Product Innovation Associate

Fanatics Collectibles; Sunnyvale (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fanatics Collectibles seeks a Product Innovation Associate to support the development and execution of the product innovation agenda. You will research technologies that could improve performance, reduce cost, or enhance consumer experience, coordinating with operations and support teams to deliver results.

You will help identify innovative products and processes, assist with tests from planning to execution, and provide regular updates to the Innovation Project Manager while collaborating

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in design or engineering or equivalent work experience.
• 1-3 years in pre-press, design, print, manufacturing, or related production environments.
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or business analysis principles.
• English language domain; bilingual with Spanish a plus.
• Experience collaborating with or coordinating across multifunctional teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist in identifying and developing innovative new products, platforms, and processes aligned to market and business needs.
• Support test projects from planning through completion, coordinating with teams to meet quality standards, repeatability, and scalability for required production quantities.
• Provide regular project updates to the Innovation Project Manager and cross-functional stakeholders, escalating risks as appropriate.
• Analyze data and market trends to generate insights supporting the innovation process.
• Schedule, prepare for, and participate in Product Innovation meetings; facilitate portions of meetings as assigned.
• Research options for materials and equipment needs for individual innovations.
• Support engagement with outside vendors on technology and execution needs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management tools

Time management

Cross-functional collaboration

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree in design or engineering

Equivalent work experience

Tools

Lean

Six Sigma

Job description

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

About the Company

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.

Role Summary

Fanatics Collectibles (and Topps) has long been an innovator in the card manufacturing industry. We offer our customers a comprehensive mix of special effects finishing, collation, and packaging techniques to make even the most challenging of projects come to life.

Reporting to the Innovation Project Manager, the Product Innovation Associate will support the development and execution of the product innovation agenda. The Associate will research technologies that could improve performance, reduce cost, or enhance the consumer experience, and will work alongside operations and support teams to coordinate potential projects and help deliver expected results.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in identifying and developing innovative new products, platforms, and processes aligned to market and business needs.
• Support test projects from planning through completion, working with teams across the organization to help ensure objectives meet standards for quality, repeatability, and scalability for required production quantities.
• Provide regular project updates to the Innovation Project Manager, and other cross-functional stakeholders, escalating risks and challenges as appropriate.
• Analyze data and market trends to generate insights that support the innovation process.
• Schedule, prepare for, and participate in Product Innovation meetings; facilitate portions of meetings as assigned.
• Research options for materials and equipment needs for individual innovations.
• Support engagement with outside vendors on technology and execution needs.
• Coordinate with internal departments on technology needs and project requirements.
• Support trials of new technologies across applicable processes to help identify potential failure points within the manufacturing process.
• Document processes, order of operations, test results, and materials for each innovation.
• Maintain an organized library of new technologies, innovations, and related documentation.
• Assist with problem solving technical challenges experienced during manufacturing processes.

Education, Experience and Requirements:

• Bachelors’ degree in design or engineering and/or equivalent work experience.
• 1-3 years of experience in pre-press, design, print, print finishing, manufacturing, or related production environments preferred.
• Exposure to project management, Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or business analysis principles preferred.
• 1-3 years of operations, manufacturing, product development, or related experience preferred.
• English language domain (bilingual with Spanish a plus).
• Experience collaborating with or coordinating across multifunctional teams.
• Curiosity and a problem-solving mindset, with the ability to support project plans, timelines, and roadmaps.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrates analytical skills.
• Experience with project management tools.
• Highly organized with excellent time management abilities.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments or project workstreams as needed.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and influence outcomes through clear communication and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a project or operational team.
• Results-oriented, with developing project coordination and project management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and plan work according to business requirements and deadlines.
• Self-driven, curious, and willing to seek out learning opportunities and take initiative within assigned responsibilities.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-up practices.

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in an administrative office setting along with interaction within the production facility.
• Must be flexible and available to work extended hours when necessary.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Fanatics Collectibles’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.