Manager, Product Design - Dolls

About the role

You will lead a creative team to steer innovative doll lines from concept to final production. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams in product development, marketing, and global manufacturing to deliver market-leading doll products. You will mentor design talent, manage budgets and timelines, and champion great design.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal departments to ensure seamless development of each toy project.
• Review and comment on your team's product and design quality, actively transitioning into a leadership path.
• Collaborate with the Product Design Director on innovation efforts, driving creative boundaries to stay competitive.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and innovations, seamlessly incorporating them into doll product designs.
• Manage the development and daily workloads of product designers and external vendors, fostering strong relationships to ensure quality and timeline delivery.
• Direct product design and guide the process from initial concept through design development.
• Promote an awareness of sustainable design practices, eco-friendly materials, and ethical design considerations.
• Understand and incorporate consumer insights and feedback directly into the design process.
• Champion great design while ensuring products meet target costs and QA/QC requirements with minimal supervision.
• Ensure precise and complete Product Documentation Sheets (PDS) for development teams in the US and Asia, checking that designs align with competitive cost standards.
• Review 3D sculpt turns and paintmasters, preparing precise submissions and comments.
• Present product designs in all internal gates, including Line Reviews and Model Reviews.
• Maintain a Product Design Shape of the Line to evaluate the collection and prepare for all presentation needs.
• Lead the team to support innovation and fresh creative ideas for the brand.
• Communicate effectively with Licensors, applying comments to product development while working closely with Brand and USPD.
• Develop visual materials and deliver compelling design presentations to Licensors.
• Build and foster positive relationships with Licensor Creative Counterparts, acting as a brand ambassador to establish best-in-class partnerships.
• Manage design-focused requests, key milestones, approval dates, and general expectations with Licensors, providing proactive solutions to communication challenges.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and creativity within the design team.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects within design specifications, maintaining a strong understanding of schedules to keep deliverables on track and on time.
• Communicate with the packaging design team to assure product and packaging are perfectly aligned.
• Mentor and develop junior designers' abilities.
• Ensure all cross-functional departments are aligned and working towards a common goal through effective communication.
• Monitor the Product Design Budget, negotiating costs with vendors to adhere to budget constraints.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering or similar field required.
• 6 + years of end to end product design or other relevant experience with a focus in Toy Design, Dolls Design.
• 5 + years experience working with global manufacturing factories, Asia preferred.
• 4 + years of project management experience.
• 1-2 years of leadership experience.
• Compelling portfolio of work over a wide range of creative projects.
• Proven expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration of concepts.
• Highly Proficient in 2D workflows including: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), and other graphic design software.
• Knowledgeable in 3D design workflows including: Blender/Zbrush/Fusion360, Keyshot, and other 3D design software.
• Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with specific knack from problem solving and adaptability to change.
• Excellent written and visual communication skills. Great oral presentation skills.
• Great attention to details and skilled aesthetics.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Must be nimble & flexible and have the ability to pivot quickly when direction changes.
• High level of autonomy and resourcefulness.
• Keen knowledge of trends in this design space.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering or similar field required.
• 6 + years of end to end product design or other relevant experience with a focus in Toy Design, Dolls Design.
• 5 + years experience working with global manufacturing factories, Asia preferred.
• 4 + years of project management experience.
• 1-2 years of leadership experience.
• Compelling portfolio of work over a wide range of creative projects.
• Proven expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration of concepts.
• Highly Proficient in 2D workflows including: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), and other graphic design software.
• Knowledgeable in 3D design workflows including: Blender/Zbrush/Fusion360, Keyshot, and other 3D design software.
• Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with specific knack from problem solving and adaptability to change.
• Excellent written and visual communication skills. Great oral presentation skills.
• Great attention to details and skilled aesthetics.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Must be nimble & flexible and have the ability to pivot quickly when direction changes.
• High level of autonomy and resourcefulness.
• Keen knowledge of trends in this design space.

Skills

• Toy Design
• Dolls Design
• Product Design
• Project Management
• Leadership
• Communication
• Visual Design
• 3D Modeling
• Graphic Design
• Consumer Insights
• Sustainable Design
• Eco-Friendly Materials
• Ethical Design
• Consumer Feedback
• Cost Management
• Quality Control
• Team Management
• Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Resourcefulness
• Trend Awareness

Benefits

• Basic Medical Insurance (100% company-paid)
• Employee Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• 401(K) Retirement Program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Work Schedule (Monday through Thursday on-site, optional WFH on Fridays, up to 20 workdays fully remote each year)
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Jazwares Cares: Opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects

Pay

$112,440.00 - $139,440.00 / Yr.

Schedule

Monday through Thursday on-site, with an optional Friday WFH

Who We Are

Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy manufacturer with a robust portfolio of owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1997, Jazwares celebrates imaginative play with a progressive focus on identifying new and relevant trends to transform into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares engages consumers through innovative play experiences with popular brands such as Squishmallows™, Pokémon™, Hello Kitty™, Star Wars™, Five Nights at Freddy’s™, Disney™, BumBumz™, and BLDR™. In addition to toys, offerings include costumes, games, and pillows. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries.

Recruitment Safety

Please be wary of unsolicited communications from individuals or websites you are not familiar with, or any communications requesting sensitive personal data or information. All official Jazwares employment information will come from our company email ending in @jazwares.com. Jazwares will never request any monetary payments at any point during its hiring process. If you have any questions about any unsolicited communications, you can reach out to jazlegal@jazwares.com. We look forward to you experiencing a safe and enjoyable application process at Jazwares!