Merchandise Development Specialist

<div class="content-intro"><p><strong><em>Get to know The Pokémon Company International</em></strong></p> <p>The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. </p> <p>Learn more online at <a href="https://corporate.pokemon.com/en-us/" target="_blank">corporate.pokemon.com </a>and <a href="https://www.pokemon.com/us?_gl=1*17cpv5d*_ga*OTgxMzkwODEzLjE3MjcxOTg5NjQ.*_ga_DHWT8DSRN3*MTcyNzE5ODk2My4xLjAuMTcyNzE5ODk2My4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank">pokemon.com</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://linkedin.com/company/pokemon" target="_blank"><img style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://image.email.pokemon.com/lib/fe8d12727463037477/m/1/greenhouse_social_linkedin.png" alt="LinkedIn" width="25"></a> <a href="https://youtube.com/pokemon" target="_blank"><img style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://image.email.pokemon.com/lib/fe8d12727463037477/m/1/greenhouse_social_youtube.png" alt="YouTube" width="25"></a> <a href="https://instagram.com/pokemon" target="_blank"><img style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://image.email.pokemon.com/lib/fe8d12727463037477/m/1/greenhouse_social_instagram.png" alt="Instagram" width="25"></a> <a href="https://x.com/Pokemon" target="_blank"><img style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://image.email.pokemon.com/lib/fe8d12727463037477/m/1/greenhouse_social_x.png" alt="X" width="25"></a></p></div><p><span class="emphasis-3"><em><strong>Get to know the role</strong></em></span></p> <ul> <li>Job Title: Merchandise Development Specialist</li> <li>Job Summary: This role provides creative direction, brand context, and data-informed insight to guide product development. The Merchandise Development Specialist partners cross-functionally to shape product storytelling, brand integration, and category growth. Supporting a specific category (Home, Office, and Outdoors), this role developed product and graphic design briefs, defines new opportunities, guides quality, and ensures final assortments meet or exceed customer expectations. Strong product development experience, brand fluency, critical thinking, communication, and relationship-building skills are essential, along with strong communication with the ability to present product concepts to diverse stakeholders. This specialist role brings forward innovative ideas, improves processes, navigates both established product and R&D opportunities, and acts as a subject matter expert within a category.</li> <li>FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt</li> <li>People Manager: No</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span class="emphasis-3"><em><strong>What you’ll do </strong></em></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Product Direction, Planning & Execution</strong> </span> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Own category or subcategory coherence, ensuring alignment with brand standards, customer expectations, and category goals, supported by data-informed reasoning. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Make informed decisions within scope, including in ambiguous situations, and escalate higher-risk or strategic issues. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Translate strategy into actionable, visually compelling briefs for internal teams. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Guide product direction across both established lines and R&D opportunities using brand knowledge and market awareness. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Own timelines, readiness, and quality for assigned product work, aligning deliverables with priorities and business goals. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Independently manage 3–5 product sets, maintaining clarity and momentum across cross‑functional teams (Production, Project Management, Clients, Approvals). </span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Brand Integration & Creative Guidance</strong> </span> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Apply brand understanding to ensure product and the art on the product delivers clear, compelling storytelling and emotional connection for fans of all kinds. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Provide product and graphic design creative direction in partnership with Designers, aligning on intent, tone, and execution. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Evaluate creative output against brand standards and customer expectations; challenge and course‑correct as needed. </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Translate brand strategy and franchise moments into clear creative direction across category initiatives. </span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Concept Development & Presentations</strong> </span> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;"&g