Manager, Product Design - Dolls

Location

Hybrid work arrangement in Culver City, CA

Salary

USD 112,440 to 139,440 per year

Minimum Experience

1 year

Education

Bachelor's degree

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth development of each doll project.
• Review the design quality from the team and help guide them along a leadership path.
• Work with the Product Design Director on innovation initiatives to push creative boundaries.
• Monitor industry trends and integrate new concepts into doll designs.
• Oversee the daily workloads of product designers and external vendors, building strong partnerships to meet quality and deadlines.
• Direct product design from initial concept through development.
• Advocate for sustainable design practices, eco-friendly materials, and ethical considerations.
• Incorporate consumer insights and feedback into the design process.
• Champion design excellence while ensuring target costs and QA/QC requirements are met with minimal supervision.
• Ensure precise Product Documentation Sheets for US and Asia development teams, aligning designs with competitive cost targets.
• Review 3D sculpt turns and paint masters, providing precise submissions and feedback.
• Present product designs at internal gates, including Line and Model Reviews.
• Maintain a Product Design Shape of the Line to evaluate the collection and prepare for presentations.
• Lead the team in contributing innovative ideas for the brand.
• Communicate effectively with Licensors, applying feedback to development while coordinating with Brand and USPD.
• Develop visual materials and deliver compelling design presentations to Licensors.
• Foster positive relationships with Licensor Creative Counterparts and act as a brand ambassador to establish strong partnerships.
• Manage design-focused requests, milestones, approvals, and expectations with Licensors, proactively addressing communication challenges.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and creativity within the design team.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects within design specifications, maintaining schedule awareness to keep deliverables on track.
• Coordinate with the packaging design team to ensure product and packaging alignment.
• Mentor junior designers to grow their capabilities.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment and clear communication toward common goals.
• Monitor the Product Design Budget and negotiate with vendors to stay within budget constraints.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years of end-to-end product design experience with a focus on toy/doll design.
• 5+ years working with global manufacturing factories, Asia experience preferred.
• 4+ years of project management experience.
• 1-2 years of leadership experience.
• A compelling portfolio spanning a broad range of creative projects.
• Proven expertise in control drawings and concept renderings.
• Strong proficiency in 2D workflows using Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other graphic design tools.
• Knowledge of 3D design workflows including Blender, ZBrush, Fusion 360, KeyShot, and related software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong problem-solving and adaptability to change.
• Excellent written and visual communication skills, plus strong presentation abilities.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a strong aesthetic sense.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong analytical abilities.
• Ability to pivot quickly when direction changes and maintain a high level of autonomy.
• Deep awareness of current trends in this design space.

Technologies

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• Blender
• ZBrush
• Fusion 360
• KeyShot

Benefits

• Salary range: USD 112,440 to 139,440 per year
• Company-paid basic medical insurance for employees and their children
• Basic life and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) with Jazwares matching up to 4%
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible schedule with on-site work Monday through Thursday and optional work-from-home Fridays (up to 20 remote days per year)
• Vacation and sick leave
• Volunteer opportunities up to 16 hours per year through Jazwares Cares

Leadership & People Management

Oversees day-to-day responsibilities of a mid-sized design team, manages direct reports with guidance and performance evaluations, and collaborates with HR on disciplinary actions. Fosters a collaborative, accountable environment and mentors junior designers.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

Working at Jazwares

Culture centers on passion for play, collaboration across a global team, and humility that values people and talent.

Recruitment Safety

Official Jazwares employment information comes from @jazwares.com email addresses. Jazwares will not request monetary payments during hiring. For questions about unsolicited communications, contact [email protected].

Who We Are

Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy maker withowned and licensed brands. Since 1997, Jazwares delivers imaginative play experiences through brands like Squishmallows, Pokémon, Hello Kitty, Star Wars, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Disney, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer provides rights notices under federal employment laws; for more information, see the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.