VP, Trading Card Games

MGA Entertainment Inc

Los Angeles, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$200,000–$250,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Accounts Receivable, Alliance/Partner Management, Architectural Design, Art Direction, Brand Management, Channel Strategies, CompTIA Network+, Demand Forecasting/Planning, Demographics, Economics, Ecosystems, Electronics, Entertainment and Media, Entrepreneurship, Facebook, Film, Franchise Management, Game Design, Games Programming, Gaming, IP (Internet Protocol), License Management, LinkedIn, Manufacturing, Marketing Strategy, Negotiation Skills, Organizational Skills, Philosophy, Printing, Product Development, Retail, Retail Strategy, Secondary Markets, Semantic Reasoner, Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), Storytelling, Strategic Planning, Team Building, Testing
LOCATION
Los Angeles, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago

CA EMPLOYEE PRIVACY RIGHTS: https://www.mgae.com/ca-employee-privacy-rights

MGA Entertainment is on a mission to inspire imagination and creativity through innovative toys, entertainment, and experiences that transform play into limitless possibilities. As the largest privately held toy and entertainment company in the U.S., MGA is a global leader in designing and delivering world-class consumer products that spark wonder and drive play forward. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices worldwide, MGA's portfolio spans a dynamic range of original and licensed brands - from toys, dolls, games, and electronics to fashion, home décor, and entertainment content including hit movies and TV series. The company is recognized for its bold approach to storytelling, trendsetting design, and deep commitment to quality.

The award-winning MGA family includes fan-favorite brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!, Little Tikes®, Rainbow High, Bratz®, MGA's Miniverse, Yummiland, CarTuned,Wonder Factory, BABY born®, and Zapf Creation®. To learn more, visit www.mgae.com and follow MGA on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Role Overview

MGA Entertainment is launching a global Trading Card Game (TCG) division leveraging our iconic brands (e.g., Bratz, LOL Surprise, Rainbow High, and future IP). We are seeking a proven TCG executive to build this business from concept to global franchise. This leader will architect game design, rarity economics, organized play, manufacturing strategy, retail expansion, and competitive community infrastructure.

This is not a licensing management role. This is a build-the-next-Pokémon role.

Core Responsibilities

  1. Franchise & Game Strategy Develop long-term TCG roadmap (core sets, expansions, seasonal drops) Define gameplay philosophy (competitive vs collectible vs hybrid) Build rarity tiers, chase mechanics, and secondary market strategy Create sustainable "meta" evolution structure Design 3-5 year global franchise growth plan

  2. Product Development Lead in-house or external game designers Develop gameplay systems (rules engine, balancing, testing cycles) Oversee art direction aligned with MGA brands Design booster pack economics, starter decks, premium SKUs Integrate digital elements (QR codes, AR, companion app, etc.)

  3. Community & Organized Play Build tournament ecosystem (local regional global championships) Develop retail hobby store partnerships Create influencer and competitive ambassador program Design player acquisition funnel (kids + competitive teens + collectors) Establish judge program & tournament governance

  4. Commercial & Retail Strategy Define channel strategy (mass retail vs hobby vs DTC) Manage printing partners (Cartamundi, etc.) Forecast supply and demand cycles Protect IP from counterfeiting Build global distribution playbook

  5. Team Building Recruit game designers, competitive play managers, brand managers Establish internal balancing/testing team Build analytics capability for meta tracking and player behavior

Ideal Candidate Profile

Mandatory Experience 10+ years in Trading Card Games or tabletop gaming Experience at companies such as: Wizards of the Coast Pokémon Company International Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh!) Bandai (One Piece, Digimon) Upper Deck Proven experience launching or managing at least one successful TCG expansion cycle Deep understanding of rarity mechanics, chase strategy, and secondary market dynamics

Strongly Preferred Experience scaling organized play globally Understanding of female player demographics (critical for Bratz / LOL) Digital integration experience (hybrid physical/digital models) Experience negotiating print and distribution contracts

Key Competencies Strategic thinker with franchise-building mindset Data-driven balancing philosophy Community-first mentality Entrepreneurial, willing to build from zero Understands both "kid" and "competitive" markets Knows how to create scarcity without destroying goodwill

What Success Looks Like (First 36 Months) Year 1: Launch first core set + 2 expansions Year 2: 500+ hobby store network + national tournaments Year 3: Global championship event + $100M+ revenue trajectory

Salary: $200,000 - $250,000 / year

About the Company

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MGA Entertainment Inc