with local regulations.

Key Metrics

• Sales and profit targets
• Sales and profit growth rate
• Inventory turnover rate
• Number of new business developments
• Forecasting accuracy
• Advertising return on ad spend (ROAS)
• Customer satisfaction

Requirements

• Seasoned leader in the IP and merchandising business (licensing, product development, partnerships, etc.) within the entertainment or video game industry.
• Proven track record of achieving sales and profit targets.
• Extensive experience managing a global team and providing thought leadership.
• Deep understanding of internal and external trends in IP-related businesses, providing informed decision support to achieve company-wide objectives.
• Strong knowledge of Square Enix games, manga, and IP.
• Familiarity with the following platforms: Comestri, Big Commerce, Jira, Confluence, and Emplifi.
• Flexible to work outside regular hours to accommodate communication across time zones and event support.
• Willingness to travel frequently, both domestically and internationally, for events and meetings.
• Flexible and proactive in exploring unknown areas, taking initiative and delivering outstanding results with minimal supervision.
• Strict adherence to confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Highly organized, efficient, and productive, with strong multitasking and workload management skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player who contributes effectively to shared goals in a team-oriented environment.
• Fluent in both Japanese and English preferred, with excellent bilingual verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills for frequent business and professional interactions with Japan.

Benefits

• 100% Medical, Dental, Vision coverage- with the option to add a spouse/domestic partner and children at 2% of the premium.
• Medical FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and Dependent Care FSA (Flexible Spending Account) to help pay for medical expenses, childcare or adult care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Wellness programs- mental health resources, counseling, financial wellbeing, support for future moms, a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program hotline, and much more.
• Generous leave- from the start you can earn up to 25 days of PTO, we observe 13 major holiday and provide job protected leave for life’s unexpected moments.
• 401K auto enrollment and employer-match contribution.
• Be among the first to get copies of every game title, plus receive generous discounts on thousands of games in our library.
• Refer our next new team member and receive a $1000 bonus.

Purpose & Values

Purpose: Creating New Worlds with Boundless Imagination to Enhance People’s Lives.

Values:

• Deliver Unforgettable Experiences
• Embrace Challenges
• Act Swiftly
• Stronger Together
• Continuously Evolve
• Cultivate Integrity

Annual Salary Range: $140,000 - $200,000