Operations Manager - Japan
Fnatic is shaping the future of brand engagement in youth culture and the ever-evolving world of entertainment. In Japan, we’ve established our presence in a thrilling, dynamic market where and made a meaningful impact on the community, and we’re looking to grow our impact further.
As Operations Manager - Japan, you’ll play a critical part in this quest through supporting the smooth operation of our Japanese esports endeavours, connecting to our passionate local fanbase, and supporting conversations that drive our commercial growth.
From day-to-day oversight of our Japanese professional gaming programme to managing key commercial relationships, you’ll be able to make a direct impact on Fnatic’s competitive success and the strength of our brand and fandom!
Please submit your application/CV in English.
What you'll do:
Be a key driver of Fnatic's growth in Japan; identifying opportunities, providing localised expertise and ensuring alignment with wider Fnatic objectives
Lead day-to-day operations of Fnatic’s Japan-based professional gaming programme, including bootcamp planning, visiting team support, and local provider management
Optimise player experience and foster a high-performance environment
Build strong relationships with game publishers, tournament operators and other stakeholders in the Japanese esports ecosystem; strengthening our credibility, reach, and future talent pipeline
Contribute to Japan/APAC title exploration and scouting workstreams in collaboration with Fnatic’s central Pro-Gaming team, especially Esports World Cup
Play a prominent role in shaping Fnatic’s long-term facility strategy in Japan, supporting exploration, partner outreach, and setup planning
Facilitate local execution of brand and partner activations in Japan, acting as an operational bridge between central teams and local stakeholders
Develop new business opportunities in Japan with direction of HQ Partnerships leadership, and provide local expertise
Work closely with the Creators team to identify and sign Creator talent of interest in APAC markets
Manage key partner relationships with local wholesale/licensing stakeholders
Provide assistance to Legal and People & Culture departments to facilitate local entity administrative requirements, immigration and other compliance
Execute ad-hoc Japan-focused projects as directed by Fnatic leadership
We're looking for:
Strong knowledge of the esports ecosystem in Japan (especially Apex Legends, Valorant and FGC)
A confident, reassuring presence; able to build rapport with people from all backgrounds (pro talent, commercial representatives, fans and more)
Resourcefulness and entrepreneurial mindset
Ability to work autonomously and achieve outcomes without close direction
Solid event/project management skills; comfortable dealing with the unexpected
Commercial and marketing nous, with a desire to bring fans on our competitive journey
Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Japanese, other languages desirable
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: #AlwaysFnatic
At Fnatic, we believe that a diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone. We strive to recruit and nurture an inclusive workforce who feel empowered every day to forge the future as part of the Black and Orange squad.
We know that applying for jobs can be daunting - but be assured that at Fnatic:
Who you are, and how you identify has no impact on our selection process
We understand no candidate will tick 100% of what our job descriptions are seeking, so if you’re missing a point here or there, we still want to hear from you
We're happy to consider reasonable adjustments where needed to fully participate in Fnatic’s recruitment experience - just let us know.
About us
Fnatic is a global esports performance brand headquartered in London, laser-focused on seeking out, levelling up and amplifying gamers and creators. Our history is unparalleled. Founded in 2004, we are the most successful esports brand of the last decade, winning more than 200 championships across 30 different games.
Today, driven by our ability to advance esports performance, Fnatic is the channel through which the most forward-thinking brands communicate with young people. We deliver industry-leading content, experiences and activations globally with bases in Berlin, Belgrade, Tokyo among others. Our pros and creators generate hundreds of millions of watch hours, showcasing our global partners to an audience of millions of fans across our social platforms.
Forging the future is in our DNA. We pioneered the intersection of street culture and esports with merch collaborations, and continue to lead the industry with the quality of our pro wear and fan apparel. After launching in 2016, our award-winning esports equipment (comprising mice, keyboards, headsets and pads) has sold to hundreds of thousands of gaming enthusiasts who want to play better.
Gaming is the place where music, fashion, sport and technology come together, and Fnatic is leading the charge.