Senior Category Manager - Minecraft Merchandise
Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time. Minecraft inspires millions to create together, connects people across the globe, and has created one of the most active and passionate player communities in the world. We’re looking for an ambitious, passionate, data-driven business manager to join our team and grow our Minecraft merchandise business.
As the Senior Category Manager for Minecraft Consumer Products you will be succeed by being the Minecraft expert on toys, including but not limited to, competition, business drivers, and trends. You will be accountable for managing and growing our multi-million-dollar toy business, including creating and executing on a short and long-term strategy for our toy business and recommending licensing partners and products on a global basis. You will own and manage the day-to-day relationship with our existing partners to have a deep understanding of the business, accurately forecast sales, provide ongoing brand education and always challenge our partners to do more. This role requires strong business chops and analytical skills, an entrepreneurial attitude and the ability to engage with partners and influence senior leaders. Our ideal candidate has a CEO mindset, is passionate about growing new experiences to scale, and has prior experience developing and driving a consumer products hardlines business.
You won’t do this work alone—you will do it in collaboration with our talented Minecraft team and a diverse group of stakeholders across Microsoft. The ideal candidate has entertainment licensing experience, excellent organizational and time management skills, and a strong sense of commitment to and personal ownership of responsibilities assigned to them.
This role requires a self-starter who excels at connecting internally and externally with key stakeholders and influencers. In addition, you are skilled at managing multiple partners at once and leading cross-team collaboration across various groups as well as building consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders across multiple time zones.
Responsibilities
What you will be doing
- Develop and execute a short- and long-term strategy informed by consumer insights, industry trends, retail intel, and competitive insights to grow the Minecraft Toy Business
- Serve as the primary liaison and manager of day-to-day relationships between Minecraft and potential and existing licensees across our toy and novelty business
- Manage licensees to ensure consistent and cohesive marketing, merchandising and product execution
- Work with licensees to develop accurate annual and quarterly forecasts
- Provide thought leadership to larger team on industry and best practices
- Drive Minecraft business to financial goals while looking for new opportunities
- Negotiate and review business terms and contracts
Qualifications
What you will need
- Minimum of 5+ years’ experience in entertainment licensing or consumer products
- Ability to work well in a team environment with various internal organizations (product and creative development, marketing, legal, business development, retail sales)
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar product lines
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously to deadlines
- Proven ability to drive projects from start to finish overcoming obstacles by influencing others
- Passion for gaming and entertainment
- CEO mindset: you are an owner who truly cares. You will relentlessly work towards outcomes that delight our community
- Experience working in retail and with global markets
- BS/BA degree, MBA preferred
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
