UCANZ Events & Experiences, Senior Manager

About the role

As the Senior Manager, Regional Events UCANZ, you will be the regional leader responsible for the strategy, programming, production, and execution of Crunchyroll’s sponsored, partnered, and owned events across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You will own the delivery of exceptional experiences for fans, licensors, partners, and internal stakeholders.

You will be accountable for the full event lifecycle—from vision, strategy, and inception through planning, approvals, production, execution, and post-event measurement. Success requires strong strategic judgment, creative ambition, operational discipline, and a deep understanding of anime, pop culture, streaming, and regional fan behavior.

You will partner closely with Franchise & Title Marketing, Creative Services, Operations, our Global Events Center of Excellence and Global Brand Center of Excellence teams, Japanese partners, licensors, and external agencies. You will serve as a reliable regional partner while advancing the principle of being “globally aligned, regionally relevant.”

Core Areas of Responsibility

UCANZ EVENTS STRATEGY & PORTFOLIO

• Lead the exploration and development of the UCANZ events strategy in close partnership with the Director of SVOD Marketing, UCANZ.
• Define the role of co-productions, sponsorships, third-party events, owned experiences, and adjacent opportunities within the regional portfolio.
• Build annual event plans that balance fan impact, business priorities, licensor needs, regional relevance, and operational feasibility.
• Research and recommend opportunities for event expansion, new partnerships, and future additions to the regional strategy.
• Establish a cohesive portfolio approach rather than treating individual events as standalone activations.

EVENT PROGRAMMING & EXPERIENCE INNOVATION

• Lead the innovation, planning, and execution of Crunchyroll’s presence at priority events, including Anime Expo, Anime NYC, New York Comic Con, Fan Expo Canada, and PAX Australia.
• Develop event programming and experiences that deepen fandom, strengthen Crunchyroll’s brand, and support content, membership, theatrical, and broader business priorities.
• Partner with the Brand Experience team and Director of SVOD Marketing, UCANZ, to create globally coherent, locally resonant experiences that support franchise growth and fan engagement. 
• Foster the sharing of ideas, resources, and best practices across regions in support of the “globally aligned, regionally relevant” principle.
• Recommend event locations, timing, and programming in alignment with marketing priorities, content calendars, and Japanese partner needs.

EVENT PRODUCTION & EXECUTION

• Own end-to-end production for UCANZ tentpole events and key event executions, from briefing and planning through on-site delivery and closeout.
• Lead production agency briefing, alignment, and project execution, ensuring scope, timelines, quality standards, and deliverables are clearly managed.
• Work with direct reports and cross-functional partners to ensure content, creative, operational, and request needs are met.
• Review and recommend event plans, production approaches, and resource requirements.
• Take direct ownership and accountability for the quality, effectiveness, and results of regional event executions.

PREMIERES, SCREENINGS & THEATRICAL ACTIVATIONS

• Lead and oversee UCANZ premiere events for AAA theatrical releases as needed.
• Develop and deliver fan screenings and premiere experiences for lower-tier theatrical titles.
• Create scalable, valuable screening and “No-Con-Left-Behind” programs that can be used across regions.
• Connect screenings and premieres to broader title, franchise, membership, and fan engagement strategies.

PARTNER & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Manage relationships with Japanese partners, licensors, internal teams, agencies, and external stakeholders across key events.
• Lead executive tours and on-site stakeholder experiences that showcase Crunchyroll’s event strategy, innovation, and regional execution.
• Serve as a trusted partner to the Global Communications, Community, Brand Experience, and Events teams.
• Maintain strong alignment with the regional UCANZ Marketing team and ensure stakeholders are informed, engaged, and supported throughout the event lifecycle.

BUDGET, MEASUREMENT & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Review and recommend event budget allocations in partnership with the Senior Director of Brand and Community, UCANZ, and event producers.
• Establish clear objectives, success measures, and reporting expectations for UCANZ events.
• Direct the event reporting process to evaluate performance and return on investment against expectations.
• Identify opportunities to streamline event processes, improve efficiency, and strengthen consistency across the portfolio.
• Produce and maintain shared event resources, including an asset catalog for key IPs and reusable giveaway designs, in collaboration with Marketing Operations and global teams.

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Lead the implementation and ongoing improvement of health and safety protocols and standards across UCANZ events.
• Ensure production plans, agencies, venues, and on-site teams operate in accordance with applicable requirements and Crunchyroll standards.
• Promote a culture of proactive risk management, preparedness, and accountability across the event portfolio.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Lead, support, and develop a high-performing regional event production team
• Set clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for direct reports and cross-functional event partners.
• Contribute to the growth and development of team members through coaching, feedback, knowledge sharing, and exposure to regional and global event work.
• Encourage shared learning, innovation, and resourcefulness across the events organization.

In the role of Senior Manager, Regional Events UCANZ, you will report to the Senior Director of Brand & Community, UCANZ.

We are considering applicants for the location of Los Angeles.

About You

We get excited about candidates, like you, because...

• 8+ years of relevant B2C event programming and production experience.
• 3+ years of people management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, high-visibility events from strategy through execution.
• Strong knowledge of anime, pop culture, streaming, and current regional audience trends.
• Experience working in a global organization and/or delivering international events.
• Experience partnering with major events in the United States and Canada.
• Experience with, or a working understanding of, events in Australia and New Zealand.
• Having established relationships with event venues and vendor partners is a plus.
• Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and represent Crunchyroll with confidence in high-visibility settings.
• Experience in identifying and managing creative event agencies.
• Experience managing and keeping track of budgets. 
• Strong project management and keeping track of event milestones. 
• Knowledge of health and safety protocols and standards across UCANZ events.
• Demonstrated ability to balance creative ambition with operational rigor and accountability for results.
• Experience working with Japanese partners and licensors is a plus.
• Japanese language proficiency is highly preferred.