Senior Category & Product Development Manager, eComm
About the role
We're looking for a Senior Category & Product Development Manager to help shape the future of the Crunchyroll Store. In this highly visible role, you'll own the end-to-end lifecycle of products within your category — from identifying fan trends and defining assortments to making buy decisions, managing vendor execution, and optimizing performance after launch.
You'll report into the VP of eCommerce and sit at the intersection of merchandising, product development, and commercial strategy. You'll partner closely with Design, Creative, Marketing, Planning, Finance, Legal, and Operations to create culturally relevant products that delight fans while delivering strong business results.
Core Areas of Responsibility
- Own the end-to-end product lifecycle for your category, from concept through launch and post-launch optimization
- Translate anime, gaming, and pop culture trends into compelling assortments across apparel, accessories, collectibles, and collaborations
- Develop product briefs, define assortments, and make buy, pricing, and inventory decisions that balance fan demand, profitability, and long-term category growth
- Persistently partner directly with manufacturers and vendors to manage product development, sampling, approvals, production timelines, quality, and delivery
- Drive cross-functional execution across Design, Creative, Marketing, Planning, Finance, Legal, and Operations to ensure successful product launches
- Monitor product performance, analyzing sales, margin, inventory, and fan feedback to inform future assortment and buying decisions
- Champion premium product quality, packaging, and brand standards while protecting the integrity of Crunchyroll's licensed IPs
- Continuously identify opportunities to improve processes, optimize category performance, and create exceptional experiences for anime fans around the world
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, category management, or product development within direct-to-consumer eCommerce or consumer products
- Deep knowledge of anime, gaming, and youth culture, with a proven ability to translate fan trends into commercially successful products and assortments
- Experience owning the commercial performance of a product category, including assortment strategy, forecasting, buying, pricing, margin, and inventory management
- A track record of bringing products from concept through launch and post-launch optimization, balancing fan experience, brand standards, and business performance
- Experience partnering directly with manufacturers and vendors to manage product development, sampling, approvals, production, quality, and delivery
- Proven success leading cross-functional initiatives across Design, Creative, Marketing, Planning, Finance, Legal, and Operations
- Strong commercial and analytical instincts, using data to optimize assortment performance, pricing, inventory, and future product decisions
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple product launches in a fast-paced environment
- Proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets and experience using eCommerce, analytics, inventory, or PLM systems
What you will love working at Crunchyroll
- A great compensation package including salary plus performance bonus earning potential, paid annually
- Flexible time off policies allowing you to take the time you need to be your whole self
- Generous medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, and life insurance
- Health Saving Account (HSA) program
- Health care and dependent care FSA
- 401(k) plan, with employer match
- Employer paid commuter benefit
- Support program for new parents
- Pet insurance and some of our offices are pet friendly!
Pay Range
The Pay Range for this position is listed. Actual pay will vary based on factors including, but not limited to location, experience, and performance.
About Crunchyroll
Founded by fans, Crunchyroll delivers the art and culture of anime to a passionate community. We super-serve over 100 million anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories, and help them connect with the stories and characters they crave. Whether that experience is online or in-person, streaming video, theatrical, games, merchandise, events and more, it’s powered by the anime content we all love. Join our team, and help us shape the future of anime!