Editorial Acquisitions Manager

VIZ Media•San Francisco, CA

3d•$85,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime, and manga at www.viz.com . 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Experience in or knowledge of the licensing business

Responsibilities

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.