Senior Designer

Spin Master; Toronto; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading toy company in Toronto is seeking a Senior Designer to create innovative Early Learning products. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in toy design, strong communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with multiple teams. This full-time position offers a competitive salary, bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including retirement savings and health benefits.

Benefits

5% Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

Health Benefits Package

Employee Share Purchase Plan

20 Days PTO

Birthday Off

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in Early Learning toy design.
• Undergraduate degree in Industrial Design (BFA) or 4+ years related experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Design exceptional products for the Early Learning toy team.
• Manage outside design talent and oversee model development.
• Collaborate with teams across the company.
• Maintain high quality in design deliverables.

Skills

Ideation Conceptualization

Play Pattern Development

Sketching

Design Software

Specification Documenting

Model Development

Product Life Cycle

Visual Communications

Manufacturing Understanding

Presentation Skills Proficiency

Collaboration

Communication

Strategic Time Management

Budget and Resource Management

Problem Solving

Education

Undergraduate degree in Industrial Design (BFA)

8+ years in Early Learning toy design

Job description

Overview

Senior Designer role requires creativity to design exceptional products for our Early Learning toy team. This person should be diverse and flexible as a designer to take on additional products as the department warrants expansion. This person may also take on managing outside design talent and overseeing model development.

Reporting Relationships

This position reports to the Design Director.

Job Responsibilities

• Works independently, requires minimal supervision.
• Clearly demonstrates a solid understanding of the brands and the competitive environment as it relates to toy products and construction toy brands.
• Has excellent problem-solving skills.
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude and is considered a good role model.
• Partner with Creative Management and Brand Management to set direction for new brands and individual items.
• Delivers innovative results that support brand strategy.
• Works with production team to ensure integrity of design in final deliverables.
• Works with project management to set priorities, schedules and assign projects.
• Manage the timelines of the projects assigned to you.
• Maintain a consistently high level of quality, thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Effectively communicate all project related progress / issues or concerns to the team and to Project Management in a timely and professional manner.
• Solicit creative direction from the Brand Leads and Director of Packaging in a timely manner.
• Develop marketing support materials, creative boards and layout presentations for new and existing business development presentations, trade shows and new initiatives.
• Collaborate with Structural Engineering, Marketing, Quality Control and Product Development teams as well as overseas agents, as necessary, in the product development and approval process.
• Maintain knowledge of new technologies within your area of expertise.

Qualifications

Critical Hard Skills

• Ideation Conceptualization - participates in brainstorms, may run small ones with mentor; begins to generate ideas and understands Spin Master innovation.
• Play Pattern Development - understands a good play pattern within a category; follows guidance to develop clear, easy, fun and effective 1-2-3 play patterns.

Core Hard Skills

• Sketching - creates refined sketches for internal communication; directs vendors with confidence.
• Design Software - proficient in Photoshop / Illustrator; creates engaging PowerPoint presentations with visuals; can edit basic videos.
• Specification Documenting - creates accurate specs with manufacturing considerations; liaises with PD partner for costing and engineering issues; understands licensor documentation needs.
• Model Development - can autonomously create CAD, communicate specs to model makers; evaluates and tests models and provides next steps with guidance.
• Product Life Cycle - understands how schedules influence stages and anticipates next steps.
• Visual Communications - creates presentation decks and visual boards; understands layout and presentation impact.
• Manufacturing Understanding - knowledge of manufacturing processes and capabilities within the category.
• Presentation Skills Proficiency - reads the room, adjusts presentation as needed, develops storytelling to sell concepts.

Critical Soft Skills

• Collaboration - builds cross-functional relationships, contributes to brainstorms, seeks guidance when needed.
• Communication - articulates ideas clearly, effective in written and oral communication, able to summarize conversations and communicate upward with guidance.

Core Soft Skills

• Strategic Time Management - follows timelines and priorities; adapts to workload changes and multi-tasking.
• Budget and Resource Management - uses resources wisely; seeks guidance on financial aspects.
• Problem Solving - identifies issues and works with teams to resolve them.
• Minimum 8 years in Early Learning toy design.
• Undergraduate degree in Industrial Design (BFA) or 4+ years related experience and / or training.

Terms of Employment

Permanent, Full-Time

Language of Work

English

Wage

95k - $110k CAD

Bonus

5% Bonus (Based on company performance for the year)

Benefits Package Offered

• 5% Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
• Health Benefits Package
• Employee Share Purchase Plan (Eligible after 12 months of service)
• 20 Days PTO accrued 1.25 days per month plus additional days that the company may shut-down in December.
• Birthday Off

Work Location

Toronto

Contact information

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

What You Can Expect From Us

• Growth and Career Opportunities
• Flexible Work Hours
• Innovation, Collaboration and Fun
• Comprehensive Benefits
• Other fun Perks!

Spin Master is committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process and provides reasonable accommodation to applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail] or 416 364-6002.

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