Head of eCommerce

About the Role

We're building a premium, drop-driven business that creates cultural moments for anime fans—not a traditional online store.

This role will define the creative vision for our eCommerce business, translating beloved anime IP, fan insights, and emerging design trends into original collections that fans can't find anywhere else. Every drop should feel intentional, collectible, and emotionally resonant, reinforcing Crunchyroll as the destination for premium anime merchandise.

You will own merchandise strategy from concept through launch—including collection vision, product merchandising strategy, creative direction, vendor partnerships, and commercial performance. You'll partner across Creative, Licensing, Marketing, and Product to build an eCommerce business that is as differentiated creatively as it is commercially successful.

This leader brings equal parts creative taste, merchandising instinct, and commercial rigor. They understand how to build product assortments that tell stories, anticipate trends before they become mainstream, and create products that anime fans are proud to wear, collect, and display.

In the role of Head of eCommerce, you will report to the Executive Vice President, Emerging Business.

We are considering applicants for the location(s) of Los Angeles.

Responsibilities 

Merchandise Vision & Strategy

• Own the long-term vision and commercial strategy for Crunchyroll's eCommerce business.
• Develop a multi-year roadmap for product categories, collection architecture, and seasonal priorities.
• Define what makes Crunchyroll merchandise distinctive within anime, entertainment, and lifestyle retail.
• Balance fan passion, brand authenticity, and commercial performance to create sustainable growth.

Creative Direction & Collection Vision

• Lead the creative direction for all product drops, ensuring every collection has a clear point of view and cohesive narrative.
• Develop seasonal collection concepts inspired by anime, Japanese culture, fashion, art, and broader cultural trends.
• Create product visions that elevate licensed merchandise beyond logo-driven apparel into premium lifestyle products.
• Champion originality and innovation in product design while honoring the integrity of each franchise.
• Establish creative standards that ensure every product feels premium, intentional, and collectible.

Product Design & Merchandising Leadership

• Own merchandise assortment strategy across apparel, accessories, collectibles, home, lifestyle, and emerging product categories.
• Guide collection frameworks, pricing strategy, and assortment architecture.
• Ensure every drop delivers a balanced mix of hero products, everyday essentials, limited editions, and collector-focused pieces.
• Build collections that encourage discovery, repeat purchasing, and long-term fandom.

Trend & Consumer Insights

Stay deeply connected to the evolving worlds of:

• Streetwear and contemporary fashion
• Japanese design and culture
• Anime fandom and collector communities
• Lifestyle product innovation
• Emerging artists and creative collaborators
• Materials, silhouettes, color, graphics, and product design trends

Translate these insights into merchandise that feels ahead of the market while remaining authentic to anime fans.

Drop Strategy & Product Storytelling

• Define the creative strategy and merchandising approach for every product drop.
• Build launch calendars that create anticipation, scarcity, and cultural relevance.
• Ensure each collection has a compelling story expressed through product, creative assets, packaging, and digital presentation.
• Partner with Marketing to create launch campaigns that amplify excitement and fan engagement.

Creative Partnerships & Vendor Management

• Identify and manage best-in-class design, manufacturing, and white-label partners capable of executing premium products.
• Collaborate with external creative partners, artists, and manufacturers to expand product innovation.
• Establish quality expectations across materials, construction, packaging, and finishing details.
• Hold partners accountable for creative excellence, execution, timelines, and commercial outcomes.

Commerce & Customer Experience

• Partner with Product and Design to ensure the online shopping experience reflects the premium nature of each collection.
• Influence product storytelling across PDPs, collection pages, editorial content, and merchandising experiences.
• Ensure digital merchandising supports discovery, exclusivity, and conversion while maintaining a premium brand aesthetic.

Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing merchandising and creative commerce organization.
• Foster a culture of creative excellence, thoughtful experimentation, and fan obsession.
• Empower teams to balance artistic ambition with business discipline.

Qualifications

• 15+ years leading merchandising, product strategy, creative commerce, fashion, or consumer products.
• Proven experience building compelling product assortments and merchandise strategies for passionate consumer communities.
• Strong creative instincts with demonstrated ability to identify emerging design, fashion, and lifestyle trends.
• Experience developing premium product collections from concept through launch.
• Exceptional merchandising judgment and understanding of consumer product storytelling.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience owning revenue, margin, and inventory performance.
• Experience managing external design, manufacturing, or production partners.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and influence.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience in anime, gaming, entertainment, collectibles, streetwear, or lifestyle brands.
• Deep appreciation for anime culture and an understanding of what drives fan passion and purchasing behavior.
• Background building limited-edition collections, capsule launches, or drop-based businesses.
• Experience with licensed consumer products and IP-driven merchandise.
• Strong creative network across fashion, design, artists, and product innovation.
• Experience creating premium consumer brands with highly engaged fan communities.
• Track record of building culturally relevant products that become sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts.

About the Team

You will lead a small but nimble team that is specifically designed to navigate the high-growth trajectory of the Crunchyroll Store. This specialized group manages the entire product lifecycle, from initial product development and buying to the final stages of site merchandising and warehouse/fulfillment. While the eCommerce unit operates with significant autonomy to drive direct-to-consumer revenue, it remains deeply integrated within the broader Crunchyroll ecosystem to align with global brand and content strategies. As a key pillar of the company's "flywheel" business model, the team collaborates across streaming, marketing, and engineering to maximize subscriber lifetime value.

Why you will love working at Crunchyroll

In addition to getting to work with fun, passionate and inspired colleagues, you will also enjoy the following benefits and perks:

• Receive 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!

#LifeAtCrunchyroll #LI-Hybrid