Senior Toy Designer - Trends

About the role

Lead the design and development of innovative toy lines for market-leading brands, balancing creative vision with strategic alignment to translate consumer insights and trend forecasts into compelling, high-volume products. Champion the entire design process from initial sketching and ideation to technical problem-solving and final production, collaborating cross-functionally with brand management and manufacturing teams to deliver user-centric play experiences while adhering to cost, quality, and timeline requirements.

Responsibilities

• Generate new toy concepts and design play experiences for new and existing brands and product lines.
• Deliver end-to-end product design, including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing.
• Oversee the product design process, ensuring designs meet target cost and QA/QC requirements.
• Create systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences.
• Build consensus among team members throughout the design process.
• Collaborate with branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensors, and other internal teams to align product design with brand and licensor requirements.
• Attend brand and licensing meetings and brainstorming sessions to gather information for product design.
• Present and communicate concepts to brand, development, management, and licensor teams.
• Ensure delivery of precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications, ensuring understanding by international teams and factories.
• Work with outside vendors to support strategic goals and provide direction during the development process.
• Complete, review, document, and submit specification changes for licensor approval, including illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews.
• Resolve development issues with brand/management teams while ensuring designs meet target cost, schedule, and brand standards.
• Participate in the entire project development lifecycle, from concept through ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turnover to development teams.
• Collaborate with the packaging design team to align product and packaging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering, or a relevant field (preferred).
• 5+ years of product design experience in the toy industry, with a proven track record across both hard goods (action figures, plastics, playsets) and soft goods (plush, textiles).
• 1+ years of experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred).
• Interest and knowledge of current trends, innovations, and the competitive marketplace in the toy industry.
• Proactive observation and understanding of the competitive marketplace, including trends and innovation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) or similar tools.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and collaboratively with multiple departments.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes.
• Experience working with licensed brands.
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Strong design sense, including a well-developed sense of aesthetics.
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Effective problem solver and critical thinker; proactive in resolving issues.
• Expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration concepts.
• Ability to interact professionally with diverse individuals at all organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the toy, baby, costume, or pets industry.
• Knowledge of 3D modeling, sculpting, and rendering (familiarity with Zbrush, Rhino, or Fusion 360 is a plus).
• Multilingual abilities (a plus).

Benefits

• 100% company-paid basic medical insurance for employees and their children.
• 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 coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible work schedule: Monday through Thursday on-site, optional WFH on Fridays.
• Up to 20 fully remote workdays each year.
• Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
• Opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects through Jazwares Cares.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $86,400 - $105,420 per year. The base salary may vary based on experience, role tenure, performance, industry, and location. Eligibility for an annual performance incentive may apply.

Schedule

• Monday through Thursday on-site.
• Optional work-from-home on Fridays.