Dir, Product Design

Jazwares Careers; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading toy company in Toronto is seeking a Director of Product Design to manage creative vision and direct product development for multiple brands. The role requires extensive experience in toy design and leadership, overseeing projects from concept to market. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in design, project management, and vendor relationships, fostering innovation across teams.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule

Opportunity to volunteer for community service

Annual performance incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in toy design with a proven track record of innovative and high-quality product design.
• 5 years of progressive leadership experience managing a product design team.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and project management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the creative vision for new IP in toys and games.
• Own the product journey from concept through production and go-to-market.
• Guide the team to develop innovative solutions for product concepts.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Project Management

Creative concepts

Personnel Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in design, art, industrial design or relevant field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

Microsoft Office

G-Suite

Job description

Overview

As the Director of Product Design you will be responsible for managing and strategically directing the design and development of your assigned team and brands. Your role will involve demonstrating creative thinking and innovation across a wide variety of projects ensuring they support and align with growth strategies and objectives. You will work closely with internal cross-functional departments and external partners, leading the strategic vision of your team. You will oversee the development of multiple licensed brands, manage key licensor relationships, manage external vendors, and lead and manage junior product design staff to keep product designs on schedule and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the creative vision for new IP in toys and games, developing breakthrough concepts that capture emerging trends and position brands as category leaders.
• Own the product journey from concept through production and go-to-market, ensuring design integrity across product development, brand expression, and marketing touchpoints.
• Manage the workflow and allocation of resources to meet project deadlines and objectives.
• Implement effective project management practices to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
• Develop and manage budgets for toy line development, ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
• Monitor expenses and implement cost-saving measures without compromising quality or innovation.
• Provide regular budget reports and forecasts to senior management.
• Ensure the creative vision and direction of the Blue Jstoy division is consistently maintained across all projects.
• Guide the team to develop innovative solutions for product concepts, ensuring high standards of quality and innovation.
• Review and approve design concepts, prototypes, and final products.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and incorporate best practices into the design process.
• Champion great design in products, ensuring they are within target cost and QA / QC requirements.
• Work collaboratively with branding, product management, engineering, packaging, and other internal and external partners to create innovative products.
• Collaborate closely and provide continuous feedback to internal cross-functional departments throughout the development process.
• Manage relationships with licensors, ensuring all products meet brand guidelines and licensor expectations.
• Oversee the development of licensed toy lines, ensuring they align with brand strategies and market demands.
• Manage external vendor partnerships and budgets for external R&D.
• Lead brainstorm sessions and collaborate with team members to derive ideas and solutions for new and existing brands.
• Participate in all stages of the employee life cycle.
• Provide support to senior leadership and perform other duties as assigned.
• Lead and inspire the design team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Mentor and develop design team members, conducting performance reviews, providing constructive feedback, and setting clear performance expectations.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team culture that encourages creativity and collaboration.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Manages People: Yes. This role is responsible for all aspects of talent management for their assigned team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in design, art, industrial design, or other relevant field is highly preferred.
• 10 years of experience in toy design with a proven track record of innovative and high-quality product design.
• 5 years of progressive leadership experience and experience managing a product design team.
• 5 years of experience working with global manufacturing.
• Project management experience.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and other graphic design software.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans for toy line development aligning with company goals and brand strategies.
• Extensive experience overseeing the end-to-end development process for multiple toy lines, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Strong project management skills with a track record of streamlining processes and enhancing productivity.
• Experience in managing the workflow and allocation of resources to meet project deadlines and objectives.
• Ability to monitor expenses and implement cost-saving measures without compromising quality or innovation.
• Experience guiding teams to develop innovative solutions for product concepts, ensuring high standards of quality and innovation.
• Skilled in reviewing and approving design concepts, prototypes, and final products.
• Up-to-date with industry trends and capable of incorporating best practices into the design process.
• Champion of great design in products, ensuring they are within target cost and QA / QC requirements.
• Proven experience managing relationships with licensors, ensuring all products meet brand guidelines and licensor expectations.
• Experience leading brainstorm sessions and collaborating with team members to derive ideas and solutions for new and existing brands.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee but provide the primary duties and responsibilities of the role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

What We Offer

The base salary may vary based on experience, role tenure, performance, industry, and location. Eligibility for the annual performance incentive may apply. Jazwares is a multi-location employer, so the salary range may not apply to other states.

Our work environment provides a flexible work schedule that includes Monday through Thursday on-site with an optional WFH on Fridays up to 20 workdays fully remote each year and Time Off for vacation and sick leave. Through Jazwares Cares you will have the opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects.

Working at Jazwares

At Jazwares we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere and anyone. Through our three pillars we foster innovation and encourage creativity in every area of our business.

• Passion: Our conviction and enthusiasm show in our products, relationships, and commitment to our community.
• Collaboration: We share one vision worldwide, constantly striving to improve and innovate together.
• Humility: We recognize the value in others and treat everyone with respect. Our strength lies in our people and talent.

Dont miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of the fastest-growing toy company in the industry. Connect with us today and lets shape the future of play together!

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. Jazwares is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services programs and activities.

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, Disney, BumBumz and Adopt. In addition to toys, offerings include virtual games, costumes and pet products. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries. For more information visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook.

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 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 . We look forward to you experiencing a safe and enjoyable application process at Jazwares!

Key Skills

Quality Assurance, Production Budgets, Production Schedules, Social Platforms, Content Development, Personnel Management, Client Relationships, Project Management, Control Room, Creative concepts, Newsgathering, Show Content, Video production, Content Reviews

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1