Fanatics

Director, Organized Play - TCG

Fanatics$173K — $216K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in organized play or competitive gaming operations, preferably at a major trading card game publisher
  • Proven record of designing and scaling organized play programs from local events to major competitive circuits
  • Experience in building and managing judge or tournament organizer programs
  • Strong product instincts, understanding the link between organized play and game health
  • Cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with game design and retail teams
  • Ability to operate in early-stage environments, defining new programs and scaling infrastructure
  • Genuine passion for trading card games and respect for the competitive community

Responsibilities

  • Own the strategy and execution of organized play programs from casual events to premier championships
  • Define the structural philosophy of the organized play ecosystem, including qualification pathways and competitive tiers
  • Build and manage judge and tournament organizer programs, including training and support
  • Partner with the Director of Play and Retail Ecosystems to align organized play with retail activation
  • Work cross-functionally to integrate OP programs with game design and marketing strategies
  • Define metrics for organized play health and use them to drive continuous improvement
  • Represent organized play to external stakeholders, including local stores and the competitive community
  • Build a high-impact team to execute multiple organized play programs as the game portfolio grows

Benefits

  • Onsite work environment in Seattle five days a week
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, wellness, and retirement plans
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development within the gaming industry
Full Job Description
Responsibilities
  • Own the strategy, design, and execution of Fanatics TCG's organized play programs across the full competitive spectrum - from casual and store-level events through regional circuits and premier championships
  • Define the structural philosophy of our OP ecosystem: qualification pathways, prize support, format philosophy, competitive tiers, and the balance between competitive and casual play that sustains long-term player engagement
  • Build and manage judge and tournament organizer programs, including certification, training, community development, and ongoing support infrastructure
  • Partner closely with the Director of Play and Retail Ecosystems to ensure organized play and retail activation are mutually reinforcing - aligning event formats, product timing, and store support to drive participation at every level
  • Work cross-functionally with trading card game Leadership, Product, Marketing, and Commercial teams to ensure OP programs are integrated into game design, set lifecycle planning, and go-to-market strategy from the start
  • Define and track the metrics that matter for OP health - participation rates, event growth, player retention, and competitive ecosystem balance - and use them to continuously improve
  • Represent the organized play function with external stakeholders including tournament organizers, local game stores, regional operators, and the competitive player community
  • Build a lean, high-impact team capable of designing and executing multiple world-class organized play programs as the studio's game portfolio grows

Qualifications & Experience
  • 8+ years of experience in organized play, competitive gaming operations, or a closely related field, with direct experience at a major trading card game publisher or game company
  • Proven track record of designing and scaling OP programs - from local event structures through premier competitive circuits - with a deep understanding of what drives player participation and retention at each tier
  • Experience building and managing judge or TO programs, including community development, training systems, and dispute resolution frameworks
  • Strong product and commercial instincts: you understand how organized play drives game health, product sell-through, and long-term franchise value
  • Experience working cross-functionally with game design, marketing, and retail teams to integrate OP into broader product and go-to-market planning
  • Comfort operating in an early-stage environment - defining programs that don't yet exist, making calls with incomplete information, and building infrastructure that can scale
  • Genuine passion for trading card games and deep respect for the competitive player community

Skills & Abilities
  • Systems thinker who can design organized play structures that are simple to participate in, hard to game, and scalable across titles and regions
  • Strong communicator who can represent the OP function clearly to internal leadership and externally to the player and organizer community
  • Player-first orientation - you advocate for the player experience in rooms focused on shorter time horizons
  • Highly collaborative and effective across functions; able to work with game designers, marketers, retail partners, and digital product teams without losing sight of the end player
  • Analytical and data-literate: able to define meaningful OP metrics, interpret participation and retention data, and translate findings into program improvements
  • Calm under the pressure of live events and competitive seasons; experienced managing the operational complexity of large-scale tournaments

Location

All employees of Fanatics TCG are expected to be onsite in our Seattle office five days per week.

The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to Seattle and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

Seattle Salary Range

$173,650-$216,200 USD

About Fanatics

Fanatics is a leading retailer of licensed sports merchandise. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise in the world. Fanatics offers a wide range of products, including jerseys, hats, and other apparel, as well as collectibles and memorabilia. The company has partnerships with all major sports leagues and teams, as well as with individual athletes. Fanatics is committed to providing a seamless shopping experience for its customers and has invested heavily in technology and logistics to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Learn more about Fanatics
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1995

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