Sr. Director, Publisher Partnerships & Business Development (Japan)

Job Title: Sr. Director, Publisher Partnerships & Business Development (Japan)

Location: Japan

Type: Full-Time (Fixed-Term Contract)

About Us

RTS is an enthusiast culture company that builds at the intersection of video games, anime, creators, and brands. From global live events to bespoke consumer experiences, we exist to create deeper connections between fans and the worlds they love. Our team brings deep expertise across partnerships, marketing, talent management, event production, media, community building, and IP development.

One meaningful way RTS has fostered fandom is through our stewardship of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo). Evo represents the largest and longest-running fighting game tournaments around the world. In 2024, the Las Vegas event was the largest tournament in competitive video-games history. Evo brings together the best of the best from around the world in Japan, France and the United States in an electric showcase of skill and fun, as players and fans gather to honor the competitive spirit in an open bracket format that reveals the world’s strongest fighting game players. Evo was established in 2002 after a series of local arcade tournaments run by Tom and Tony Cannon were first held in 1996. Evo is owned and operated by RTS Management, Inc.

Role Overview:

RTS continues to expand its global footprint, with a significant strategic focus on Japan through Evo and game publisher relationships. We are seeking an experienced executive with native fluency in Japanese and English, capable of representing RTS with our most important publishing and strategic partners. The ideal candidate brings deep cultural fluency, established industry relationships, and a proactive mindset for identifying and executing new business opportunities on behalf of RTS’s business in Japan and around the world.

This role primarily leads and drives RTS business development & partnerships in Japan, with a focus on Evo, managing relationships with game publishers, IP holders, local joint-venture partners and other stakeholders, while also supporting global initiatives across media rights, new business exploration, licensing and brand partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

Publisher Partnerships & Relationship Management

• Operate as the primary point of contact for RTS’s key publishing partners, primarily in Japan but also globally where required
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with senior‑level partners across Japan and the rest of the world.
• Lead key initiatives and collaborations with RTS’s publisher partners full cycle: from ideation through to implementation
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure publisher partner needs are understood and met across events, content, licensing and long‑term programs.
• Lead regional and global publisher related deals; often resulting in the development and negotiation of complex multi‑year agreements.

Core Business Development & Strategy

• Serve as RTS’ primary business development leader in Japan, managing and expanding relationships with game publishers, platforms, rights holders government entities and more
• Identify new commercial opportunities and pitch RTS services, global products like Evo, and media capabilities to prospective partners.
• Support licensing expansions, collaborative content, and other value‑add programs for RTS, Evo and the wider fighting game community.
• Seek out, develop and build strategic partnerships designed to cross-promote and co-market Evo with culturally relevant brands, celebrities and icons
• Drive and develop new business opportunities on behalf of RTS and Evo’s live event business in Japan
• Represent RTS at industry events, publisher meetings, esports conferences, and relevant cultural gatherings.
• Develop market insights specific to Japan and translate them into actionable strategies for RTS’s global leadership team

Cross‑Functional Operations

• Work closely with legal, product, event operations and commerce teams to structure and deliver deals.
• Support RTS’s brand partnerships team and local partners to support sponsorship pitches and localized partner opportunities.
• Support coordination of Evo Japan and Tokyo‑based initiatives, ensuring smooth execution of partner deliverables.

Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in Japan
• 15+ years experience in video-game and/or entertainment businesses development or management roles
• Experience leading and managing teams, preferably in global organizations
• Full professional fluency in Japanese and English, both written and verbal.
• Strong understanding of Japan’s gaming ecosystem, publisher dynamics and competitive landscape
• Ability to work independently in a remote first environment, and travel for meetings and events (domestic + international)
• Comfortable working flexible hours as needed to support meetings with partners and colleagues in the USA & Europe

Bonus Points

• Master’s degree and/or MBA preferred (or similar advanced degree)
• Direct experience working with or for Japanese game publishers (Capcom, Bandai Namco, Sega, Square Enix, SNK etc)
• Experience navigating cross‑cultural dynamics effectively across global stakeholders and teams
• Experience working with or for large scale events, gaming activations or live service products

Benefits

• Fully remote working arrangement
• Full enrollment in Japanese social and labor insurance programs (health, pension, employment, and workers’ compensation)
• Annual paid leave provided in accordance with Japanese labor law
• Observance of Japanese national holidays and year-end/New Year holiday period
• Annual employer-sponsored health check-up

Company philosophy: We believe strongly in work/life balance - you’ve got to feel your best to work your best. We offer a generous PTO program, and in addition to observing the standard holidays, we’ve extended many of them into extra-long weekends. We are a remote-first company, so as long as you can do the specifics of your job, we don’t mind where you do it.

​

RTS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and welcome diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment

Compensation

Salary range: ¥18,000,000 - ¥22,500,000 per year