Fanatics

Director, Publishing

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

Qualifications

  • 8-12+ years in publishing, product operations, or go-to-market roles within TCG or adjacent hobby categories
  • Direct experience managing release planning for trading card games or complex physical products
  • Proven ability to manage cross-functional launch processes
  • Strong commercial instincts related to sell-through and player trust
  • Experience collaborating with design, marketing, retail, and operations teams
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments and building repeatability in processes

Responsibilities

  • Drive release planning and lifecycle management for game portfolio
  • Define and manage the go-to-market calendar for releases
  • Develop player communication strategy for product previews and announcements
  • Ensure publishing plans align with event schedules and inventory planning
  • Act as the primary integrator for publishing initiatives across teams
  • Build and maintain publishing operations infrastructure and documentation
  • Track and report on publishing health metrics for continuous improvement

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee discounts on products
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Professional development opportunities
Full Job Description
Who We're Looking For

We're seeking a Director of Publishing to own the go-to-market execution, set lifecycle management, and player-facing release strategy for Fanatics TCG's game portfolio. You'll work directly with the VP of Publishing and cross-functional partners across game design, product, commercial, and marketing to translate publishing strategy into sequenced, well-executed release plans. This is a role for someone who thrives in the intersection of product, operations, and community.
Responsibilities
  • Drive the release planning and set lifecycle management for Fanatics TCG's game portfolio
  • Define and manage the go-to-market calendar for each release, coordinating across game design, production, marketing, and commercial teams to ensure on-time, on-strategy launches
  • Develop the player communication strategy: product previews, announcement timing, spoiler season management, and ongoing release-window content strategy
  • Work with organized play, retail, and product teams to ensure publishing plans align with event schedules, store support programs, and inventory planning
  • Act as the publishing function's primary cross-functional integrator - the person who holds the whole plan and makes sure every team knows what they need to do and when
  • Build and maintain the publishing operations infrastructure: launch checklists, project management frameworks, retrospective processes, and documentation standards
  • Track and report on key publishing health metrics including sell-through rates, product sentiment, and release timing accuracy, and use the data to continuously improve
  • Represent the publishing function with commercial, retail, and external partners as needed
Qualifications & Experience
  • 8-12+ years in publishing, product operations, or go-to-market roles within TCG, tabletop games, gaming, or adjacent hobby categories
  • Direct experience managing release planning or set lifecycle management for a trading card game or complex physical product line
  • Proven ability to manage cross-functional launch processes across many stakeholders and workstreams simultaneously
  • Strong commercial instincts: you understand how publishing decisions affect sell-through, channel relationships, and player trust
  • Experience working cross-functionally with game design, marketing, retail, and operations teams
  • Comfort operating in ambiguity, defining programs before full structure exists, and building repeatability into everything you do
Preferred Experience
  • Senior publishing leadership experience inside a major TCG publisher
  • Familiarity with direct-to-consumer, digital-physical hybrid, or subscription product ecosystems
  • Experience working with licensing, IP partnerships, or entertainment franchise ecosystems
  • Passion for trading card games and genuine engagement with the player and collector community
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 Los Angeles 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/

Los Angeles Salary Range

$173,650-$216,200 USD

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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