Toy Design Lead - Licensing & Product Development

confidential; United States; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

NBCUniversal is seeking a design professional to partner with toy licensees, translating characters into product concepts and leading development from concept to production in a hybrid work model in the United States.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of design and development experience, a degree in toy/product design, proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Keynote, and strong communication and organizational skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of design and development experience.
• Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree, preferably in toy design, industrial design, product design or graphic design
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to provide thoughtful, clear, creative art direction to partners and vendors.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment that revolves around multiple product development calendars.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Strong inter-personal skills to navigate situations across multi-functional departments
• Understanding of age-appropriate play patterns, and Experience with but not limited to preschool, plush, playset, action figures, vehicles, role play, collectibles, or related toy categories
• Demonstrated curiosity about consumer behavior, emerging toy trends, technology, innovation, and new ways to play.
• Skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and all relevant software for product development, including Keynote.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with toy licensees throughout the full product-development process, from initial concept through production, providing clear, actionable creative direction through draw-overs, visual references, and design notes.
• Translate characters, stories, and franchise attributes into compelling product features, play patterns, and collectible experiences.
• Develop toy concepts & presentation through concept sketches, product renderings, mood boards, and visual storytelling that clearly communicate form, function, play pattern, and innovation.
• Manage product submissions through Universal’s product approval systems, delivering timely, constructive, and solutions-oriented creative feedback to partners.
• Lead design projects in collaboration with internal and external cross-functional teams, balancing product objectives, consumer needs, and timelines.
• Co-create design strategies with the Manager and Director, using research, trends, and consumer insights to inform new product opportunities.
• Partner with Category, Retail, Franchise, and other cross-functional teams to ensure licensees have the creative direction, assets, insights, and information needed to develop compelling products.
• Identify consumer, category, and portfolio white-space opportunities and translate those insights into new product concepts and emerging opportunities through consumer insights, global toy trends, competitive products and cultural influences.
• Support the UP&E product development process through clear, timely communication and participation in key development reviews and meetings.
• Support additional creative initiatives ranging from blue-sky ideation, content exploration to product innovation.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the team and business.
• Ability to travel as required to support business and operational needs.

Skills

Design experience

Communication skills

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Understanding of play patterns

Curiosity about trends

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate's Degree in toy design, industrial design, product design, or graphic design

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Keynote

Job description

NBCUniversal is seeking a design professional to partner with toy licensees, translating characters into product concepts and leading development from concept to production in a hybrid work model in the United States.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of design and development experience, a degree in toy/product design, proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Keynote, and strong communication and organizational skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.