At Jazwares, we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere, and anyone. We work collaboratively to achieve our goals and we have fun doing it! Jazwares is a global leader in consumer products including toys, plush, action figures, collectibles and musical instruments. Jazwares’ portfolio includes a variety of dynamic, wholly-owned and licensed brands like preschool powerhouses Blippi, Cabbage Patch Kids®, CoComelon unstoppable action and gaming brands like Fortnite, Halo®, Micro Machines, Nerf, Pokémon and Roblox, leading lifestyle and entertainment brands like All Elite Wrestling™ (AEW), Blinger®, UFC, musical property First Act™, and beloved plush Hug-A-Pet and Squishmallows®, just to name a few. With over 20 years of design, development and manufacturing expertise, Jazwares is an award-winning company with a progressive focus on identifying new trends and transforming them into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares, which is headquartered in Sunrise, FL, has offices around the world and sells in over 100 countries. Since its inception in 1997, Jazwares continues to grow through the development of new products and the strategic acquisitions of companies like First Act™, Russ Berrie™, Zag Toys™, Wicked Cool Toys™ and Kellytoy®.

As the Product Design Manager in our Squishmallows division, you will manage the successful design and development of assigned plush product ranges while demonstrating creative thinking and innovation on a wide variety of projects to support and align with brand strategies and objectives. Working closely with internal cross functional departments and external partners you will be tasked to deliver on innovative and exciting plush toys that are fun to play with! Additionally, you will manage junior design staff as well as external vendors to keep product designs on schedule and within budget.

What you will do:

• Manage projects through the entire design, development, and QC/QA processes; being conscientious of cost, quality, and schedule
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects within design specifications with design team members
• Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, packaging, licensing, and other internal and external team partners to create product that is innovative
• Generate new toy concepts to enhance the brand
• Responsible for completing, reviewing, submitting, and providing comments for initial designs, Illustrative turns, and sample reviews
• Support the overall strategic goals within a brand providing direction and feedback during the development process that is attentive to licensor and internal brand needs
• Successfully evolve from concept through initial ideation, refinement, prototype execution and turn over packages to development teams
• Champion great design in our products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements with very little supervision
• Collaborate closely and provide continuous feedback to internal cross functional departments during all phases of development
• Develop product documentation and specifications sheets to send to the Asia team for development
• Provide support to the Senior Product design manager and senior leadership
• Prepare and lead meetings, track minutes, manage action items for the team
• Act as a trainer, mentor and coach for jr staff members
• Manage project assignments and resource allocation
• Participate in all stages of the product life cycle

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s Degree in toy design, illustration, or industry relevant field
• 5+ years of product design or other relevant experience
• 3+ years of experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred)
• 2+ years of leadership experience
• Compelling portfolio of work over a wide range of creative projects
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite
• Expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration of concepts using Illustrator and hand drawing
• Strong proficiency in adobe creative suite (Mainly Illustrator, Photoshop) and other graphic design software
• Able to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Demonstrates a strong design sense, including a well-developed sense of aesthetics
• Can easily adapt to shifting priorities, and can manage multiple priorities at one time, while also demonstrating vigilance in keeping projects moving forward and hitting deadlines
• Effective problem solver and critical thinker; proactive in resolving issues
• Ability to deal effectively with diverse individuals at all organizational levels in a professional manner
• Able to influence without authority
• Leadership skills: able to train, coach, mentor, motivate, inspire and develop others
• High level of autonomy and resourcefulness
• Exceptional presentation skills; must be comfortable presenting to members at all levels of the organization and at industry events
• Proven expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration of concepts
• Strong experience in the plush toy industry
• Strong experience with Kawaii style design a plus
• Knowledge of SmartSheets software a plus

What we offer:

• Medical Insurance 100% Company paid for Employee and Employee/Children
• Employee Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• 401(K) Retirement Program
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Sick Leave, Vacation, Holiday Pay
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Hybrid schedule (3 days in office)

JAZWARES is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Experience

• 2 year(s): leadership experience
• 3 year(s): experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred)
• 5 year(s): product design or other relevant experience

Education

• Bachelors or better in Design and Technical Production or related field