Publishing Product Manager, Korea & Japan - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.

That's where you come in.

As the Publishing Lead, you'll lead efforts and develop strategies that focus on finding and attracting the next generation of players to our games. You'll lead a cross-functional marketing team that includes the sub-disciplines of brand, performance marketing, creative, comms, art, digital marketing; and owned, paid & earned media. You will develop adaptable global marketing strategic platforms that regional publishing leads can build on; as well as several end-to-end go-to-market campaigns per year & evergreen strategies to grow the new audience. You'll collaborate with product managers on the best way to adapt the game to the needs of new players. And as Publishing Lead, you'll help a team of talented and diverse marketing and communications pros level up by developing their skills as well as driving the objectives and strategies the team will work towards.

As the Publishing Lead for Korea and Japan on an Unpublished R&D Product, you will be responsible for leading the publishing efforts and community engagement in locally served countries and languages within your subregion. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Publishing in Korea, you will drive subregional strategies aligned with the broader regional and global objectives. Your deep understanding of market trends and cultural nuances will be critical as you work to deliver exceptional value to players while ensuring optimal operational efficiency and performance.

You will play a key role in advocating for your subregion’s needs in global decision-making processes and ensuring that subregional product ecosystems and community involvement thrive. In this role, you’ll also oversee budgeting and resource allocation to support the successful execution of regional goals.

As a Rioter in Seoul, you’ll join a tight knit group of exceptionally bright minded individuals who share our prioritization of player experience, rejection of convention, and passion for gaming. Riot Games Korea is dedicated to creating tailored player experiences that show local players they aren’t lost in translation.

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and execute subregional strategies aligned with regional and global priorities, focusing on product ecosystems, community engagement, and market trends.
• Oversee subregional budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation and tracking performance to optimize results.
• Recommend and align country-based OKRs linked to regional key results, set performance indicators, and track publishing efforts' performance. Support teams in maintaining a data-informed perspective on their work and individual expectations.
• Represent the region in ecosystem-level conversations, participating in key workstreams to ensure regional needs are addressed. 
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring regional needs are prioritized in global decision-making.
• Identify risks in regional projects and provide cultural and market expertise to ensure alignment with global strategies.
• Initially operate as an individual contributor to lead strategy and execution. As the product scales, build and lead a high-performing regional team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, or comparable work experience.
• 8+ years of experience in game publishing or a similar field, with a focus on leading regional or subregional teams to deliver on product, marketing, and ecosystem goals.
• Proven experience in managing regional budgets, including allocating resources effectively and tracking financial performance.
• Significant experience in launching or scaling game products or services across different regions or markets.
• Extensive experience working in a global video game or entertainment company, with a strong understanding of the player base and community.
• Deep understanding of cultural nuances and regional market trends, with the ability to advocate for local needs in global decision-making.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects or initiatives simultaneously, ensuring alignment with global goals, timelines, and budget constraints.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) in business, marketing, or a related field.
• Multilingual capabilities relevant to the subregions, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and partners.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable strategies for publishing and community engagement.
• Proven success working in a matrixed environment, managing cross-functional teams across various geographies.
• 5+ years of experience in management roles within gaming, sports, or media industries.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!

Don’t forget to include a resume and cover letter. We receive a lot of applications, but we’ll notice a fun, well-written intro that shows us you take play seriously.