Senior Manager, Product Design - Squishmallows

Jazwares, LLC; Santa Fe Springs (CA); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical

4% 401(k) match

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid work schedule

Volunteer time off

Vacation & sick leave

Job summary

Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is seeking a Senior Manager of Product Design for the Squishmallows brand to lead design from ideation to production, balancing creativity with strategy and cost targets.

You will mentor junior staff, partner with cross-functional teams including branding, packaging, licensing, and global manufacturing to deliver high-quality plush concepts, while maintaining schedules and quality standards.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in product design with plush or character-led products.
• 5+ years collaborating with global manufacturing (Asia preferred).
• 4+ years direct leadership, mentoring staff.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and rendering.
• Strong knowledge of licensed brands and trends.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design, development, QC/QA processes for the Squishmallows brand within target costs, quality standards, and schedules.
• Collaborate on strategic direction and generate new toy concepts to enhance the brand.
• Provide product turnover documentation (PDS) to internal teams and global partners.
• Review and feedback on 3D turns, sculpt, paint masters, and samples.
• Partner with branding, product management, engineering, packaging, and licensing to align with licensor needs and brand goals.
• Lead meetings, manage resources, and track project assignments across cross-functional teams.
• Mentor junior design staff and manage external vendor partnerships.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Plush design

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Market trend analysis

Licensing knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

As the Senior Manager of Product Design for Squishmallows, you will lead the design and development of innovative plush for this iconic, market-leading brand! This role requires an expert balance of creative vision and strategic leadership to translate consumer insights into compelling, highly collectible products. You will champion the entire design process from initial ideation to final production, ensuring strict alignment with overarching brand strategies. Collaboration is key: you will partner cross-functionally with brand management, packaging, and global manufacturing teams to deliver exciting play experiences while adhering to cost, quality, and timeline requirements. In this leadership role, you will also mentor junior design staff and manage external vendor partnerships. Come join one of the world’s biggest toy‑making companies and help us shape the future of play!

What You Will Do:

• Manage the entire design, development, and QC/QA processes for the Squishmallows brand, ensuring strict adherence to target costs, quality standards, and development schedules
• Collaborate with the Director of Product Design on strategic direction and innovation efforts, proactively generating new toy concepts to enhance the brand
• Provide clear, precise, and complete product turnover documentation (PDS) to internal development teams and global Asia partners
• Review, submit, and provide actionable feedback on illustrative turns, 3D sculpts, paint masters, and development samples
• Partner cross-functionally with branding, product management, engineering, packaging, and licensing to align products with licensor needs and strategic brand goals
• Prepare for and lead meetings, manage resource allocation, and track project assignments to keep cross-functionally teams aligned
• Act as a dedicated leader by training, mentoring, and coaching junior design staff while also managing external vendor partnerships
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervisor Responsibilities: Yes

What We Are Looking For:

• 7+ years of product design or other relevant creative experience with a compelling portfolio showcasing a specific focus on Plush Design or character-driven products
• 5+ years of experience collaborating with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred)
• 4+ years of direct leadership experience with a proven track record of training, mentoring, and inspiring junior staff
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and expertise in control drawings and rendered concept illustrations
• Deep understanding of current market trends, the competitive marketplace, and the nuances of working with licensed brands
• Exceptional project management and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple shifting priorities autonomously
• Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills with the confidence to present to stakeholders at all organizational levels

Nice To Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Industrial Engineering, or an industry-relevant field is a plus
• Prior experience working in the toy, baby, costume, or pets industry

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 salary range for this position is $128,280 - $160,380 / Yr. 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-state employer, so the salary range may not apply to other states.

Our benefits package includes basic medical insurance that is 100% company-paid for employees and their children, employee basic life and AD&D insurance, a 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals, short and long-term disability, and tuition reimbursement.

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.

Reasonable Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of the fastest‑growing toy company in the industry. Connect with us today, and let's 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™, Five Nights at Freddy’s™, Disney™, BumBumz™, and BLDR™. In addition to toys, offerings include costumes, games, and pillows. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries. For more information, visit www.jazwares.com 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.com. 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 [e-mail]. We look forward to you experiencing a safe and enjoyable application process at Jazwares!