VIZ Media

Title: Acquisitions Manager Location: San Francisco United States Job Description: About Our Company VIZ Media has been bringing the finest in manga, anime, and global entertainment to English-speaking fans across the world for nearly 40 years. From classic series like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Naruto to current hits like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man, we continue to offer the best in action, romance, fantasy, and adventure stories for fans of all ages. Our critically acclaimed manga, graphic novels, and books have won Eisner, YALSA, and Hugo awards and are available in both print and digital editions, and our premier catalog of anime titles can be seen on TV and via streaming and digital download, as well as in collectible Blu-ray and DVD sets at major retailers. Job Summary VIZ Media, the world leader in English-language versions of manga and anime, is looking for an Acquisitions Manager to join our Editorial team. The Acquisitions Manager takes a primary role in the discovery and evaluation of potential new manga, simultaneous serializations, and IP for Publishing. This position requires deep expertise in the manga industry, along with strong awareness of broader pop culture trends and consumer preferences. It is a highly strategic role with significant influence on our publishing roadmap and close collaboration across multiple cross functional teams. Fluency in Japanese is required. What you’ll do: - Discover new potential manga, simultaneous serializations, and IP acquisitions for Publishing. - Read and review potential acquisitions for narrative quality, market viability, positioning, and general suitability for publication in English. - Research and evaluate works in all manga genres, including shonen, shojo, seinen, josei, yuri, and BL as well as kids, nonfiction, and more. - Monitor trends in animation and makes acquisition recommendations for animation tie-in publishing products. - Monitor trends in video gaming and makes acquisitions recommendations for gaming tie-in publishing products. - Maintain robust and up-to-date knowledge of the manga industry in Japan, the U.S., and worldwide. - Maintain robust and up-to-date knowledge of general popular culture in Japan, including live action films & television, politics, and news. - Maintain acquisitions trackers and provide administrative support for acquisitions projects. - Acquire and maintain collection of physical and digital materials related to acquisitions, such as tankobon, magazines, art books, ebooks, and miscellany. - Collaborate with the Animation, Business Development, Simul, and Original Publishing teams to provide insight and recommendations for content acquisitions and development strategies. - Communicate with licensors to ascertain rights situations and to acquire rights guides and catalogs. - Negotiate with licensors and Publishing Licensing to acquire new Publishing projects. The ideal candidate has: - 3+ years of related and applicable experience in a publishing environment - Professional fluency in both spoken and written English and Japanese - Knowledge of consumer entertainment such as anime, manga, and related merchandise, as well as some exposure to entertainment media (comics, books, video games) - Ability to balance business-oriented and creative judgments - Bachelor's Degree in Japanese, East Asian Studies, Comparative Literature, International Business, or related fields from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience Additional preferred skills/knowledge: - Experience in or knowledge of the licensing business Work Environment & Schedule Location: We have a strong preference for candidates local to the San Francisco Bay Area, though remote candidates may be considered. VIZ Media operates on a hybrid schedule with 1-2 days of work onsite at our downtown San Francisco office expected weekly. Schedule: This is a Regular Full-Time position (40 hours per week) with core hours of 10 am to 4 pm with flexibility outside of core hours. Compensation: $85,000 - $100,000 annually, depending on experience, with additional variable compensation VIZ Media offers the following benefits to its eligible employees: - Partially subsidized Health, Dental, and Vision insurance - 401(k) savings plan – including employer matching - Flexible Spending – health and dependent care - Commuter stipend for in-office work - Life Insurance/AD&D/STD/LTD - Legal & ID Theft insurance - Group Pet insurance rates - Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time - plus your birthday is a holiday! - Philanthropy program, including paid time off for volunteer work - Wellness program, including fitness membership discounts and reimbursement - Full time casual dress - Flexible work hours As part of a multi-media entertainment company, employees may be subjected to work-related content such as: sexually explicit images, nudity, and graphic violence. Applicants should be willing to work with this type of content. VIZ Media is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any legally protected status. VIZ Media respects applicants' privacy rights. To review VIZ Media's Privacy Policy, please visit VIZ Media Applicant Privacy Policy - CA.

This description is a summary of our understanding of the job description. Click on 'Apply' button to find out more. Role Description VIZ Media, the world leader in English-language versions of manga and anime (Japanese comics and animation), is looking for a Content Manager to join our Content team. This role will work closely with the Director and Specialists of the Content team to drive the company’s animation content acquisitions and the Intellectual Property’s product lifecycle. This position is a key role connecting VIZ Media’s internal teams with major partners in Japan, including Licensors, co-production committee members, and other rights holders. The Content Manager must be able to communicate in a professional manner in both Japanese and English, with in-depth knowledge and ample experience in the Japanese anime industry, and familiarity with the licensing business. - Collaborate with the Content team and other cross-functional departments to acquire, invest in, and co-produce properties that are aligned with the broader company strategy. - Manage key accounts and project manage with cross-functional teams to hit acquisition and sales targets. - Train and lead team members to optimize day-to-day functions. - Build rapport and long-term relationships with partners. - Oversee the metadata related to the acquired rights to ensure all inbound and outbound rights are up-to-date. - Facilitate interdepartmental collaboration for acquired titles in order to achieve successful IP launches and key milestones throughout its lifecycle. - Act as a main contact for a wide range of Licensor/Creator relations, including arranging special appearances to conventions, interviews, and meetings. - Create reports and presentations as needed, including but not limited to production committee reports and co-production/acquisition offer presentations in English and Japanese. Qualifications - 7+ years of experience and knowledge in the anime industry - Experience in licensing business and licensor approvals - 4+ years of people management experience - Proficiency with business software programs such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications - Proficiency with creative applications such as Adobe Creative Suite - Knowledge of the entertainment industry with interest in the anime category and experience with media licensing business - Strong communication skills to facilitate interdepartmental collaboration and interact professionally with culturally diverse clients, providers, and staff - High attention to detail to maintain complex deal information in the system - Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience, with a record that demonstrates suitable preparation for this position Requirements - Location: The Content Manager position is open to candidates local to the San Francisco Bay Area or remote candidates within California. If local to the San Francisco Bay Area, the Content Manager will be expected to work 1 day per week at our San Francisco office. If working remotely, the Content Manager should expect to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area a few times a year. - Schedule: This is a Regular Full-Time position (40 hours per week) with core hours of 10 am to 4 pm with some flexibility as needed. - Compensation: $85,000 - $105,000 annually, depending on experience, with additional variable compensation Benefits - Partially subsidized Health, Dental, and Vision insurance - 401(k) savings plan – including employer matching - Flexible Spending – health and dependent care - Commuter stipend for in-office work - Life Insurance/AD&D/STD/LTD - Legal & ID Theft insurance - Group Pet insurance rates - Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time - plus your birthday is a holiday! - Philanthropy program, including paid time off for volunteer work - Wellness program, including fitness membership discounts and reimbursement - Full time casual dress - Flexible work hours