APAC Localization Manager (Pokémon GO)

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Company

hirify.global is a global interactive entertainment company that creates, publishes, and operates mobile, web, PC, and console games, including Pokémon GO.

What you will do

• Lead the end-to-end APAC localization program for player-facing Pokémon GO communications across in-game and external channels.
• Define localization scope, priorities, resources, workflows, reviews, approvals, delivery standards, and launch-readiness processes.
• Manage translation or transcreation, linguistic review, in-context quality assurance, stakeholder approvals, and post-launch follow-up.
• Partner with product, marketing, game design, creative, community, communications, production, regional teams, and external language partners.
• Manage localization vendors, linguists, reviewers, quality expectations, delivery performance, and resource allocation.
• Build scalable glossaries, style guides, QA processes, tracking systems, knowledge-management practices, and AI-enabled workflows while maintaining human review, confidentiality, IP, and brand standards.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in localization program management, international content operations, marketing communications localization, or a related discipline.
• Experience managing end-to-end localization workflows for multiple languages and markets, including intake, translation or transcreation, review, linguistic QA, approvals, and delivery.
• Experience supporting consumer-facing communications in a fast-moving environment; experience in mobile gaming, live-service products, entertainment, technology, or another global digital business is preferred.
• Ability to lead complex cross-functional programs involving global and regional teams, product and marketing stakeholders, creative partners, and external vendors.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in linguistic accuracy, terminology management, style guidance, cultural adaptation, and in-context validation.
• Experience managing localization vendors, freelancers, or language-service partners and resolving quality and delivery issues.
• Hands-on experience using AI-powered tools for localization operations, quality assurance, workflow efficiency, or knowledge management, with sound judgment regarding accuracy, confidentiality, IP, brand standards, and human review.
• Strong project management, organization, written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to manage overlapping launches, identify risks, coordinate dependencies, and influence decisions without direct authority.
• Business-level proficiency in English and Japanese is required. Fluency in every APAC language is not required.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to have

• Experience with a mobile, free-to-play, or live-service game with frequent content and event updates.
• Experience managing localization across multiple APAC languages and markets, including Japan.
• Experience with translation management systems, CAT tools, localization QA tools, workflow platforms, or asset-management platforms.
• Experience building or scaling glossaries, style guides, linguistic asset libraries, quality frameworks, or knowledge systems.
• Experience building or scaling AI-enabled localization workflows, automation, or quality-control processes.
• Experience with major entertainment or licensed IP in collaborative approval environments.
• Understanding of Pokémon GO, its community, and the broader Pokémon franchise.
• Additional proficiency in one or more APAC languages.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in a global interactive entertainment company with operations and partners across more than a dozen countries.
• Support the Pokémon GO brand and a live-service game with a large international player community.
• Collaborate with global and regional teams, external language partners, and licensed-IP stakeholders.
• Contribute to cross-functional operational initiatives in the Tokyo office, including Legal, Procurement, and Partnerships support.