Franchise Development Manager

Job Type: Location Type: On-site

 

About the job Franchise Development Manager

About Visional Pop

Visional Pop is an entertainment company that partners with online creators to develop and grow animated intellectual property into global franchises. Announced in May 2025 alongside its acquisition of global kids’ media company YoBoHo, Visional Pop is focused on cultivating fan communities and driving monetization through consumer products and multi-platform content distribution.

The Role: A Strategic Brand Steward and Creator’s Ally

We are seeking a passionate and strategic Franchise Development Manager to serve as the central hub for our most important character IP. This role is modeled after the franchise leaders at world-class studios, responsible for the holistic, long-term health and growth of a character franchise born from today’s most exciting digital creators.

You will be the brand steward, the strategic architect, and the creator’s staunchest ally. You will be responsible for managing relationships with our creator partners to grow their IP, as well as overseeing the franchises of our own owned & operated characters. Your ultimate goal is to balance creative integrity with commercial success, ensuring our characters become beloved, enduring global icons with thriving fan communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Franchise Strategy & Vision:
• Develop, evangelize, and govern the 3-5 year strategic roadmap for assigned character franchises, defining the vision, growth pillars, and key business objectives.
• Act as the ultimate brand guardian, creating and maintaining franchise guidelines to ensure brand consistency and quality across all consumer touchpoints, from digital content to physical products.
• Analyze market trends, digital platform data, and consumer insights to identify new opportunities for franchise growth and innovation.
• Creator & IP Management:
• Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted partner for our external creator partners, fostering a collaborative and transparent relationship.
• Champion the creator’s vision internally, ensuring their creative intent and connection with their audience are understood and respected while navigating commercial and operational requirements.
• Manage the day-to-day and long-term strategic planning for Visional Pops portfolio of owned & operated character IP.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution:
• Lead and unify cross-functional teams to execute the franchise plan. Your key collaborators will include:
• Publishing: Partner with our consumer product design and development teams to create compelling, on-brand merchandise that resonates with the fan community.
• Commerce: Develop and drive integrated strategies for our e-commerce platforms and physical retail activations, including pop-up shops.
• Marketing: Work closely with the marketing team to build global brand awareness, plan go-to-market campaigns, and deepen engagement with the fan community across all relevant platforms.
• Licensing: Set the strategy and priorities for the Consumer Product Licensing team to expand the brand’s reach and revenue through strategic third-party partnerships.
• Performance & Governance:
• Monitor and report on the overall health and performance of the franchise, tracking key metrics across all business units.
• Contribute to the management of the franchise P&L, providing strategic input on revenue and investment priorities.
• Oversee franchise planning calendars and facilitate regular meetings with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and drive momentum.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in franchise management, brand management, character licensing, or business development within the entertainment, digital media, or consumer products industry.
• Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional projects from strategy to execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to act as a credible and empathetic partner to creative talent and digital creators.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience in strategic planning and a solid understanding of P&L management.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• A deep, genuine passion for animation, online creator culture, character-driven storytelling, and pop culture.
• Fluency in English is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience working with online creators, influencers, or in the digital media ecosystem.
• Experience in both a large studio environment and a more agile, startup-like setting.
• Hands-on experience with e-commerce strategy and/or experiential retail (pop-ups).
• An established network of contacts within the animation, licensing, digital media, and retail industries in North America and key international markets.
• Fluency in other languages, such as Japanese, is a plus.

What We Offer

• A pivotal role in shaping the future of characters that will define a generation.
• The flexibility of a remote work environment with a company culture rooted in creativity and innovation.
• A creative, collaborative, and forward-thinking team with international colleagues.
• The unique opportunity to work at the vibrant intersection of digital creator culture and global franchise building.