Associate Product Planning Analyst

Get to know The Pokémon Company International The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world.  Learn more online at corporate.pokemon.com and pokemon.com . Get to know the role Job Title: Associate Product Planning Analyst, Original Merchandise Job Summary: The Associate Product Planning Analyst, Original Merchandise is responsible for the detailed planning and tracking of work needed by the Approvals and Packaging & Labeling teams, and the management of all incoming and outgoing product samples to support the Original Merchandise business. This role ensures accurate tracking, organization, and timely distribution of colorway work and samples throughout the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate is detail‑oriented, highly organized, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment. The Associate Product Planning Analyst ensures that teams have accurate, high‑quality work plans and samples needed to make strategic product decisions and deliver an exceptional fan experience. This role is essential in keeping the product pipeline moving smoothly and supporting key business initiatives. FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt People Manager: No What you’ll do Detailed Colorway Planning & Tracking Plan and track each colorway needing work from the Approvals, Packaging, and Labeling teams. Prioritize colorways and determine team workloads based on due dates. Create weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports analyzing trends, throughput volume, and date variances. Sample Management & Logistics Receive, log, label, and track all product samples from suppliers, vendors, and internal teams, including plush replenishment. Maintain a well‑organized product sample room, ensuring samples are accessible, current, and properly stored. Sort and prepare samples for routing, reviewing, and archiving. Cross‑Functional Coordination Partner with Merchandise Development, Production, Portfolio Management, Publishing, and Legal teams to ensure sample availability and accuracy. Prepare and distribute seasonal sample sets to stakeholders as needed. Support preparation of line reviews, assortment meetings, and sample‑dependent presentations. Tracking & Documentation Photograph product samples for record keeping and internal presentation purposes. Manage and update digital sample tracking systems, databases, or PLM tools. Monitor sample status, including expected arrivals, missing samples, and replacements. Create and maintain sample inventory reports and support audit processes. Operational Support Assist with tagging, steaming, or organizing samples for photography, fit sessions, or visual merchandising. Coordinate returns of samples to vendors or organize end‑of‑season cleanup and archiving. Ensure all sample workflows comply with company processes and timelines. What you’ll bring Three (3) to four (4) years of experience in merchandising, product development, operations, or a related field. Strong organizational and time‑management skills with high attention to detail. Ability to juggle multiple deadlines and adjust to changing priorities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook) and experience with merchandise or inventory systems. Excellent communication and collaboration skills. Experience with PLM systems, ERP systems, or sample management tools preferred. Knowledge of apparel or consumer goods product lifecycles preferred. Background working with vendors or overseas suppliers preferred. Ability to lift and move boxes up to 50 lbs. Frequent standing, walking, sorting, and organizing samples. Base Salary Range: For this role, new hires generally start between $86,000.00 - $102,000.00 per year. The full range is $86,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. The final base salary is directly related to the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience uniquely. #LI-Hybrid #LI-JL1 How you’ll be successful Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do. Challenging the Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.   Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results. Dedicated to Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve.  Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a “team first” mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.   Delighting Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience. What to expect An innovative culture driven by impact, delivering meaningful outcomes. Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon. Competitive cash-based compensation programs. 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you. Generous paid family leave. Employer-paid life insurance. Employer-paid long and short-ter