Principal Project Manager - Innovation at The Pokémon Company International

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Bellevue, Washington, United States

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, 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.

Learn more online at corporate.pokemon.com and pokemon.com. And check out Twitter (twitter.com/pokemon), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/Pokémon), YouTube (youtube.com/pokemon), and Instagram (instagram.com/pokemon).

Get to know the role

Job Title: Principal Project Manager
Job Summary:
The President & Corporate Development Office at The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) is looking to add a proven leader, builder, connector, and self-starter to the team. This team is in start-up mode and is driving corporate strategy for Pokémon Group (The Pokémon Company in Japan, Game Freak, Creatures and Millennium Print Group etc.) collaboration and synergy and creating the fire to fuel our corporate development and Innovation. This role, Principal Project Manager - Innovation is uniquely positioned to spur innovation at TPCi by building an intrapreneur program to generate and test big TPCi employees’ ideas while leveraging their unique and deep knowledge of Pokémon and its fans. In this role, you will drive the initiative to develop and cultivate internal innovation ecosystems to promote TPCi’s innovative culture. Specifically, you will initially:

Design, build and run a pilot of the TPCi Innovation Challenge (Challenge) to test hypothesis to create a psychologically safe place for TPCi employees to generate, collaborate, explore, and experiment their ideas
Develop and execute a communication plan to clearly articulate the pilot’s goal and build excitement around the Challenge

This role is a first for TPCI and puts you in the middle of a growing company who supports a healthy work life blend. It is perfect for the individual who wants to drive positive change at a small company through influence and relationships. The position is a true leader, subject matter expert with a Passion for Pokémon, and reports to the Chief of Staff to the TPCi President & Head of Corporate Development.

FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
People Manager: No

What you’ll do

Design, develop, and run the Challenge processes of TPCi employees to get inspired, generate and refine their ideas through cross collaboration, and receive constructive feedback

Manage the project schedule, delivery, quality, and risk of design, develop, and running phases of the pilot and subsequent Challenges
Design and implement governance framework for the Challenge
Identify key areas to assess the effectiveness of the Pilot by setting and measuring relevant metrics
Conduct a postmortem and obtain a stakeholder alignment of the direction and design of the Subsequent TPCi Innovation Challenge

Work with internal cross functional teams (Internal Comms, People, Legal, IT, etc.) and enable their collaboration as a command tower and communication hub
Work with external consultants and guest speakers to define the SOW and manage their delivery
Assess leading turnkey corporate innovation solutions to best fit the Challenge needs
Play a role model and advocate to enhance innovation at TPCi

What you’ll bring

Ten (10) + years working experience in project management

Demonstrated ability to manage large integrated projects across multiple functions
Proven ability to build a new function/operation by engaging internal and external stakeholders and project members
Experience in building an intrapreneurial/corporate innovation program is a big plus
Experience in strategic planning, risk management, and/or change management is a plus

Startup mentality / self-starter with a high desire to learn and grow – highly curious with the ability to calculate risks.
Ability to navigate and thrive in ambiguity
Proven ability to solve problems creatively
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and resourceful to obtain necessary internal/external support
Exceptional time-management and organizational skills
Problem solving with a keen eye for details
Dependable and exhibits strong professional integrity and respect for confidentiality.
A personal interest / connect to the world of Pokémon.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent of relevant work experience

How you’ll be successful

Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do.
Challenging the Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.
Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results.
Dedicated to Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve.
Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a “team first” mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.
Delighting Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience.

What to expect

An employee first culture
Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon
Competitive cash-based compensation programs
Base salary range: For this role, new hires generally start between $153,000.00 - $181,450.00. The full range is $153,000.00 - $229,000.00. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. Final base salary is directly related to each candidates' qualifications and professional experience uniquely.
100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you
Generous paid family leave
Employer-paid life insurance
Employer-paid long and short-term income protection insurance
US Employees: 401k Employer Matching
UK/IRE Employees: Pension Employer Contributions
Fitness reimbursement
Commuter benefit
LinkedIn learning
Comprehensive relocation package
Hybrid work environment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work. In some cases, and for some roles, the Company may be able to arrange a visa. For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland. However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.

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